Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 9264
Decision Date: June 28, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Akriti Shrivastava
Student Email: 18as62@queensu.ca
Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BIOL 343
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BCHM 218
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Akriti Shrivastava:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your letter of appeal, I have carefully considered your request to drop CHEM 281, BIOL 343 (F21) and BCHM 218 (W22) after the academic deadline. I have also considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1. To deny your request to drop CHEM 281, BIOL 343 (F21) and BCHM 218 (W22) after the academic deadline. 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.
I am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision however, the documentation that you supplied indicates that you had been receiving professional support for the management of your extenuating circumstances during these terms. I want to remind you that it is the student??s responsibility to evaluate their academic progress during week 7 of the term and make sure to drop courses that they have fallen behind in or find the material too difficult in by week 8 of the term. The drop deadlines, as they have been outlined in the ??Important Dates? section on the Arts and Science web page, have been established by the Faculty of Arts and Science to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of all students.
2. To deny your request to waive the ruling that you be ??Required to Withdraw for One Year?. The requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success.
While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, your appeal did not demonstrate to me that your extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow you to be successful in future classes. The documentation that you supplied indicates that you have been engaged in treatment for since March of 2021, however, you were not able to raise your cumulative GPA with the 24.0 units of courses that you attempted since your previous Requirement to Withdraw ruling was waived in June of 2021. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve future success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at https://www.queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising or by phone 613-533-2470. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan Department. Student Academic Success Services (SASS) https://sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life. The Student Wellness Services Centre https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen??s students. SWS offers personal and counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
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 ??Board of Studies?). You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policyE and Rules of Procedure for USAB https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy/usab-rules-of-procedure are Queen??s university Senate approved appeal policies. In the event that an inconsistency arises between these policies and Arts & Science regulations, SAAP and USAB will supersede.??
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: June 28, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Akriti Shrivastava
Student Email: 18as62@queensu.ca
Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BIOL 343
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BCHM 218
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Akriti Shrivastava:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your letter of appeal, I have carefully considered your request to drop CHEM 281, BIOL 343 (F21) and BCHM 218 (W22) after the academic deadline. I have also considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1. To deny your request to drop CHEM 281, BIOL 343 (F21) and BCHM 218 (W22) after the academic deadline. 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.
I am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision however, the documentation that you supplied indicates that you had been receiving professional support for the management of your extenuating circumstances during these terms. I want to remind you that it is the student??s responsibility to evaluate their academic progress during week 7 of the term and make sure to drop courses that they have fallen behind in or find the material too difficult in by week 8 of the term. The drop deadlines, as they have been outlined in the ??Important Dates? section on the Arts and Science web page, have been established by the Faculty of Arts and Science to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of all students.
2. To deny your request to waive the ruling that you be ??Required to Withdraw for One Year?. The requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success.
While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, your appeal did not demonstrate to me that your extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow you to be successful in future classes. The documentation that you supplied indicates that you have been engaged in treatment for since March of 2021, however, you were not able to raise your cumulative GPA with the 24.0 units of courses that you attempted since your previous Requirement to Withdraw ruling was waived in June of 2021. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve future success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at https://www.queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising or by phone 613-533-2470. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan Department. Student Academic Success Services (SASS) https://sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life. The Student Wellness Services Centre https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen??s students. SWS offers personal and counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
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 ??Board of Studies?). You may contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policyE and Rules of Procedure for USAB https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy/usab-rules-of-procedure are Queen??s university Senate approved appeal policies. In the event that an inconsistency arises between these policies and Arts & Science regulations, SAAP and USAB will supersede.??
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
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