Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 1296
Decision Date: July 28, 2015
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Kayla Bourdeau
Student Email: 13knb3@queensu.ca
Course: Bio 102
Term: Summer
Year: 2015
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: Anat 100
Term: Summer
Year: 2015
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ms. Bourdeau:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop CHEM 112B, MATH 121B and PHYS 117B (W 2015) as well as BIOL 102 and ANAT 100 (S 2015) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file I have decided the following:
1. Based on the extenuating circumstances you describe in your appeal from the fall and winter terms, I will grant your request to drop CHEM 112B, MATH 121B and PHYS 117B (W 2015) past the academic deadline. As a result of this decision, the €œRequired to Withdraw for One Year€ ruling will be removed from your transcript as it now no longer applies. However, given the ongoing nature of your personal challenges 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 personal and academic difficulties you have faced in the past and thereby enable you to be more successful in your future studies.
For the next academic year, I would strongly recommend that you continue with your treatment and take the time needed to work on your recovery. I also 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, 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.
2. I will however, deny your request to drop BIOL 102 and ANAT 100 (S 2015) past the academic deadline. It is the student€™s responsibility to monitor his and her own registration status in courses. Although your letter states that you requested that the advisor drop these courses for you, this is not common practice (students are typically advised to drop courses themselves on SOLUS). Furthermore, there is no email trail or any other evidence presented in your appeal or your student file to indicate that you made this request and it was agreed upon with your academic advisor.
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 (F200 Mackintosh-Corry 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 a letter of intent to appeal within 21 days of receiving this decision. Appeal forms are available from this office (Main Floor Dunning Hall) or on the web: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/student-forms General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the University 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).
If you have any questions about this decision, please feel free to contact the Faculty Office for advice or assistance. I wish you success in your future studies.
Yours sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10138254Bourdeau2
Decision Date: July 28, 2015
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Kayla Bourdeau
Student Email: 13knb3@queensu.ca
Course: Bio 102
Term: Summer
Year: 2015
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: Anat 100
Term: Summer
Year: 2015
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ms. Bourdeau:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop CHEM 112B, MATH 121B and PHYS 117B (W 2015) as well as BIOL 102 and ANAT 100 (S 2015) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file I have decided the following:
1. Based on the extenuating circumstances you describe in your appeal from the fall and winter terms, I will grant your request to drop CHEM 112B, MATH 121B and PHYS 117B (W 2015) past the academic deadline. As a result of this decision, the €œRequired to Withdraw for One Year€ ruling will be removed from your transcript as it now no longer applies. However, given the ongoing nature of your personal challenges 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 personal and academic difficulties you have faced in the past and thereby enable you to be more successful in your future studies.
For the next academic year, I would strongly recommend that you continue with your treatment and take the time needed to work on your recovery. I also 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, 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.
2. I will however, deny your request to drop BIOL 102 and ANAT 100 (S 2015) past the academic deadline. It is the student€™s responsibility to monitor his and her own registration status in courses. Although your letter states that you requested that the advisor drop these courses for you, this is not common practice (students are typically advised to drop courses themselves on SOLUS). Furthermore, there is no email trail or any other evidence presented in your appeal or your student file to indicate that you made this request and it was agreed upon with your academic advisor.
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 (F200 Mackintosh-Corry 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 a letter of intent to appeal within 21 days of receiving this decision. Appeal forms are available from this office (Main Floor Dunning Hall) or on the web: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/student-forms General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the University 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).
If you have any questions about this decision, please feel free to contact the Faculty Office for advice or assistance. I wish you success in your future studies.
Yours sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10138254Bourdeau2
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