Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Decision Letter

Appeal Number: 6457
Decision Date: February 10, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Olivia Bowes
Student Email: 15ossb@queensu.ca

Course: CLST 103
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Christina Zaccagnino


Dear Olivia Bowes:

I am sorry to have read that you suffered from the flu during the Winter term 2017 and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in CLST 103 (W 2017) due to the impact that circumstance had on this course. After reviewing your appeal letter and the information we have received from your instructor, 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 official documentation submitted which confirms your circumstance and the impact it had on your studies and in this course in particular. In addition, the information we received from your instructor offers proof that you struggled in your first two tests and, since they were early in the term, you could have dropped this course by the drop date if you were concerned that your health was impacting your performance in this course.

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) 20017327Bowes

Generated February 10, 2020 at 8:40:30 AM.