Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 5686
Decision Date: September 5, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rachel Ontko
Student Email: 17rto@queensu.ca

Course: ECON 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Ian Cromb

Course: POLS 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Kim Nossal

Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: M. Norris

Course: SOCY 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Sachil Singh


Dear Rachel Ontko:

I have carefully considered your appeal to receive Credit standing in ECON 110, POLS 110, PYSC 100 and SOCY 122 (FW 2017-18). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your request for Credit in POLS 110 based on your extenuating circumstances and the input I received from the instructor which states that the learning objectives in this course were met. Your grade in this course will appear as CR on your transcript.

2. To deny your request to receive Credit in PSYC 100, ECON 110 and SOCY 122. 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 all of the work in the course including the final examination, and achieved a passing grade in the course, 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 and that the learning objectives in the course have been met. The information I received from the instructors of PSYC 100 and ECON 110 indicate that the learning outcomes were not achieved in these course since you did not pass key components of the course assessments. The instructor of SOCY 122 advised that you had not submitted an essay worth 20 of the grade.

Rachel, I am sure this is a disappointing decision but the integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students€™ records if the learning objectives were not met.

Going forward, a good practice for all students is to pause and reflect on your progress during week 7 & 8 of term and assess whether you are actively engaged in your courses and completing your readings and assignments on time. If not, you should drop any courses in which you have fallen behind in by the end of week 8 (the drop deadline). Appeals are generally reserved for those who encounter problems after week 8 or whose problems are more acute.

If your health continues to be a concern Rachel, I would strongly suggest that you register with QSAS who can help you with matters related to your health and your academics.

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.

I wish you well in your studies this year.

Sincerely,


Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)

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