Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10346
Decision Date: May 1, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: John Gillett
Student Email: jack.gillett@queensu.ca
Course: GLPH 281
Term: Summer
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MUSC 171
Term: Summer
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Jack:
I have carefully reviewed your petition letter requesting that GLPH 281 and MUSC 171 (S 2022) be dropped after the drop deadline, and I am sorry to have read that you were struggling to juggle these courses with your competing demands. After reviewing your petition, I have decided to deny your request.
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. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional.
I am sure this is a disappointing decision, but your petition does not describe any circumstances that are extenuating in nature or took place after the drop deadline. A busy work schedule and financial challenges are not a sufficient reason to alter a grade on a transcript. The drop deadlines are set to allow students time to assess their progress in a class and withdraw without any academic penalty if they feel that they cannot keep up with the demands or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.
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 had to 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
Jack, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade will be excluded from the GPA and the higher grade will be included.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean??s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on ??Submit a Board of Studies Appeal Here?). 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)
20180871Gillett
Decision Date: May 1, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: John Gillett
Student Email: jack.gillett@queensu.ca
Course: GLPH 281
Term: Summer
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MUSC 171
Term: Summer
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Jack:
I have carefully reviewed your petition letter requesting that GLPH 281 and MUSC 171 (S 2022) be dropped after the drop deadline, and I am sorry to have read that you were struggling to juggle these courses with your competing demands. After reviewing your petition, I have decided to deny your request.
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. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional.
I am sure this is a disappointing decision, but your petition does not describe any circumstances that are extenuating in nature or took place after the drop deadline. A busy work schedule and financial challenges are not a sufficient reason to alter a grade on a transcript. The drop deadlines are set to allow students time to assess their progress in a class and withdraw without any academic penalty if they feel that they cannot keep up with the demands or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.
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 had to 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
Jack, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade will be excluded from the GPA and the higher grade will be included.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean??s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on ??Submit a Board of Studies Appeal Here?). 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)
20180871Gillett
Generated May 1, 2023 at 11:07:41 AM.