Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10424
Decision Date: June 19, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Allyson Verkest
Student Email: 20av19@queensu.ca
Course: PSYC 305
Term: Winter
Year: 2023
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Mary Olmstead
Additional Information: Create An Animal Project
Dear Allyson:
I am sorry to have read in your petition letter the extenuating circumstances you reported, and I have carefully considered your request to receive Aegrotat Standing in PSYC 305 (W 2023). After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
Academic Regulation 10.3.1. states that, "Aegrotat estimated standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed at least 60% of the work for a course, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control, is unable to complete all the work of the course (see Academic Regulation 6)”. Aegrotat standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student’s control and the learning outcomes of the course have been satisfied. 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.
Allyson, there is no doubt that it was a challenge to complete this course due to your competing demands, but without documentation to support your extenuating circumstances, I am not prepared to grant this petition. I was however pleased to note that Professor Olmstead had previously suggested you contact QSAS, and if extenuating circumstances were appropriate, she would mark the paper after the term was completed and she is still prepared to do that. I strongly encourage you to reach out to Professor Olmstead once you get relevant documentation to arrange the timeline for completing the outstanding course requirement during this current summer term and by August 31, 2023 at the latest.
Going forward, a good practice for all students is to carefully evaluate your progress in courses during week 7 of the term and if you are struggling in your courses or if your health is suffering, 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 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
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/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20249159Verkest
Cc: Professor M. Olmstead
Decision Date: June 19, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Allyson Verkest
Student Email: 20av19@queensu.ca
Course: PSYC 305
Term: Winter
Year: 2023
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Mary Olmstead
Additional Information: Create An Animal Project
Dear Allyson:
I am sorry to have read in your petition letter the extenuating circumstances you reported, and I have carefully considered your request to receive Aegrotat Standing in PSYC 305 (W 2023). After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
Academic Regulation 10.3.1. states that, "Aegrotat estimated standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed at least 60% of the work for a course, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control, is unable to complete all the work of the course (see Academic Regulation 6)”. Aegrotat standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student’s control and the learning outcomes of the course have been satisfied. 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.
Allyson, there is no doubt that it was a challenge to complete this course due to your competing demands, but without documentation to support your extenuating circumstances, I am not prepared to grant this petition. I was however pleased to note that Professor Olmstead had previously suggested you contact QSAS, and if extenuating circumstances were appropriate, she would mark the paper after the term was completed and she is still prepared to do that. I strongly encourage you to reach out to Professor Olmstead once you get relevant documentation to arrange the timeline for completing the outstanding course requirement during this current summer term and by August 31, 2023 at the latest.
Going forward, a good practice for all students is to carefully evaluate your progress in courses during week 7 of the term and if you are struggling in your courses or if your health is suffering, 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 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
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/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20249159Verkest
Cc: Professor M. Olmstead
Generated June 19, 2023 at 9:48:43 AM.