Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10679
Decision Date: June 28, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Tabitha Onigbinde
Student Email: 18to2@queensu.ca
Dear Tabitha:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter, and I have carefully considered your petition to waive the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year." After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petitions and appeals are only granted where there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of a particular Faculty regulation or decision. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. 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 circumstances and documentation indicating that the student’s performance was significantly compromised by those circumstances which were beyond their control.
I acknowledge that, upon review of your transcript, you appear to have encountered challenges during your undergraduate degree and I can see that you are eager to return to classes, but your documentation showing the dates to the cancer centre were in 2021 and not particularly relevant to this most recent year when you are been required to withdraw. The documentation submitted from your counsellor noting that you experienced several extenuating circumstances for which you were receiving support beginning in October of 2021 and continuing into 2023 does show that you have experienced ongoing challenges, but the petition process is not designed to manage a chronic condition and it is the student’s responsibility to assess their circumstances and drop courses by the drop deadlines. 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 fair and equitable treatment of all students at Queen's.
My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the support you need to achieve success when you return to your studies. Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to 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 Academic Calendar at 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 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) 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 queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers 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: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
• Drop courses by the academic drop deadline. It is a student’s responsibility to manage the impact of their challenges and drop courses by the published drop deadlines.
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 queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20150684Onigbinde
Decision Date: June 28, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Tabitha Onigbinde
Student Email: 18to2@queensu.ca
Dear Tabitha:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter, and I have carefully considered your petition to waive the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year." After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petitions and appeals are only granted where there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of a particular Faculty regulation or decision. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. 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 circumstances and documentation indicating that the student’s performance was significantly compromised by those circumstances which were beyond their control.
I acknowledge that, upon review of your transcript, you appear to have encountered challenges during your undergraduate degree and I can see that you are eager to return to classes, but your documentation showing the dates to the cancer centre were in 2021 and not particularly relevant to this most recent year when you are been required to withdraw. The documentation submitted from your counsellor noting that you experienced several extenuating circumstances for which you were receiving support beginning in October of 2021 and continuing into 2023 does show that you have experienced ongoing challenges, but the petition process is not designed to manage a chronic condition and it is the student’s responsibility to assess their circumstances and drop courses by the drop deadlines. 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 fair and equitable treatment of all students at Queen's.
My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the support you need to achieve success when you return to your studies. Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to 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 Academic Calendar at 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 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) 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 queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers 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: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
• Drop courses by the academic drop deadline. It is a student’s responsibility to manage the impact of their challenges and drop courses by the published drop deadlines.
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 queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20150684Onigbinde
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