Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6221
Decision Date: November 12, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Courteney Lew
Student Email: 14cjl13@queensu.ca

Course: GRMN 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: HIST 269
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ARTH 212
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ENGL 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: HIST 250
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: HIST 312
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: JAPN 200
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: JAPN 200
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ASTR 100
Term: Summer
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ENGL 100
Term: Summer
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Courteney Lew:

I have read with interest your appeal to drop ENGL 100, HIST 250, JAPN 200, HIST 312 (FW 2016/17), ARTH 212 (W 2017), GRMN 101, HIST 269 (F 2017), ASTR 100, ENGL 100 (S 2018), 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 a previous appeal submitted in May 2018 denied your request to drop ENGL 100, HIST 250, HIST 312 (FW 2016/17), ARTH 212 (W 2017), GRMN 101, HIST 269 (F 2017) and a student is not permitted to submit a second appeal for these same courses. As advised in your letter dated June 12, 2018, you could have appealed that decision to the Board of Studies. At that time you did not appeal to drop JAPN 200 (FW 2016/17) but I am denying that request for the same reason your previous appeal was denied. Your documentation did not confirm the timeline or severity of your circumstances over the Winter or Fall 2017 terms.

I am also denying your request to drop ASTR 100 and ENGL 100 (S 2018) since you have not provided documentation to support extenuating circumstances experienced during that timeframe.

Courtney, 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) 10186678Lew1