Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

AMENDMENT

Appeal Number: 6293
Decision Date: December 11, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Paris Da Breo
Student Email: jetaimeparis_dabreo@hotmail.com

Course: HIST 122A
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: COMM 231
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: COMM 200
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ARTH 120A
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: FREN 241
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Francois Rouget

Course: PHIL 275
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 215
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: FREN 250
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: LAW 202
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Dear Paris Da Breo:

I have carefully considered your appeal to drop PHIL 275, GNDS 215, FREN 250, LAW 202 (W 2019), COMM 231, COMM 200 (F 2019) after the drop date. You have also appealed for Credit standing in FREN 241 (F 2018). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your request to drop PHIL 275, GNDS 215, FREN 250 (W 2019) based the circumstances outlined and documentation provided.

2. To deny your request for Credit standing in FREN 241 (F 2018) as there is no documentation provided which supports extenuating circumstances during that term. .

3. To deny your request to drop LAW 202, COMM 231 and COMM 200 (F 2019) since again, there is no documentation provided which supports extenuating circumstances during that term.

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 Regulations note that 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.

Paris, this may be a disappointing decision but the appeals process is designed to address circumstances that are supported by documentation which confirms the timeline severity and impact that circumstances had on a student€™s studies. I am sure the challenges you report were difficult but it is a student€™s responsibility to carefully evaluate their progress in their courses prior to the drop dates. The appeals process is not meant to manage an ongoing or chronic condition.

Let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the higher grade will be included with the GPA and the lower grade will be excluded. This may be a good strategy for you to consider as you select courses in the future.

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 University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities as well as guidance on policy and procedure (www.queensu.ca/ombuds).

Going forward, I strongly suggest that you pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term. If you have fallen behind in your studies due to your health or other extenuating circumstances, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline date.

I encourage you to continue to work towards registering with QSAS who can help you in the future with both your health and your academics.

Sincerely,



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


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