Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6583
Decision Date: April 27, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Mackenzy Quinton
Student Email: 17mdq1@queensu.ca

Course: ASTR 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: David A. Hanes

Course: ECON 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Ian Cromb

Course: HIST 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Aditi Sen


Dear Mackenzy Quinton:

I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported in your letter of appeal and I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in ASTR 101 (F 2018) and ECON 110, HIST 122 (FW 2018/19) due to the impact those circumstances had on these courses. After reviewing your appeal letter and your documentation, 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, the documentation you submitted does not confirm that you were experiencing challenge during the time line of these courses nor does it provide sufficient information regarding your diagnosis or the impact your circumstances had on your studies at that time.

Let me remind you Mackenzy that if a student repeats a course, the higher grade is included in the GPA and the lower grade is excluded. This may be an option you would like to consider if you are concerned about your GPA.

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).

I am pleased to see that you have sought out support from a therapist and I encourage you to continue to develop that relationship.

Sincerely,


Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic) 20113185Quinton