Decision Letter
Submission Number: 10682
Decision Date: October 16, 2023
Associate Dean:
Student Name: ALI HAIDER CHEEMA
Student Email: 20ahc1@queensu.ca
Dear Ali,
On Thursday October 5, 2023, the Board of Studies (Board) reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson’s decision to deny your request to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year (RTW1). Board members present that day were Johanne Bénard (Chair), Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant (Faculty member), Jean-Michel Nunzi (Faculty member), and Therese de Rivera (Student representative). Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present.
At this meeting, after carefully reviewing all written submissions contained in the file, the Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean’s decision to deny your request to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year, finding it reasonable in light of the Faculty’s regulations and your academic record.
The Board agreed with the Associate Dean that the petitions and appeals process at Queen’s is a document-based system and that the documentation that was provided with your appeal did not give evidence on extenuating circumstances that would have had an impact on your courses in the Winter 2022, Fall 2022 and Winter 2023. The Board appreciates the inconvenience of your housing arrangements in 2022-2023, but, like the Associate Dean, we stated that your commuting does not qualify as extenuating circumstances. As for the documentation from Student Wellness Services (SWS), while it attests to extenuating circumstances in the Fall of 2022, it does not provide justification for your academic performance for the whole period of time covered by your appeal.
Given the importance of completing your courses successfully and of increasing your GPA upon your return to Queen’s, the Board would like to emphasise the importance of reaching out to an Academic Advisor to establish a more detailed academic plan and to access support if needed.
As the Board’s decision to uphold the requirement to withdraw for 1 year affects your progression in your degree, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
On behalf of the Board of Studies, I would like to wish you every success as you pursue your educational and career goals.
Sincerely,
Johanne Bénard
Chair, Board of Studies
Decision Date: October 16, 2023
Associate Dean:
Student Name: ALI HAIDER CHEEMA
Student Email: 20ahc1@queensu.ca
Dear Ali,
On Thursday October 5, 2023, the Board of Studies (Board) reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson’s decision to deny your request to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year (RTW1). Board members present that day were Johanne Bénard (Chair), Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant (Faculty member), Jean-Michel Nunzi (Faculty member), and Therese de Rivera (Student representative). Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present.
At this meeting, after carefully reviewing all written submissions contained in the file, the Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean’s decision to deny your request to waive the Requirement to Withdraw for One Year, finding it reasonable in light of the Faculty’s regulations and your academic record.
The Board agreed with the Associate Dean that the petitions and appeals process at Queen’s is a document-based system and that the documentation that was provided with your appeal did not give evidence on extenuating circumstances that would have had an impact on your courses in the Winter 2022, Fall 2022 and Winter 2023. The Board appreciates the inconvenience of your housing arrangements in 2022-2023, but, like the Associate Dean, we stated that your commuting does not qualify as extenuating circumstances. As for the documentation from Student Wellness Services (SWS), while it attests to extenuating circumstances in the Fall of 2022, it does not provide justification for your academic performance for the whole period of time covered by your appeal.
Given the importance of completing your courses successfully and of increasing your GPA upon your return to Queen’s, the Board would like to emphasise the importance of reaching out to an Academic Advisor to establish a more detailed academic plan and to access support if needed.
As the Board’s decision to uphold the requirement to withdraw for 1 year affects your progression in your degree, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
On behalf of the Board of Studies, I would like to wish you every success as you pursue your educational and career goals.
Sincerely,
Johanne Bénard
Chair, Board of Studies
Generated October 16, 2023 at 9:24:08 AM.