Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Decision Letter

Appeal Number: 3587
Decision Date: July 19, 2017
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ziqing Cai
Student Email: n.cai@queensu.ca

Course: CISC101
Term: Summer
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Ms. Cai:

I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year as well as drop CISC 101 (S 2017) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to grant your request. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University with the following condition noted below.

Due to the nature of your difficulties, 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.

According to your academic requirement report, you will be eligible to graduate with your Bachelor of Science (General) degree in Life Sciences once you raise your cumulative GPA to 1.60. If you repeat 9.0 units of courses you have previously failed and achieve a minimum grade of C+ or higher on these courses, this should raise your GPA to 1.60. Alternatively, if you repeat 9.0 units of previously failed courses and take an additional 9.0 units of new courses, you will need to achieve an average grade of C to raise your GPA to 1.60. I would encourage you to seek regular academic advising through the Faculty Office to help you choose which courses to take and ensure that you stay on track for graduation. 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 and you wish to continue your studies further, you may schedule an appointment to meet with me and I will consider changing your status back to full-time studies at that time.

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 (Main Floor Dunning Hall, phone 533-2470). 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 Student Wellness Services 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/sites/default/files/appeal_to_the_board_of_studies_1.pdf General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/academics/academic-appeals. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the University Ombudsman 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,



Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)


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