Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 1376
Decision Date: October 2, 2015
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Adam Beaudoin
Student Email: 1ab53@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Beaudoin:
I have carefully considered your request to have your appeal heard after the 21-day timeline for submission. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
The appeal timeline is in place to give students sufficient time to respond to an academic decision. The 21-day timeline offers students time to seek academic counseling, to write up and submit an appeal, and to collect the supporting documents necessary to the appeal. Further, the appeal timeline is in place to ensure that decision making takes place in a timely manner, allowing students to continue in their academic programs without ongoing concern for unresolved matters.
Exceptions to this regulation can only be granted in cases where extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control render the student unable to appeal within the specified timeline. The student must be able to show that the extenuating circumstances were ongoing. The student must also be able to demonstrate that these circumstances prevented the student from acting between the time the original decision was received and the time at which the appeal was eventually initiated. Appeals of the regulation governing the timeline for appeals must be submitted in writing. An appeal of this type should include a presentation of the specific reasons for a delay and should include any document which support the reasons for delay.
I do accept that the injury you suffered during your first year of study was quite serious and your recovery time was significant. I also commend your determination and hard work to continue in your studies, despite being ill. However, to allow a student to go back and appeal courses that were taken four years ago is an extraordinary action and can only be permitted in cases where the student has not been capable of making an appeal until the present day. From your letter, it appears that you were completely impaired in first year and suffered some academic challenges in second year as a result of some ongoing symptoms but there are no specific circumstances to explain why you were unable to make an appeal from anytime in second year or later. Your transcript shows a consistent record of excellent grades. You also went on exchange in winter term of third year €“ an activity that requires careful and detailed administrative planning. These factors lead me to believe that you had the physical and cognitive ability to construct an appeal at some point during your second year of study and beyond.
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).
Sincerely,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10030032Beaudoin
Decision Date: October 2, 2015
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Adam Beaudoin
Student Email: 1ab53@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Beaudoin:
I have carefully considered your request to have your appeal heard after the 21-day timeline for submission. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
The appeal timeline is in place to give students sufficient time to respond to an academic decision. The 21-day timeline offers students time to seek academic counseling, to write up and submit an appeal, and to collect the supporting documents necessary to the appeal. Further, the appeal timeline is in place to ensure that decision making takes place in a timely manner, allowing students to continue in their academic programs without ongoing concern for unresolved matters.
Exceptions to this regulation can only be granted in cases where extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control render the student unable to appeal within the specified timeline. The student must be able to show that the extenuating circumstances were ongoing. The student must also be able to demonstrate that these circumstances prevented the student from acting between the time the original decision was received and the time at which the appeal was eventually initiated. Appeals of the regulation governing the timeline for appeals must be submitted in writing. An appeal of this type should include a presentation of the specific reasons for a delay and should include any document which support the reasons for delay.
I do accept that the injury you suffered during your first year of study was quite serious and your recovery time was significant. I also commend your determination and hard work to continue in your studies, despite being ill. However, to allow a student to go back and appeal courses that were taken four years ago is an extraordinary action and can only be permitted in cases where the student has not been capable of making an appeal until the present day. From your letter, it appears that you were completely impaired in first year and suffered some academic challenges in second year as a result of some ongoing symptoms but there are no specific circumstances to explain why you were unable to make an appeal from anytime in second year or later. Your transcript shows a consistent record of excellent grades. You also went on exchange in winter term of third year €“ an activity that requires careful and detailed administrative planning. These factors lead me to believe that you had the physical and cognitive ability to construct an appeal at some point during your second year of study and beyond.
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).
Sincerely,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10030032Beaudoin
Generated October 2, 2015 at 9:20:35 AM.