Decision Letter
Submission Number: 11798
Decision Date: June 10, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: ellen McGivern
Student Email: 20etm9@queensu.ca
Course: PHYS 118
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ellen:
I was sorry to read about the passing of your pet and your grandfather and I would like to offer my condolences. I have carefully considered your petition request to drop PHYS 118 (S23) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 1.1 states 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. 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 their control.
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, the documentation that you supplied, and your academic record.
I acknowledge that you experienced the loss of your pet in June of 2023 and I understand how difficult this type of bereavement can be. As you know, academic impacts from an unexpected circumstance should be managed proactively by utilizing options such as academic consideration or accommodations. A student can request short term academic consideration if they need more time to complete a component or had to miss a class because of an illness or other personal circumstance. I see that you received academic consideration in PHYS 118 (S23) from June 3 to June 5 as your instructor accommodated you for a missed tutorial and written assignment in this course.
I have denied this request as your petition did not demonstrate how your academic ability in this course was specifically impacted when I see that you were able to achieve high grades in other courses during the same term. I recognize that PHYS 118 (S23) had a largely weighted final exam, which I see that you wrote on July 27 however, it was your responsibility to request additional consideration if you were not able to complete this component successfully due to extenuating circumstances at that time.
If you are concerned with the impact that this course has on your GPA, I would suggest that you consider repeating it in a future term. When repeating the exact same course code, both attempts will appear on your transcript however, only the higher grade will be included within the calculation of your cumulative GPA.
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/.
With sincere sympathy,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: June 10, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: ellen McGivern
Student Email: 20etm9@queensu.ca
Course: PHYS 118
Term: Summer
Year: 2023
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ellen:
I was sorry to read about the passing of your pet and your grandfather and I would like to offer my condolences. I have carefully considered your petition request to drop PHYS 118 (S23) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 1.1 states 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. 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 their control.
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, the documentation that you supplied, and your academic record.
I acknowledge that you experienced the loss of your pet in June of 2023 and I understand how difficult this type of bereavement can be. As you know, academic impacts from an unexpected circumstance should be managed proactively by utilizing options such as academic consideration or accommodations. A student can request short term academic consideration if they need more time to complete a component or had to miss a class because of an illness or other personal circumstance. I see that you received academic consideration in PHYS 118 (S23) from June 3 to June 5 as your instructor accommodated you for a missed tutorial and written assignment in this course.
I have denied this request as your petition did not demonstrate how your academic ability in this course was specifically impacted when I see that you were able to achieve high grades in other courses during the same term. I recognize that PHYS 118 (S23) had a largely weighted final exam, which I see that you wrote on July 27 however, it was your responsibility to request additional consideration if you were not able to complete this component successfully due to extenuating circumstances at that time.
If you are concerned with the impact that this course has on your GPA, I would suggest that you consider repeating it in a future term. When repeating the exact same course code, both attempts will appear on your transcript however, only the higher grade will be included within the calculation of your cumulative GPA.
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/.
With sincere sympathy,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated June 10, 2024 at 9:15:42 AM.