Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6376
Decision Date: February 4, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Husain Akbar
Student Email: 16haa3@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Felicia Magpantay
Course: BCHM 218
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: John Alingham
Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: John Carran
Course: PHGY 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Allan Baer
Course: STAT 263
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Charles Molson
Course: CHEM 282
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: John Carran
Dear Husain Akbar:
I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported you experienced during the first three terms of your studies and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in MATH 121 (FW 2017/18), BCHM 218, CHEM 281, PHGY 215, STAT 263 (F 2018) and CHEM 282 (W 2019) due to the impact those circumstances had on these courses. After reviewing your appeal letter and the information we have received from your instructors, 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, there is no relevant documentation submitted which confirms the impact your circumstances had on your studies and these courses in particular. The information we received from your instructor€™s offers proof that you struggled in your exams and that the grades received accurately reflects the learning outcomes you achieved in these courses and is a clear reflection of your mastery of the course content. Also, for your information, your request for CR in PHGY 215 was not considered since the range of grades for a CR appeal is, as noted in the Academic Regulation above, for grades of C or lower. Since you had a grade of C+ in PHGY 215, that course did not qualify for a CR grade. In addition, you mention that you struggled during the first three terms of your studies but in fact your first year grades demonstrate that you did well during the first two terms of your studies at Queen€™s.
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)
20051586Akbar
Decision Date: February 4, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Husain Akbar
Student Email: 16haa3@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Felicia Magpantay
Course: BCHM 218
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: John Alingham
Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: John Carran
Course: PHGY 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Allan Baer
Course: STAT 263
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Charles Molson
Course: CHEM 282
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: John Carran
Dear Husain Akbar:
I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported you experienced during the first three terms of your studies and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in MATH 121 (FW 2017/18), BCHM 218, CHEM 281, PHGY 215, STAT 263 (F 2018) and CHEM 282 (W 2019) due to the impact those circumstances had on these courses. After reviewing your appeal letter and the information we have received from your instructors, 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, there is no relevant documentation submitted which confirms the impact your circumstances had on your studies and these courses in particular. The information we received from your instructor€™s offers proof that you struggled in your exams and that the grades received accurately reflects the learning outcomes you achieved in these courses and is a clear reflection of your mastery of the course content. Also, for your information, your request for CR in PHGY 215 was not considered since the range of grades for a CR appeal is, as noted in the Academic Regulation above, for grades of C or lower. Since you had a grade of C+ in PHGY 215, that course did not qualify for a CR grade. In addition, you mention that you struggled during the first three terms of your studies but in fact your first year grades demonstrate that you did well during the first two terms of your studies at Queen€™s.
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)
20051586Akbar
Generated February 4, 2020 at 10:09:58 AM.