Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6350
Decision Date: January 21, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rachel Korchinsky
Student Email: 16rsk7@queensu.ca
Course: CHEM 313
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Tucker Carrington
Dear Rachel Korchinsky:
I was interested to have read in your letter of appeal your report of a recent diagnosis of an additional eye condition and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in CHEM 313 (F 2019) due to the impact that circumstance had on this course. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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 your documentation from QSAS notes that your new accommodations were in place as of November 18, 2019 which was prior to your final exam in this course and, according to the instructor, the final grade of 57 accurately represents your mastery of the course material. The professor€™s review of the final exam affirms that errors were not in any way related to transposition or €flipping€™ of numbers; rather the errors related to a fundamental misunderstanding or confusion of theoretical concepts. And so, the exam represents an accurate exhibition of knowledge, and was not impacted by a disability as described.
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. 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).
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies) 20061156Korchinsky
Decision Date: January 21, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rachel Korchinsky
Student Email: 16rsk7@queensu.ca
Course: CHEM 313
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Tucker Carrington
Dear Rachel Korchinsky:
I was interested to have read in your letter of appeal your report of a recent diagnosis of an additional eye condition and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in CHEM 313 (F 2019) due to the impact that circumstance had on this course. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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 your documentation from QSAS notes that your new accommodations were in place as of November 18, 2019 which was prior to your final exam in this course and, according to the instructor, the final grade of 57 accurately represents your mastery of the course material. The professor€™s review of the final exam affirms that errors were not in any way related to transposition or €flipping€™ of numbers; rather the errors related to a fundamental misunderstanding or confusion of theoretical concepts. And so, the exam represents an accurate exhibition of knowledge, and was not impacted by a disability as described.
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. 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).
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies) 20061156Korchinsky
Generated January 21, 2020 at 10:02:29 AM.