Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 9665
Decision Date: November 21, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ashley Quan
Student Email: 12arq@queensu.ca

Course: GNDS 315
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 350
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 330
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: DEVS 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 321
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 245
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: FILM 210
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 437
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: FILM 339
Term: Summer
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: GNDS 445
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ENIN 240
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Ashley:

I was sorry to read of the challenges you explained in your petition letter and I have carefully considered your request to drop GNDS 315, GNDS 350 (Fall, 2016); GNDS 215, GNDS 330 (Fall, 2017); DEVS 100 (Fall/Winter, 2017/18); GNDS 321, GNDS 245 (Winter, 2018); FILM 210 (Winter, 2019); GNDS 437 (Fall, 2019); FILM 339 (Summer, 2021); GNDS 445 (Fall, 2021); and ENIN 240 (Winter, 2022). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your petition to drop GNDS 315, GNDS 350 (Fall, 2016); GNDS 215, GNDS 330 (Fall, 2017); DEVS 100 (Fall/Winter, 2017/18); GNDS 321, GNDS 245 (Winter, 2018); FILM 210 (Winter, 2019). I recognize that the circumstances you outlined inhibited your academic success during the timeframe of these courses and they were completed prior to your May 2019 appeal where you were warned to drop courses prior to the drop deadlines if you continued to experience challenges.

2. To deny your petition to drop GNDS 437 (Fall, 2019); FILM 339 (Summer, 2021); GNDS 445 (Fall, 2021); and ENIN 240 (Winter, 2022). As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Petitions and Appeal Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, 1.1) 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. I do not see a basis for granting the late drop of these courses since you were sent a letter on June 11, 2019 where you had been warned to drop courses by the drop deadline if you experienced extenuating circumstances.

Going forward, if you resume your studies at Queen??s, let me remind you to pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term. If you have fallen behind in your studies due to your health or other extenuating circumstances, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline.

Another tool to manage your academics in addition to dropping a course by the drop deadline is our Academic Consideration protocol. A student can request short term consideration if they need more time to complete an assignment or miss a class due to documented extenuating circumstances. Here is the link for information about that process:

https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/academic-consideration-for-students

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.

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.

Sincerely,


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

10064885(Quan)