Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5758
Decision Date: June 25, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Megan Catoen
Student Email: megancatoen5@gmail.com
Course: PSYC100
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Jeremy Stewart
Dear Megan Catoen:
I was sorry to read of the health related challenges you experienced during the Fall term and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop PSYC 100 (FW 2018/19) based on that circumstance. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under extenuating circumstances. 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 circumstances beyond his or her control.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however the circumstances you outlined as well as the documentation you provided supports an impact on your studies for a period of 4 €“ 6 weeks beginning in September which was well before the March 1st, 2019 drop deadline date for full year courses. Appealing to drop courses after the fact is not the purpose of the appeal process and not a tool to manage your academic progress. In the future, I strongly encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a course by week 7 of the term and if you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the week 8 drop deadline. The drop deadline is set at Week 8 to allow students plenty of time to assess their progress in a class and withdraw without any academic penalty if they feel that they cannot keep up with the demands of a course or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.
This is a difficult learning experience Megan but one that will be valuable as you proceed with the pursuit of your university degree. Please note that a student can repeat a course with a low grade. The higher grade would then be included in your GPA and the lower grade excluded from your GPA.
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. You may contact the Office of the Ombudsman (www.queensu.ca/ombudsman) for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies) 20121774Catoen
Decision Date: June 25, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Megan Catoen
Student Email: megancatoen5@gmail.com
Course: PSYC100
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Jeremy Stewart
Dear Megan Catoen:
I was sorry to read of the health related challenges you experienced during the Fall term and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop PSYC 100 (FW 2018/19) based on that circumstance. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under extenuating circumstances. 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 circumstances beyond his or her control.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however the circumstances you outlined as well as the documentation you provided supports an impact on your studies for a period of 4 €“ 6 weeks beginning in September which was well before the March 1st, 2019 drop deadline date for full year courses. Appealing to drop courses after the fact is not the purpose of the appeal process and not a tool to manage your academic progress. In the future, I strongly encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a course by week 7 of the term and if you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the week 8 drop deadline. The drop deadline is set at Week 8 to allow students plenty of time to assess their progress in a class and withdraw without any academic penalty if they feel that they cannot keep up with the demands of a course or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.
This is a difficult learning experience Megan but one that will be valuable as you proceed with the pursuit of your university degree. Please note that a student can repeat a course with a low grade. The higher grade would then be included in your GPA and the lower grade excluded from your GPA.
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. You may contact the Office of the Ombudsman (www.queensu.ca/ombudsman) for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies) 20121774Catoen
Generated June 25, 2019 at 2:47:37 PM.