Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10908
Decision Date: October 16, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: John Williamson
Student Email: 22jmbw@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Ping Li
Course: MATH 121
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Peter Taylor
Dear John:
I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported in your petition letter and I have carefully considered your request to drop MATH 121 (S 2023) past the academic deadline as well as your request to receive Aegrotat Standing in MATH 121 and MATH 111 (FW 2022/23) based on those circumstances. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request. I appreciate that you had a difficult time navigating support system, but that does not meet the bar for Aegrotat standing.
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”. 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. I also consider the possibility of a student completing the course in a subsequent term and you have not provided information about extenuating circumstances that would have prevented that. 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.
The information we received from the instructor of MATH 111 indicates that you did attempt all the course deliverables in that course, but I can see that you did not perform well in the final exam so, I have decided (with the support of the instructor) to allow you to retake that exam. If you chose to accept that offer, please ensure you contact Professor Taylor as soon as possible to make arrangements since that offer would only be available until December 31, 2023.
The information received from the instructor of MATH 121 indicates that you have not demonstrated that you met the learning outcomes in that course, having earned a grade in the December midcourse exam of 11.2%.
I am denying the late drop of MATH 121 (S 2023) since you should have recognized if your challenges were impeding your success in that course by the drop deadline. It is a student’s responsibility to assess their progress by the drop date and drop courses if they have fallen behind or are struggling. The petition system is not designed to compensate for managing a chronic condition; instead it is intended for situations where students experience an unforeseen acute or new situation that arises after the drop deadline.
I am concerned John that you are currently enrolled in MATH 121 which will be your third attempt and I encourage you to carefully watch the drop deadlines and drop this course if you find it too difficult or cannot manage it due to health issues. I am also concerned that you are registered in a significant number of computing courses which I presume means you are hoping to change your Plan in May and get back into that program. If that is the case, I encourage you to discuss this with an Academic Advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Scienc office, or an Advisor in the Computing department.
Going forward, I strongly suggest that you continue to work with your health care team and QSAS Advisor who can help support both your health and academics. I encourage you to pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term John, and 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 date.
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)
20360545 Williamson
cc: Professor Li
Professor Taylor
Decision Date: October 16, 2023
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: John Williamson
Student Email: 22jmbw@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Ping Li
Course: MATH 121
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Peter Taylor
Dear John:
I am sorry to have read of the challenges you reported in your petition letter and I have carefully considered your request to drop MATH 121 (S 2023) past the academic deadline as well as your request to receive Aegrotat Standing in MATH 121 and MATH 111 (FW 2022/23) based on those circumstances. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request. I appreciate that you had a difficult time navigating support system, but that does not meet the bar for Aegrotat standing.
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”. 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. I also consider the possibility of a student completing the course in a subsequent term and you have not provided information about extenuating circumstances that would have prevented that. 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.
The information we received from the instructor of MATH 111 indicates that you did attempt all the course deliverables in that course, but I can see that you did not perform well in the final exam so, I have decided (with the support of the instructor) to allow you to retake that exam. If you chose to accept that offer, please ensure you contact Professor Taylor as soon as possible to make arrangements since that offer would only be available until December 31, 2023.
The information received from the instructor of MATH 121 indicates that you have not demonstrated that you met the learning outcomes in that course, having earned a grade in the December midcourse exam of 11.2%.
I am denying the late drop of MATH 121 (S 2023) since you should have recognized if your challenges were impeding your success in that course by the drop deadline. It is a student’s responsibility to assess their progress by the drop date and drop courses if they have fallen behind or are struggling. The petition system is not designed to compensate for managing a chronic condition; instead it is intended for situations where students experience an unforeseen acute or new situation that arises after the drop deadline.
I am concerned John that you are currently enrolled in MATH 121 which will be your third attempt and I encourage you to carefully watch the drop deadlines and drop this course if you find it too difficult or cannot manage it due to health issues. I am also concerned that you are registered in a significant number of computing courses which I presume means you are hoping to change your Plan in May and get back into that program. If that is the case, I encourage you to discuss this with an Academic Advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Scienc office, or an Advisor in the Computing department.
Going forward, I strongly suggest that you continue to work with your health care team and QSAS Advisor who can help support both your health and academics. I encourage you to pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term John, and 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 date.
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)
20360545 Williamson
cc: Professor Li
Professor Taylor
Generated October 16, 2023 at 8:22:32 AM.