Decision Letter
Submission Number: 11510
Decision Date: February 8, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ryana Istrefi
Student Email: 21ri5@queensu.ca
Course: CLST 203
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: griffith drew
Course: LLCU 110
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Sarah shulist
Course: GNDS 280
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Milka wanjiru njoroge
Dear Ryana Istrefi:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add CLST 203, GNDS 280, and LLCU 110 (W24) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulations at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that a petition to add a class late must clearly demonstrate the significant extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, which prevented them from making the addition by the deadline. A medical certificate or other documentation that outlines how the personal extenuating circumstances hindered the student’s ability to add the class prior to the deadline should be provided with the petition and the student must have support from the Undergraduate Chair of the relevant department and from the class instructor.
I am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision, however, I want you to know that I considered this request very thoroughly. In making this decision, I reviewed your petition letter, your transcript, and the input that I received from the instructors of these courses.
I recognize that you obtained support from the instructors of CLST 203 and GNDS 280 and lenient support from the instructor of LLCU 110 however, your petition didn’t demonstrate any significant extenuating circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from enrolling in these courses prior to the Academic Deadline.
I acknowledge that you have been away from Queen’s since the 2022 Winter term and I appreciate that you have considered your return to studies and have established an academic plan. I regret to inform you that the financial-related extenuating circumstances that you described in your petition letter are not considered to be unexpected as they relate to fees occurring from a prior academic year. I want to remind you that course registration for 2024 Winter term courses began in the 2023 Summer term.
Ryana, I see that you were placed on probation after your first year at Queen’s and understand that you are interested in pursuing a Political Studies degree plan. I have to inform you that this plan is competitive and does require a strong cumulative GPA. Enrolling in courses during week 5 of a term is not in your best academic interest especially when an instructor is not obligated to accommodate a student in missed work due to late enrollment. Going forward, I would suggest that you apply your academic plan to your future studies at Queen’s. Please know that 2023 Summer term enrollment is open now in SOLUS.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at 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 queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academics)
Decision Date: February 8, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ryana Istrefi
Student Email: 21ri5@queensu.ca
Course: CLST 203
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: griffith drew
Course: LLCU 110
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Sarah shulist
Course: GNDS 280
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Milka wanjiru njoroge
Dear Ryana Istrefi:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add CLST 203, GNDS 280, and LLCU 110 (W24) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulations at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that a petition to add a class late must clearly demonstrate the significant extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, which prevented them from making the addition by the deadline. A medical certificate or other documentation that outlines how the personal extenuating circumstances hindered the student’s ability to add the class prior to the deadline should be provided with the petition and the student must have support from the Undergraduate Chair of the relevant department and from the class instructor.
I am sympathetic to your situation and understand that this is a difficult decision, however, I want you to know that I considered this request very thoroughly. In making this decision, I reviewed your petition letter, your transcript, and the input that I received from the instructors of these courses.
I recognize that you obtained support from the instructors of CLST 203 and GNDS 280 and lenient support from the instructor of LLCU 110 however, your petition didn’t demonstrate any significant extenuating circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from enrolling in these courses prior to the Academic Deadline.
I acknowledge that you have been away from Queen’s since the 2022 Winter term and I appreciate that you have considered your return to studies and have established an academic plan. I regret to inform you that the financial-related extenuating circumstances that you described in your petition letter are not considered to be unexpected as they relate to fees occurring from a prior academic year. I want to remind you that course registration for 2024 Winter term courses began in the 2023 Summer term.
Ryana, I see that you were placed on probation after your first year at Queen’s and understand that you are interested in pursuing a Political Studies degree plan. I have to inform you that this plan is competitive and does require a strong cumulative GPA. Enrolling in courses during week 5 of a term is not in your best academic interest especially when an instructor is not obligated to accommodate a student in missed work due to late enrollment. Going forward, I would suggest that you apply your academic plan to your future studies at Queen’s. Please know that 2023 Summer term enrollment is open now in SOLUS.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at 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 queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness and guidance on policy and procedure by visiting their website at queensu.ca/ombuds/.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academics)
Generated February 8, 2024 at 8:43:21 AM.