Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 9193
Decision Date: August 26, 2022
Associate Dean: 0
Student Name: Leo Maloney-Odumbe
Student Email: 20lomo@queensu.ca
Dear Leo:
On Thursday August 25, 2022, the Board of Studies (Board) reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson??s decision to deny your request to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year (RTW1). Board members present that day were Johanne Bénard (Chair), Tara Macdonald (Faculty member), Ivan Dimitrov (Faculty member), and Emma Farrell (Student representative). As you are aware, you also attended a portion of the meeting along with the Associate Dean (Academic), Jenn Stephenson. Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present.
After you and Dr. Stephenson left the meeting, the Board carefully considered the information from the oral statements along with the written submissions contained in the file. After this deliberation, the Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean??s decision to deny your appeal to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year, finding it reasonable in light of the Faculty??s regulations and your academic record.
In your oral presentation and in your letter of appeal to the Board, as well as in your earlier submission to the Associate Dean that was included in the file, you reported that mental health issues affected your academic performance since 2020. The Board sympathizes with your situation and the unquestionably difficult circumstances with which you have had to contend. While we appreciate that you are taking steps to address these issues, we agree with the Associate Dean that we would have needed recent documentation from a professional to support your improved ability to manage your condition, and to demonstrate that a successful return to studies is warranted. We recognize the importance of this decision to you and want to assure you that every effort was made to explore all aspects of your appeal through discussion of your file.
The Board also wishes to stress that this Requirement to Withdraw should not be seen as a penalty or a punishment. Rather it is to be taken as an opportunity to lay the foundations of future success by managing your mental health and clarifying your academic and career goals.
In anticipation of your return to Queen??s we encourage you to engage in appropriate and comprehensive academic planning so that you will be able to complete your studies successfully and in a timely fashion. We recommend you contact an Academic Advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science, Student Services office (Main Floor, Dunning Hall), prior to your return to studies. Advising appointments can be made by phoning 613-533-2470 or by visiting the Student Services office in person. Upon your return, you are encouraged to continue to make full use of the resources that the University makes available to all students who might be experiencing challenges as they work toward their academic goals. Specifically, you are encouraged to seek support from the Queen??s Learning Commons and from Student Wellness Services.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
On behalf of the Board of Studies, I would like to wish you every success as you pursue your educational and career goals.
Sincerely,
Johanne Bénard
Chair, Board of Studies
Decision Date: August 26, 2022
Associate Dean: 0
Student Name: Leo Maloney-Odumbe
Student Email: 20lomo@queensu.ca
Dear Leo:
On Thursday August 25, 2022, the Board of Studies (Board) reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson??s decision to deny your request to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year (RTW1). Board members present that day were Johanne Bénard (Chair), Tara Macdonald (Faculty member), Ivan Dimitrov (Faculty member), and Emma Farrell (Student representative). As you are aware, you also attended a portion of the meeting along with the Associate Dean (Academic), Jenn Stephenson. Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present.
After you and Dr. Stephenson left the meeting, the Board carefully considered the information from the oral statements along with the written submissions contained in the file. After this deliberation, the Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean??s decision to deny your appeal to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year, finding it reasonable in light of the Faculty??s regulations and your academic record.
In your oral presentation and in your letter of appeal to the Board, as well as in your earlier submission to the Associate Dean that was included in the file, you reported that mental health issues affected your academic performance since 2020. The Board sympathizes with your situation and the unquestionably difficult circumstances with which you have had to contend. While we appreciate that you are taking steps to address these issues, we agree with the Associate Dean that we would have needed recent documentation from a professional to support your improved ability to manage your condition, and to demonstrate that a successful return to studies is warranted. We recognize the importance of this decision to you and want to assure you that every effort was made to explore all aspects of your appeal through discussion of your file.
The Board also wishes to stress that this Requirement to Withdraw should not be seen as a penalty or a punishment. Rather it is to be taken as an opportunity to lay the foundations of future success by managing your mental health and clarifying your academic and career goals.
In anticipation of your return to Queen??s we encourage you to engage in appropriate and comprehensive academic planning so that you will be able to complete your studies successfully and in a timely fashion. We recommend you contact an Academic Advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science, Student Services office (Main Floor, Dunning Hall), prior to your return to studies. Advising appointments can be made by phoning 613-533-2470 or by visiting the Student Services office in person. Upon your return, you are encouraged to continue to make full use of the resources that the University makes available to all students who might be experiencing challenges as they work toward their academic goals. Specifically, you are encouraged to seek support from the Queen??s Learning Commons and from Student Wellness Services.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
On behalf of the Board of Studies, I would like to wish you every success as you pursue your educational and career goals.
Sincerely,
Johanne Bénard
Chair, Board of Studies
Generated August 26, 2022 at 4:54:07 PM.