Decision Letter
Submission Number: 12399
Decision Date: November 4, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Mingwei Zou
Student Email: 20mz23@queensu.ca
Dear Mingwei Zou:
I have carefully considered your petition to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission, specifically your request to take 6.0 units of courses at Athabasca University, during the 2025 Winter term. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 3.3.1.7 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petition requests to take courses at another institution must directly address how this is necessary due to extenuating circumstances or an exceptional academic opportunity. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional. 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, your academic transcript and your email to the Letter of Permission office outlining your reasons for wanting to submit this request.
I acknowledge that you want to meet an admission requirement for a graduate school that requires you to complete your degree requirements by the end of the 2024 Winter term. I have however, denied this request as this is not an unexpected extenuating circumstance. I see that you took a reduced course load over the past 2 years, which is a fine choice, however wanting to fast track your degree completion in 4th year is not grounds for a petition request as this is simply not a recommended academic strategy.
Mingwei, I appreciate that you are passionate about French culture and understand that you want to take courses at another University, such as FREN 118 which is currently waitlisted at Queen’s. I want to remind you that you do not need any more electives to meet your degree requirements at Queen’s as upon successful completion of your currently enrolled courses, you are meeting your degree requirements at this time. I would suggest that you consider remaining in your currently enrolled 2025 Winter term courses and go on the waitlist for FREN 118 if a spot becomes available.
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 (Academic)
Decision Date: November 4, 2024
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Mingwei Zou
Student Email: 20mz23@queensu.ca
Dear Mingwei Zou:
I have carefully considered your petition to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission, specifically your request to take 6.0 units of courses at Athabasca University, during the 2025 Winter term. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 3.3.1.7 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petition requests to take courses at another institution must directly address how this is necessary due to extenuating circumstances or an exceptional academic opportunity. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional. 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, your academic transcript and your email to the Letter of Permission office outlining your reasons for wanting to submit this request.
I acknowledge that you want to meet an admission requirement for a graduate school that requires you to complete your degree requirements by the end of the 2024 Winter term. I have however, denied this request as this is not an unexpected extenuating circumstance. I see that you took a reduced course load over the past 2 years, which is a fine choice, however wanting to fast track your degree completion in 4th year is not grounds for a petition request as this is simply not a recommended academic strategy.
Mingwei, I appreciate that you are passionate about French culture and understand that you want to take courses at another University, such as FREN 118 which is currently waitlisted at Queen’s. I want to remind you that you do not need any more electives to meet your degree requirements at Queen’s as upon successful completion of your currently enrolled courses, you are meeting your degree requirements at this time. I would suggest that you consider remaining in your currently enrolled 2025 Winter term courses and go on the waitlist for FREN 118 if a spot becomes available.
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 (Academic)
Generated November 4, 2024 at 11:38:10 AM.