Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6872
Decision Date: September 2, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Matheson Goff
Student Email: 13mcg9@queensu.ca

Course: MATH 121
Term: Summer
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ECON 212
Term: Summer
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Matheson Goff:

I was saddened to read of the passing of your grandfather in March 2020 and I am very sorry for your loss. I have carefully considered your appeal to drop MATH 121 and ECON 212 (S 2020) and after reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To deny your request to drop MATH 121 and ECON 212 (S 2020). 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 your grandfather passed away during the Winter term 2020, you had time to assess how that loss was impacting your summer term courses prior to the drop date and, if you were finding it difficult to manage your grief, you should have dropped these courses by the drop date deadline.

2. I am however willing to drop your Winter term courses (ECON 244 and STAT 263) since those courses were during the term of your grandfather€™s passing. If you wish to accept this offer, please email asc.appeals@queensu.ca within 21 days of receiving this letter and I will drop those courses for you.

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 registered with QSAS and encourage you to continue to work with your QSAS Advisor who can help you manage both your health and your academics which would include pausing to evaluate your progress in your courses prior to the drop date deadlines. If you have fallen behind in your studies due to your health or other extenuating circumstances, you should drop courses by the 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 wish you continued success in your degree progression.

Sincerely,


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

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