Decision Letter
Submission Number: 12020
Decision Date: July 15, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Derek Chiang
Student Email: 20dc3@queensu.ca
Course: HLTH 235
Term: Fall
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Elaine Power
Course: ANAT 316
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Sheth,Prameet
Course: KNPE 345
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Levesque,Lucie Y
Course: KNPE 255
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Ross,Robert M J
Dear Derek:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter. I have carefully considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be “Required to Withdraw for One Year” and to drop HLTH 235 (F23), ANAT 316, KNPE 255, and KNPE 345 (W24) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
To drop ANAT 316, KNPE 255, and KNPE 345 (W24) after the academic deadline which will therefore remove the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year". You may now resume your studies at Queen's University. I have granted these requests based on the timeline and academic impacts of your family-related extenuating circumstances during the 2024 Winter term as described in your petition letter. Your grades in these courses will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript.
To deny your request to drop HLTH 235 (F23). The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 at https://www.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. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional. Official documentation must clearly indicate ways in which the extenuating circumstances directly affected the student’s performance in terms of timing and impact, and should verify that these effects were substantial enough to cause the academic problem. 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 am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision however I have denied this request as the documentation that you supplied does not suggest any academic impacts from extenuating circumstances on your 2023 Fall term courses. Going forward you should know that 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.
As you continue in your course of study it is your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and 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 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 www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on “Board of Studies”). You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities as well as guidance on policy and procedure (www.queensu.ca/ombuds).
I wish you success in your studies next year.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: July 15, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Derek Chiang
Student Email: 20dc3@queensu.ca
Course: HLTH 235
Term: Fall
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Elaine Power
Course: ANAT 316
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Sheth,Prameet
Course: KNPE 345
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Levesque,Lucie Y
Course: KNPE 255
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Ross,Robert M J
Dear Derek:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter. I have carefully considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be “Required to Withdraw for One Year” and to drop HLTH 235 (F23), ANAT 316, KNPE 255, and KNPE 345 (W24) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
To drop ANAT 316, KNPE 255, and KNPE 345 (W24) after the academic deadline which will therefore remove the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year". You may now resume your studies at Queen's University. I have granted these requests based on the timeline and academic impacts of your family-related extenuating circumstances during the 2024 Winter term as described in your petition letter. Your grades in these courses will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript.
To deny your request to drop HLTH 235 (F23). The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 at https://www.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. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional. Official documentation must clearly indicate ways in which the extenuating circumstances directly affected the student’s performance in terms of timing and impact, and should verify that these effects were substantial enough to cause the academic problem. 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 am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision however I have denied this request as the documentation that you supplied does not suggest any academic impacts from extenuating circumstances on your 2023 Fall term courses. Going forward you should know that 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.
As you continue in your course of study it is your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and 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 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 www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on “Board of Studies”). You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities as well as guidance on policy and procedure (www.queensu.ca/ombuds).
I wish you success in your studies next year.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated July 15, 2024 at 10:43:07 AM.