Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6219
Decision Date: November 1, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Kruthika Mahadevan
Student Email: 14km100@queensu.ca

Course: BCHM 218
Term: Summer
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ENGL 100
Term: Summer
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: MATH 121
Term: Summer
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PSYC 271
Term: Summer
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Kruthika Mahadevan:

I have read with interest your appeal to drop BCHM 218, ENGL 100, MATH 121, PSYC 271 (S 2019), taking note of the circumstances you outlined. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance.

I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however the documentation you have submitted pertains to the period of July 31 €“ August 7th but is dated August 7th, so your circumstances are based on a self-report to the Physician. In addition, you have not explained why you missed the summer term drop date. You have a history of this pattern and have been warned in the past to inform yourself of term drop dates. And finally, you received academic consideration for these courses which were to be completed by September 4th and you have provided no explanation or documentation to address the reasons why you did not complete the course requirements by that date. Kruthika, I cannot therefore in good conscience alter your transcript.

Upon your return to Queen€™s, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a courses prior to the drop deadline date and if you have not kept up with the course work, you should drop courses by the drop deadline. The drop deadline is set to allow students 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 or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.

Let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade will be excluded from the GPA and the higher grade will be included.

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)

10184242Mahadevan