Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 181
Decision Date: July 2, 2014
Associate Dean: Johanne Bnard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Lucas Ball
Student Email: 0lb38@queensu.ca
Mr. Lucas Ball
0lb38@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Ball:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for a Minimum of Three Years. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you already know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar. The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling 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 Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student€™s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control. The requirement to withdraw is waived only in rare and exceptional circumstances where documentation makes clear that the difficulties are temporary rather than ongoing or that these difficulties have been dealt with in such a way that the student may make a successful return to the university. While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return to classes is warranted.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. While your chronic eye condition is an extenuating circumstance in itself, the appeal does not adequately explain how it directly affected your academic performance over the past year. It also does not address what steps you have taken over the past year to effectively manage your illness so it does not continue to affect your academics. In reviewing your file, your appeal from June 10, 2013 requesting to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year appears to be nearly identical to this appeal. The appeals system is not designed to compensate for extenuating circumstances that are ongoing in nature for which the student is unable or unwilling to effectively resolve or manage. Furthermore, in reviewing your current appeal and your student file, it does not appear that you followed through with your 2013/14 academic plan outlined in your previous appeal of June 2013.
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 (F200 Mackintosh-Corry Hall) or on the web: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/help/forms General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academics/academic-appeals. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Dispute Resolution Mechanisms Coordinator for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 153 Richardson Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (drm@queensu.ca).
Yours sincerely,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10012967Ball2
Decision Date: July 2, 2014
Associate Dean: Johanne Bnard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Lucas Ball
Student Email: 0lb38@queensu.ca
Mr. Lucas Ball
0lb38@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Ball:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for a Minimum of Three Years. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you already know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar. The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling 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 Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student€™s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control. The requirement to withdraw is waived only in rare and exceptional circumstances where documentation makes clear that the difficulties are temporary rather than ongoing or that these difficulties have been dealt with in such a way that the student may make a successful return to the university. While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return to classes is warranted.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. While your chronic eye condition is an extenuating circumstance in itself, the appeal does not adequately explain how it directly affected your academic performance over the past year. It also does not address what steps you have taken over the past year to effectively manage your illness so it does not continue to affect your academics. In reviewing your file, your appeal from June 10, 2013 requesting to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year appears to be nearly identical to this appeal. The appeals system is not designed to compensate for extenuating circumstances that are ongoing in nature for which the student is unable or unwilling to effectively resolve or manage. Furthermore, in reviewing your current appeal and your student file, it does not appear that you followed through with your 2013/14 academic plan outlined in your previous appeal of June 2013.
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 (F200 Mackintosh-Corry Hall) or on the web: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/help/forms General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academics/academic-appeals. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Dispute Resolution Mechanisms Coordinator for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 153 Richardson Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (drm@queensu.ca).
Yours sincerely,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10012967Ball2
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