Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6384
Decision Date: January 13, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Nicole Mckissick
Student Email: 16ngm2@queensu.ca
Course: SOCY 210
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Dr. Fiona Kay
Course: SOCY 388
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Nicole McKissick:
I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop SOCY 388 (F 2019) past the academic deadline as well as your request to receive Aegrotat Standing in SOCY 210 (F 2019) based on those circumstances. After reviewing your file 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€. Academic Regulation 10.3.1. states that, Aegrotat estimated standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed at least 60 of the work for a course, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control, is unable to complete all the work of the course (see Academic Regulation 6)€. Aegrotat standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control and the learning outcomes of the course have been satisfied. 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.
The information we received from the instructor of SOCY 210 indicates that you did not pass the work that you had submitted in that course so granting you Aegrotat Standing is not possible since a condition of a successful appeal for Aegrotat standing is, as noted above, that a student has €œcompleted and passed at least 60 of the work for a course€. In addition, the documentation you have submitted does not address the timeline as to the reasons why you missed the SOCY 210 exam nor does it address the circumstances surrounding SOCY 388. You note in your letter of appeal that during the term you noticed increased levels of mental health related changes and it is a student€™s responsibility to assess their progress by the drop date and drop courses if they have fallen behind or are struggling. The appeals system is not designed to compensate for managing a chronic condition; instead it is intended for situations where students experience an unforeseen acute or new situation that arises after the drop deadline in Week 8.
I am sure this is a disappointing decision Nicole but let me remind you that a student can repeat a course and the higher grade earned will be include with the GPA and the lower grade excluded from their GPA.
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 continue to work with your health care team and QSAS Advisor who can help support both your health and academics. I encourage you to pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term Nicole. 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.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20054818McKissick
Decision Date: January 13, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Nicole Mckissick
Student Email: 16ngm2@queensu.ca
Course: SOCY 210
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Dr. Fiona Kay
Course: SOCY 388
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Nicole McKissick:
I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop SOCY 388 (F 2019) past the academic deadline as well as your request to receive Aegrotat Standing in SOCY 210 (F 2019) based on those circumstances. After reviewing your file 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€. Academic Regulation 10.3.1. states that, Aegrotat estimated standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed at least 60 of the work for a course, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control, is unable to complete all the work of the course (see Academic Regulation 6)€. Aegrotat standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control and the learning outcomes of the course have been satisfied. 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.
The information we received from the instructor of SOCY 210 indicates that you did not pass the work that you had submitted in that course so granting you Aegrotat Standing is not possible since a condition of a successful appeal for Aegrotat standing is, as noted above, that a student has €œcompleted and passed at least 60 of the work for a course€. In addition, the documentation you have submitted does not address the timeline as to the reasons why you missed the SOCY 210 exam nor does it address the circumstances surrounding SOCY 388. You note in your letter of appeal that during the term you noticed increased levels of mental health related changes and it is a student€™s responsibility to assess their progress by the drop date and drop courses if they have fallen behind or are struggling. The appeals system is not designed to compensate for managing a chronic condition; instead it is intended for situations where students experience an unforeseen acute or new situation that arises after the drop deadline in Week 8.
I am sure this is a disappointing decision Nicole but let me remind you that a student can repeat a course and the higher grade earned will be include with the GPA and the lower grade excluded from their GPA.
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 continue to work with your health care team and QSAS Advisor who can help support both your health and academics. I encourage you to pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term Nicole. 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.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20054818McKissick
Generated January 13, 2020 at 9:35:29 AM.