Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 1223
Decision Date: July 6, 2015
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Alexander McFetridge
Student Email: 13am228@queensu.ca
Course: DRAM 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Graeme Renyk
Course: ENGL 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: FILM 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: RELS 131
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: HIST 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Mr. Alexander McFetridge
13am228@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. McFetridge:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop ENGL 100B, FILM 110B, HIST 122B and RELS 131B past the academic deadline, receive Credit standing in DRAM 100B (W 2015), as well as waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1. I will grant your request to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year based on the fact that you had a difficult transition to university and you have a sound academic plan. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University; however, due to the nature of your difficulties I have made the decision to place you on part-time status. Note that as a part-time student you will only be allowed a maximum of 18.0 units in the Fall-Winter session with no more than 9.0 units per term. It is my hope that the slower pace of part-time study will allow you sufficient time to remedy the academic difficulties you have faced in the past and thereby enable you to be more successful in your future studies. You must also register with Disability Services upon your return to campus in September.
For the next academic year, I would encourage you to repeat some of your failed courses to raise your GPA. If you repeat courses with the same course code, SOLUS will only count the higher course attempt into the cumulative GPA. This will greatly improve your chances of raising your GPA to 1.60 and therefore, help to avoid another requirement to withdraw. I would also encourage you to seek regular academic advising through the Faculty Office. If there is an improvement in your academic performance by the end of the year and you feel ready to take on a heavier course load, you may schedule an appointment to meet with me and I will consider changing your status back to full-time studies at that time.
Please read carefully the attached document to follow this letter. It contains important information concerning your current academic standing. If you have any questions about the information, please contact the Faculty Office to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
2. I will deny your request to drop ENGL 100B, FILM 110B, HIST 122B and RELS 131B past the academic deadline, receive Credit standing in DRAM 100B (W 2015). While I understand that you indeed had a difficult transition to Queen€™s, there is no recent supporting documentation provided to cover the 2014/15 academic year that would warrant changing your grades to DRs and CRs. While having ADHD is outside of your personal control, managing the condition is still within your control. You are expected to monitor your progress in courses and adjust your course load accordingly by dropping any courses as needed within the academic deadlines.
Upon returning to a regular course of study it is your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your plan. I hope that you will take advantage of the variety of support services available to you at Queen's. Academic counselling is available through an advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office (main floor Dunning Hall, phone 533-2470) or through your plan department. The Learning Commons in Stauffer Library also provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life. Further, the Health, Counselling and Disabilities Centre located in the LaSalle Building at 146 Stuart Street (613-533-2506) offers personal and academic counselling free of charge to all Queen's students, as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, you must submit an appeal to the Board of Studies within 21 days of the date this decision was sent. Guidelines for appealing to the Board of Studies and the appeal form can be found at: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€) Do not use the on-line application for this process. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the Ombudsperson for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 421 Robert Sutherland Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Yours sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10140068McFetridge
Decision Date: July 6, 2015
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Alexander McFetridge
Student Email: 13am228@queensu.ca
Course: DRAM 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Graeme Renyk
Course: ENGL 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: FILM 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: RELS 131
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: HIST 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Mr. Alexander McFetridge
13am228@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. McFetridge:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop ENGL 100B, FILM 110B, HIST 122B and RELS 131B past the academic deadline, receive Credit standing in DRAM 100B (W 2015), as well as waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1. I will grant your request to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year based on the fact that you had a difficult transition to university and you have a sound academic plan. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University; however, due to the nature of your difficulties I have made the decision to place you on part-time status. Note that as a part-time student you will only be allowed a maximum of 18.0 units in the Fall-Winter session with no more than 9.0 units per term. It is my hope that the slower pace of part-time study will allow you sufficient time to remedy the academic difficulties you have faced in the past and thereby enable you to be more successful in your future studies. You must also register with Disability Services upon your return to campus in September.
For the next academic year, I would encourage you to repeat some of your failed courses to raise your GPA. If you repeat courses with the same course code, SOLUS will only count the higher course attempt into the cumulative GPA. This will greatly improve your chances of raising your GPA to 1.60 and therefore, help to avoid another requirement to withdraw. I would also encourage you to seek regular academic advising through the Faculty Office. If there is an improvement in your academic performance by the end of the year and you feel ready to take on a heavier course load, you may schedule an appointment to meet with me and I will consider changing your status back to full-time studies at that time.
Please read carefully the attached document to follow this letter. It contains important information concerning your current academic standing. If you have any questions about the information, please contact the Faculty Office to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
2. I will deny your request to drop ENGL 100B, FILM 110B, HIST 122B and RELS 131B past the academic deadline, receive Credit standing in DRAM 100B (W 2015). While I understand that you indeed had a difficult transition to Queen€™s, there is no recent supporting documentation provided to cover the 2014/15 academic year that would warrant changing your grades to DRs and CRs. While having ADHD is outside of your personal control, managing the condition is still within your control. You are expected to monitor your progress in courses and adjust your course load accordingly by dropping any courses as needed within the academic deadlines.
Upon returning to a regular course of study it is your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your plan. I hope that you will take advantage of the variety of support services available to you at Queen's. Academic counselling is available through an advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office (main floor Dunning Hall, phone 533-2470) or through your plan department. The Learning Commons in Stauffer Library also provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life. Further, the Health, Counselling and Disabilities Centre located in the LaSalle Building at 146 Stuart Street (613-533-2506) offers personal and academic counselling free of charge to all Queen's students, as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, you must submit an appeal to the Board of Studies within 21 days of the date this decision was sent. Guidelines for appealing to the Board of Studies and the appeal form can be found at: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€) Do not use the on-line application for this process. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the Ombudsperson for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 421 Robert Sutherland Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Yours sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10140068McFetridge
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