Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6429
Decision Date: February 10, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Grace Link
Student Email: 17gkl@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 112
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: CISC 181
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Marwa Elsayed
Dear Grace Link:
I am sorry to have read of the reported extenuating circumstances you have outlined in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop MATH 112 (W 2019) past the academic deadline as well as receive Credit standing in CISC 181 (F 2019) based on those circumstances. After reviewing your file 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. In addition, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. 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 sure this is a disappointing decision, but our review of SOLUS indicates that you tried to drop MATH 112 prior to the drop date, but chose to remain in it as it was a co-requisite for CISC 121 which you decided to stay in. That is a clear indicator that you paused to assess your performance in MATH 112 prior to the drop date and made a choice to stay in that course. In addition, you report that MATH 112 was impacted by a suspected learning disability but you have not submitted any documentation to support that circumstance.
I am denying your request for Credit standing in CISC 181 due to the accommodations that the instructor provided you during the term as deadlines for assignments were extended to accommodate your needs so I cannot, in good conscience, adjust your grade further and amend your transcript.
Grace, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from their GPA and the higher grade is included. This may be a good strategy if you are concerned about your grade point average.
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).
Best of luck in your current courses.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20091586Link
Decision Date: February 10, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Grace Link
Student Email: 17gkl@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 112
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: CISC 181
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Marwa Elsayed
Dear Grace Link:
I am sorry to have read of the reported extenuating circumstances you have outlined in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop MATH 112 (W 2019) past the academic deadline as well as receive Credit standing in CISC 181 (F 2019) based on those circumstances. After reviewing your file 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. In addition, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. 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 sure this is a disappointing decision, but our review of SOLUS indicates that you tried to drop MATH 112 prior to the drop date, but chose to remain in it as it was a co-requisite for CISC 121 which you decided to stay in. That is a clear indicator that you paused to assess your performance in MATH 112 prior to the drop date and made a choice to stay in that course. In addition, you report that MATH 112 was impacted by a suspected learning disability but you have not submitted any documentation to support that circumstance.
I am denying your request for Credit standing in CISC 181 due to the accommodations that the instructor provided you during the term as deadlines for assignments were extended to accommodate your needs so I cannot, in good conscience, adjust your grade further and amend your transcript.
Grace, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from their GPA and the higher grade is included. This may be a good strategy if you are concerned about your grade point average.
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).
Best of luck in your current courses.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20091586Link
Generated February 10, 2020 at 8:47:59 AM.