Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5420
Decision Date: May 2, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sarah Slim
Student Email: 12ss251@queensu.ca
Course: BCHM 313
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Robert Campbell
Course: BCHM 316
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Glenville Jones
Course: PSYC 370
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Janet Menard
Dear Sarah Slim:
I am sorry to have read that you have experienced health related challenges which you believe impacted your studies and that you are seeking Credit standing in BCHM 313, BCHM 316 and PSYC 370 (W 2018). After reviewing all aspects of your appeal fully, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, Academic Regulation 10.3.2. states that, Credit standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed all of the work of the course including the final examination, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond their control, earned a substantially lower grade than might have been expected, normally a grade of C or lower.€ Credit standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control. The integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students€™ records without clear and compelling documentation indicating that the student€™s performance was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however, the grades earned in these challenging courses as well as those received in other courses prior to your health diagnosis are not out of line with the grades you have received since your diagnosis . In fact, you should be commended that your grades prior to your diagnosis were of such a high quality and clearly you worked hard on your academic studies. In addition, since you first sought help during the summer of 2017, this was well before the winter term 2018 drop deadline so if you were running into academic difficulties, you should have dropped these courses by the drop date.
Going forward, I suggest that you inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in the Important Dates section on the Arts and Science web page and assess your progress in your courses or discuss your options with an Academic Advisor during week 7 or 8 of the term. If you find that you have fallen behind in your attendance, readings or assignments, it is your responsibility to drop by the end of week 8.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€). Do not use the on-line application for this process. The Office of the Ombudsman can also assist students with advice about policies and procedures. You may contact the Ombudsman at ombuds@queensu.ca or by phone at 613-533-6495.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies) 10099643Slim
Decision Date: May 2, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sarah Slim
Student Email: 12ss251@queensu.ca
Course: BCHM 313
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Robert Campbell
Course: BCHM 316
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Glenville Jones
Course: PSYC 370
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Janet Menard
Dear Sarah Slim:
I am sorry to have read that you have experienced health related challenges which you believe impacted your studies and that you are seeking Credit standing in BCHM 313, BCHM 316 and PSYC 370 (W 2018). After reviewing all aspects of your appeal fully, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, Academic Regulation 10.3.2. states that, Credit standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed all of the work of the course including the final examination, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond their control, earned a substantially lower grade than might have been expected, normally a grade of C or lower.€ Credit standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control. The integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students€™ records without clear and compelling documentation indicating that the student€™s performance was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however, the grades earned in these challenging courses as well as those received in other courses prior to your health diagnosis are not out of line with the grades you have received since your diagnosis . In fact, you should be commended that your grades prior to your diagnosis were of such a high quality and clearly you worked hard on your academic studies. In addition, since you first sought help during the summer of 2017, this was well before the winter term 2018 drop deadline so if you were running into academic difficulties, you should have dropped these courses by the drop date.
Going forward, I suggest that you inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in the Important Dates section on the Arts and Science web page and assess your progress in your courses or discuss your options with an Academic Advisor during week 7 or 8 of the term. If you find that you have fallen behind in your attendance, readings or assignments, it is your responsibility to drop by the end of week 8.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€). Do not use the on-line application for this process. The Office of the Ombudsman can also assist students with advice about policies and procedures. You may contact the Ombudsman at ombuds@queensu.ca or by phone at 613-533-6495.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies) 10099643Slim
Generated May 2, 2019 at 3:03:24 PM.