Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 9489
Decision Date: August 29, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Victoria DiCristofaro
Student Email: 19vgd@queensu.ca
Dear Victoria DiCristofaro:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the 21-day deadline related to the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulations section of the Academic Calendar and were clearly outlined in the Requirement to Withdraw letter that you received. The 21-day deadline is put in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information for their appeal.
You mention in your appeal letter that you were surprised to find out that you were not meeting your academic requirements. I want to remind you that it is the student??s responsibility to assess their progress in their classes during week 7 of each term. If you have fallen behind in a course or find the material too difficult, you should drop the course 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. When you return to your studies, I suggest that you review each of your grades on onQ as well as the individual feedback that you receive from your instructors. You can access SOLUS at any time to view your grades and GPA information.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student??s control and debilitating to their academic performance. In addition, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. I see that you utilizing Academic Consideration three times during the 2021/2022 academic year including for the covid-related extenuating circumstance that you experienced in the Winter term. I also see that you were accommodated for each of these extenuating circumstances in your classes.
While it is clear that you are eager to return to classes, you did not provide any documentation to confirm the timeline, severity or impacts from an extenuating circumstance that would have prevented you from being able to appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year by the appeal deadline. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve future academic success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and 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 Digital 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 as well as guidance on policy and procedure (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: August 29, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Victoria DiCristofaro
Student Email: 19vgd@queensu.ca
Dear Victoria DiCristofaro:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the 21-day deadline related to the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulations section of the Academic Calendar and were clearly outlined in the Requirement to Withdraw letter that you received. The 21-day deadline is put in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information for their appeal.
You mention in your appeal letter that you were surprised to find out that you were not meeting your academic requirements. I want to remind you that it is the student??s responsibility to assess their progress in their classes during week 7 of each term. If you have fallen behind in a course or find the material too difficult, you should drop the course 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. When you return to your studies, I suggest that you review each of your grades on onQ as well as the individual feedback that you receive from your instructors. You can access SOLUS at any time to view your grades and GPA information.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student??s control and debilitating to their academic performance. In addition, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. I see that you utilizing Academic Consideration three times during the 2021/2022 academic year including for the covid-related extenuating circumstance that you experienced in the Winter term. I also see that you were accommodated for each of these extenuating circumstances in your classes.
While it is clear that you are eager to return to classes, you did not provide any documentation to confirm the timeline, severity or impacts from an extenuating circumstance that would have prevented you from being able to appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year by the appeal deadline. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve future academic success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and 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 Digital 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 as well as guidance on policy and procedure (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)
Generated August 29, 2022 at 9:41:05 AM.