Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10825
Decision Date: August 14, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Diadie Traore
Student Email: 19dt22@queensu.ca
Course: LAW 201
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Diadie:
I am sorry to have read in your petition letter the challenges you reported, and I have carefully considered your request to drop LAW 201 (S 2023) past the academic deadline based on those extenuating circumstances. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your petition.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. Petition Regulation 3.3.1.2 stresses 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 circumstances and documentation indicating that the student’s performance was significantly compromised by circumstances beyond his or her control.
This is a disappointing decision I am sure Diadie, but juggling competing demands such as taking other courses, is not considered an extenuating circumstance and it was your responsibility to assess the course load prior to the drop deadline. You mention in your letter that you were under the impression this was a required course for your program which is why you ‘pushed through’. As you note, the course is an option course for your POLS major so it would have indeed helped you satisfy your Plan requirements.
Diadie, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the low grade is excluded from their grade point average and the higher grade is included, which would mean there would be no long term negative impact on your GPA.
Going forward, I strongly suggest that you carefully evaluate your progress in your courses prior to the drop deadlines and if you have fallen behind or you are not performing in a course to your satisfaction, you should drop courses by the 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 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/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: August 14, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Diadie Traore
Student Email: 19dt22@queensu.ca
Course: LAW 201
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Diadie:
I am sorry to have read in your petition letter the challenges you reported, and I have carefully considered your request to drop LAW 201 (S 2023) past the academic deadline based on those extenuating circumstances. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your petition.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. Petition Regulation 3.3.1.2 stresses 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 circumstances and documentation indicating that the student’s performance was significantly compromised by circumstances beyond his or her control.
This is a disappointing decision I am sure Diadie, but juggling competing demands such as taking other courses, is not considered an extenuating circumstance and it was your responsibility to assess the course load prior to the drop deadline. You mention in your letter that you were under the impression this was a required course for your program which is why you ‘pushed through’. As you note, the course is an option course for your POLS major so it would have indeed helped you satisfy your Plan requirements.
Diadie, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the low grade is excluded from their grade point average and the higher grade is included, which would mean there would be no long term negative impact on your GPA.
Going forward, I strongly suggest that you carefully evaluate your progress in your courses prior to the drop deadlines and if you have fallen behind or you are not performing in a course to your satisfaction, you should drop courses by the 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 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/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated August 14, 2023 at 11:56:51 AM.