Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10866
Decision Date: September 5, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Youssef Taher
Student Email: 21ymt@queensu.ca
Dear Youssef Taher:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter, I have carefully considered your request to waive the petition deadline related to the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year." After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, the Faculty of Arts and Science academic requirements are clearly outlined in the Academic Calendar. The 15-business day petition deadline is put in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information and documentation for their request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petitions and appeals are only granted where there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of a particular Faculty regulation or decision. The integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students’ records without clear and compelling documentation indicating that the student’s performance was significantly compromised by circumstances beyond their control.
I acknowledge that the documentation you supplied suggests that you have been experiencing health-related extenuating circumstances for the past 1.5 years however, I want to remind you of a prior petition request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw and late course drops that was granted on July 13, 2022. Please know that the petition process is not meant to be used to manage a chronic condition. It is the student’s responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on their classes during week 7 of the term. If they have fallen behind in a course or find the material too difficult, they should drop the course by week 8 of term. The drop deadlines, outlined in the “Important Dates” section on the Faculty of Arts and Science web page, have been established to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all students.
While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, your petition did not include documentation that speaks to missing the June 13 deadline or to demonstrate that your extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow you to be successful in future classes. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the support you need to achieve that success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
· Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
· Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
· Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising or by phone 613-533-2470. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan Department. · Student Academic Success Services (SASS) sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life. · The Student Wellness Services Centre queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
· Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on “Submit a Board of Studies Appeal Here”). You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: September 5, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Youssef Taher
Student Email: 21ymt@queensu.ca
Dear Youssef Taher:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter, I have carefully considered your request to waive the petition deadline related to the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year." After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, the Faculty of Arts and Science academic requirements are clearly outlined in the Academic Calendar. The 15-business day petition deadline is put in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information and documentation for their request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petitions and appeals are only granted where there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of a particular Faculty regulation or decision. The integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students’ records without clear and compelling documentation indicating that the student’s performance was significantly compromised by circumstances beyond their control.
I acknowledge that the documentation you supplied suggests that you have been experiencing health-related extenuating circumstances for the past 1.5 years however, I want to remind you of a prior petition request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw and late course drops that was granted on July 13, 2022. Please know that the petition process is not meant to be used to manage a chronic condition. It is the student’s responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on their classes during week 7 of the term. If they have fallen behind in a course or find the material too difficult, they should drop the course by week 8 of term. The drop deadlines, outlined in the “Important Dates” section on the Faculty of Arts and Science web page, have been established to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all students.
While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, your petition did not include documentation that speaks to missing the June 13 deadline or to demonstrate that your extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow you to be successful in future classes. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the support you need to achieve that success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
· Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
· Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
· Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising or by phone 613-533-2470. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan Department. · Student Academic Success Services (SASS) sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life. · The Student Wellness Services Centre queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
· Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on “Submit a Board of Studies Appeal Here”). You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated September 5, 2023 at 11:41:25 AM.