Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 3652
Decision Date: July 24, 2017
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sonya Patel
Student Email: 15sp90@queensu.ca
Dear Ms. Patel:
I have carefully considered your request to have your appeal heard after the 21-day timeline for submission. Based on the circumstances you refer to in your letter of appeal, I have decided to waive the timeline and proceed with your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I must unfortunately deny your request.
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 only be considered 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.
There is no doubt that you had a number of serious extenuating circumstances that directly affected your studies over the past year and I commend you for seeking help and taking steps to address these issues. My concern is the degree to which these circumstances have currently been resolved. From the documentation supplied, there is no clear indication as to whether or not these challenges are under control yet and your health condition is stable to the point where you are able to make a successful return to studies in September. Without such confirmation, I cannot waive this ruling.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain an average consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your program.
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 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).
Yours sincerely,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20017297Patel
Decision Date: July 24, 2017
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sonya Patel
Student Email: 15sp90@queensu.ca
Dear Ms. Patel:
I have carefully considered your request to have your appeal heard after the 21-day timeline for submission. Based on the circumstances you refer to in your letter of appeal, I have decided to waive the timeline and proceed with your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I must unfortunately deny your request.
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 only be considered 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.
There is no doubt that you had a number of serious extenuating circumstances that directly affected your studies over the past year and I commend you for seeking help and taking steps to address these issues. My concern is the degree to which these circumstances have currently been resolved. From the documentation supplied, there is no clear indication as to whether or not these challenges are under control yet and your health condition is stable to the point where you are able to make a successful return to studies in September. Without such confirmation, I cannot waive this ruling.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain an average consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your program.
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 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).
Yours sincerely,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20017297Patel
Generated July 24, 2017 at 9:12:14 AM.