Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6420
Decision Date: February 14, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Quinn Peacock
Student Email: 18qvp@queensu.ca

Course: POLS 243
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: POLS 261
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: DEVS 220
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: DEVS 230
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Susanne Soederberg


Dear Quinn Peacock:

I was sorry to read of the challenges you faced last term and understand that these were difficult circumstances to deal with. I have carefully considered your appeal to drop POLS 243, POLS 261 and DEVS 220 (F 2019) past the academic deadline as well as receive Credit standing in DEVS 230 (F 2019). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your appeal to drop POLS 243, POLS 261, DEVS 220 (F 2019).

2. To deny your request for Credit standing in DEVS 230 (F 2019). The instructor in this courses advised that the grades accurately reflect the learning outcomes that were achieved. Since you failed the tutorial evaluation, which is a significant component of this course, I cannot in good conscience change your grade. I do recognize that you received accommodation for the period of October 17th to 28th, but this does not address the tutorials you did not participate in outside of this timeframe. 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.

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 communicate your approved accommodations with instructors at the beginning of the term and to ensure you pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term. 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.

Note that any change in academic registration may impact government or private-firm student financial assistance eligibility and/or funding. Please consult with the Student Awards Office, Office of the University Registrar, Gordon Hall, to understand the potential implications of changes to course or program registration and/or the consequences of not successfully completing the required course load.

I trust you are continuing to work with your health care professionals and I wish you well in your current courses.

Sincerely,


Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)

20120817Peacock