Decision Letter
Submission Number: 12183
Decision Date: September 23, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Massimiliano Mirabella Bodden
Student Email: maxbmira@gmail.com
Course: BIOL 102
Term: Summer
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Max:
I have carefully considered your petition request to drop BIOL 102 (S24) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Petitions and Appeal Regulations 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional.
I am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision, however, I want you to know that I considered this request very thoroughly. In making this decision, I reviewed your petition letter and the documentation that you supplied via email on September 1, 2024.
I want to let you know that technical issues, such as internet connectivity issues are not typically grounds for a petition request. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have access to the tools that they require to complete their classes successfully. I also see that you were able to successfully complete two other summer term courses despite these technical issues.
I acknowledge the health-related circumstances that you experienced over the summer term as reported within your petition letter, and I hope that you have been able to receive some support from your healthcare provider. I have however denied this request as your petition did not include documentation to suggest academic impacts on your academic performance in BIOL 102 from these health-related circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on their classes prior to the drop deadline of the term. If they have fallen behind in a course or find the material too difficult, they should drop the course by the deadline. 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.
Max, I also see that you were not successful in completing some courses from the 2022 Fall, 2023 Winter and the 2024 Winter terms. It is my sincere hope that you can take this time away from your studies to access the supports that you need to ensure future academic success.
If you are concerned with the impact that this course has on your GPA, I would suggest that you consider repeating it in a future term. When repeating the exact same course code, both attempts will appear on your transcript however, only the higher grade will be included within the calculation of your cumulative GPA.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at 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 queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: September 23, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Massimiliano Mirabella Bodden
Student Email: maxbmira@gmail.com
Course: BIOL 102
Term: Summer
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Max:
I have carefully considered your petition request to drop BIOL 102 (S24) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Petitions and Appeal Regulations 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional.
I am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision, however, I want you to know that I considered this request very thoroughly. In making this decision, I reviewed your petition letter and the documentation that you supplied via email on September 1, 2024.
I want to let you know that technical issues, such as internet connectivity issues are not typically grounds for a petition request. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have access to the tools that they require to complete their classes successfully. I also see that you were able to successfully complete two other summer term courses despite these technical issues.
I acknowledge the health-related circumstances that you experienced over the summer term as reported within your petition letter, and I hope that you have been able to receive some support from your healthcare provider. I have however denied this request as your petition did not include documentation to suggest academic impacts on your academic performance in BIOL 102 from these health-related circumstances. It is the student’s responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on their classes prior to the drop deadline of the term. If they have fallen behind in a course or find the material too difficult, they should drop the course by the deadline. 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.
Max, I also see that you were not successful in completing some courses from the 2022 Fall, 2023 Winter and the 2024 Winter terms. It is my sincere hope that you can take this time away from your studies to access the supports that you need to ensure future academic success.
If you are concerned with the impact that this course has on your GPA, I would suggest that you consider repeating it in a future term. When repeating the exact same course code, both attempts will appear on your transcript however, only the higher grade will be included within the calculation of your cumulative GPA.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at 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 queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated September 23, 2024 at 9:11:14 AM.