Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 9307
Decision Date: August 31, 2022
Associate Dean: 0
Student Name: Taylor Sim-Salfarlie
Student Email: 20tsls@queensu.ca
Course: PSYCH 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: SOCY 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: CISC 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: GNDS 120
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Taylor,
On Tuesday, 30 August, the Board of Studies reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson??s decision to deny your appeal to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for one year and to drop CISC 101, GNDS 120 (Fall 2021), PSYC 100, and SOCY 100 (fall/winter 2021-2022). Board members present that day were Scott-Morgan Straker (Chair), Allison Goebel (Faculty member), Kai Salomaa (Faculty member) and Emma Farrell (Student representative). You attended a portion of the meeting, along with the Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson. Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present. After you and Dr Stephenson left the meeting, the Board carefully considered the information from the oral statements along with the written submissions contained in your file. The Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean??s decision to deny your appeal.
The Board recognizes that this decision will come as a disappointment, but wishes to emphasize one thing the Associate Dean said at today??s meeting: the Requirement to Withdraw for one year is not a punishment, but is instead an opportunity for you to take some time to focus on your health and wellbeing. The hope in giving you this opportunity is that when you return to your studies you will be better equipped for academic success. One thing that came through very clearly from your statement at this morning??s meeting is how important being at Queen??s University is to you, and how much you want to be part of the Queen??s community. The Board wants that for you too, but wants you to take up that place on the best terms possible, which means being in a better frame of mind than you??ve experienced over the last two years, receiving appropriate academic advice, and choosing a Plan and courses that are the best fit for you. The Associate Dean??s decision letter points out that the more unsuccessful terms students have, the harder it is for those students to raise their GPAs to the required level; the Requirement to Withdraw is intended to help ensure that the GPA hole does not get any deeper.
As to the late course drops, the Board saw no documentation in your submission that would explain why you were able to drop some courses by the deadline, but not these four. In the absence of such documentation, the Board upholds the Associate Dean??s decision in this matter as well.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
Again, I want to emphasize that this decision should not in any way be construed as a negative judgement of you, but is instead an invitation for you to spend some time working on your wellbeing, so that you can bring your strongest self to your studies when you return in a year??s time. On behalf of the Board of Studies, I wish you relief from the stress you??ve been experiencing, and progress toward your goals.
Sincerely,
Scott-Morgan Straker
Chair, Board of Studies
Decision Date: August 31, 2022
Associate Dean: 0
Student Name: Taylor Sim-Salfarlie
Student Email: 20tsls@queensu.ca
Course: PSYCH 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: SOCY 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: CISC 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: GNDS 120
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Taylor,
On Tuesday, 30 August, the Board of Studies reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson??s decision to deny your appeal to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for one year and to drop CISC 101, GNDS 120 (Fall 2021), PSYC 100, and SOCY 100 (fall/winter 2021-2022). Board members present that day were Scott-Morgan Straker (Chair), Allison Goebel (Faculty member), Kai Salomaa (Faculty member) and Emma Farrell (Student representative). You attended a portion of the meeting, along with the Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson. Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present. After you and Dr Stephenson left the meeting, the Board carefully considered the information from the oral statements along with the written submissions contained in your file. The Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean??s decision to deny your appeal.
The Board recognizes that this decision will come as a disappointment, but wishes to emphasize one thing the Associate Dean said at today??s meeting: the Requirement to Withdraw for one year is not a punishment, but is instead an opportunity for you to take some time to focus on your health and wellbeing. The hope in giving you this opportunity is that when you return to your studies you will be better equipped for academic success. One thing that came through very clearly from your statement at this morning??s meeting is how important being at Queen??s University is to you, and how much you want to be part of the Queen??s community. The Board wants that for you too, but wants you to take up that place on the best terms possible, which means being in a better frame of mind than you??ve experienced over the last two years, receiving appropriate academic advice, and choosing a Plan and courses that are the best fit for you. The Associate Dean??s decision letter points out that the more unsuccessful terms students have, the harder it is for those students to raise their GPAs to the required level; the Requirement to Withdraw is intended to help ensure that the GPA hole does not get any deeper.
As to the late course drops, the Board saw no documentation in your submission that would explain why you were able to drop some courses by the deadline, but not these four. In the absence of such documentation, the Board upholds the Associate Dean??s decision in this matter as well.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
Again, I want to emphasize that this decision should not in any way be construed as a negative judgement of you, but is instead an invitation for you to spend some time working on your wellbeing, so that you can bring your strongest self to your studies when you return in a year??s time. On behalf of the Board of Studies, I wish you relief from the stress you??ve been experiencing, and progress toward your goals.
Sincerely,
Scott-Morgan Straker
Chair, Board of Studies
Generated August 31, 2022 at 9:57:18 AM.