Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6616
Decision Date: April 27, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Eva Widajewicz
Student Email: 15ew30@queensu.ca

Course: PSYC 215
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ANAT 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PHGY 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: LAW 204
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Peter Kissick


Dear Eva Widajewicz:

I was sorry to read of the challenges you faced with regards to your sight and I understand that these were difficult circumstances to deal with. I have carefully considered your appeal to drop PSYC 215 (W 2019) and ANAT 215, CHEM 281, PHGY 215 and LAW 204 (F 2019). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your appeal to drop PSYC 215 (W 2019). I recognize that the circumstances that you outlined inhibited your academic success during the Winter term 2019 which, according to your letter of appeal, was when you first identified challenges while you worked with experiments requiring you to manipulate colour.

2. To deny your request to drop ANAT 215, CHEM 281, PHGY 215 and LAW 204 (F 2019). As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under extenuating circumstances. 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 circumstances beyond his or her control. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance which occurred after the drop date deadline. Since the sight related challenges you outlined were realized during the winter term 2019, you should have dropped the Fall term 2019 courses by the drop date deadline if you were finding it difficult to complete the requirements since you had 8 weeks to determine your progress and potential success in those courses.

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).

I am pleased to read that you are managing your condition by using all available resources, research, and alternative learning strategies and I suggest that consider registering with QSAS who can help you manage both your health and your academics if you have not done so already. Going forward, I suggest that you pause to 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.

Sincerely,


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

20019978Widajewicz