Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6182
Decision Date: October 28, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Bassem Doss
Student Email: 17brd2@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Alan Ableson
Course: PHYS 117
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Philippe Di Stephano
Course: CHEM 112
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Michale Mombourquette
Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Jeremy Stewart
Dear Bassem Doss:
I am sorry to have read of your injury at the end of Fall term 2018 and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in MATH 121, PHYS 117, CHEM 112 and PSYC 100 (FW 2018/19) due to the impact those circumstances had on those courses. After reviewing your appeal letter, documentation, and the information we have received from your instructors, 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 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. 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, there is no relevant circumstances or documentation submitted which demonstrates why you were unable to drop these courses by the March 1st drop date deadline. Certainly I can see that you underwent a surgical procedure on January 9th, 2019 and that were unable to attend class until January 25th. I also realize that there were some ongoing mobility issues but you were accommodated for through QSAS. Further, the information we received from your instructors offers proof that your grades were fairly consistent throughout the year and not particularly impacted during the W term. In fact, you actually did better in the MATH 121 Winter term exam than you did in the Fall term exam.
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.
Associae Dean (Studies) 20100466Doss
Decision Date: October 28, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Bassem Doss
Student Email: 17brd2@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Alan Ableson
Course: PHYS 117
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Philippe Di Stephano
Course: CHEM 112
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Michale Mombourquette
Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Jeremy Stewart
Dear Bassem Doss:
I am sorry to have read of your injury at the end of Fall term 2018 and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in MATH 121, PHYS 117, CHEM 112 and PSYC 100 (FW 2018/19) due to the impact those circumstances had on those courses. After reviewing your appeal letter, documentation, and the information we have received from your instructors, 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 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. 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, there is no relevant circumstances or documentation submitted which demonstrates why you were unable to drop these courses by the March 1st drop date deadline. Certainly I can see that you underwent a surgical procedure on January 9th, 2019 and that were unable to attend class until January 25th. I also realize that there were some ongoing mobility issues but you were accommodated for through QSAS. Further, the information we received from your instructors offers proof that your grades were fairly consistent throughout the year and not particularly impacted during the W term. In fact, you actually did better in the MATH 121 Winter term exam than you did in the Fall term exam.
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.
Associae Dean (Studies) 20100466Doss
Generated October 28, 2019 at 8:43:42 AM.