Decision Letter
Submission Number: 12603
Decision Date: January 28, 2025
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Hannah Rydlo
Student Email: 20hr10@queensu.ca
Dear Hannah Rydlo:
Thank you for your petition requesting to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission, specifically your request to take 3.0 units of courses at Athabasca University, during the 2025 Winter term. I have carefully reviewed your request, and while I’m unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
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.
I commend you in your involvement with the Highlands Enduro race that you described in your petition letter however I want you to know that competing commitments such as working or volunteering while taking classes is not considered to be an unexpected extenuating circumstance. 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 acknowledge that you are interested in taking the equivalent of CISC 181 at Athabasca however I want to remind you that this course is not a required course within your Computing plan. According to your Academic Progress Report, you are currently meeting your degree requirements with the courses that you are enrolled in at Queen’s. I would suggest that you consider taking this class through Athabasca, without a letter of permission, in a future term once you have graduated.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you are welcome to submit an appeal to the Board of Studies. Information on the appeal process and deadlines is available at queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on “Second Level”). The Office of the University Ombudsperson offers guidance on student rights and procedural fairness at queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness, and they are also available to support you at queensu.ca/ombuds.
I hope that you continue to seek out the support and resources available to you, and I wish you the best in your Winter term courses.
Warm regards,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: January 28, 2025
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Hannah Rydlo
Student Email: 20hr10@queensu.ca
Dear Hannah Rydlo:
Thank you for your petition requesting to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission, specifically your request to take 3.0 units of courses at Athabasca University, during the 2025 Winter term. I have carefully reviewed your request, and while I’m unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
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.
I commend you in your involvement with the Highlands Enduro race that you described in your petition letter however I want you to know that competing commitments such as working or volunteering while taking classes is not considered to be an unexpected extenuating circumstance. 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 acknowledge that you are interested in taking the equivalent of CISC 181 at Athabasca however I want to remind you that this course is not a required course within your Computing plan. According to your Academic Progress Report, you are currently meeting your degree requirements with the courses that you are enrolled in at Queen’s. I would suggest that you consider taking this class through Athabasca, without a letter of permission, in a future term once you have graduated.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you are welcome to submit an appeal to the Board of Studies. Information on the appeal process and deadlines is available at queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on “Second Level”). The Office of the University Ombudsperson offers guidance on student rights and procedural fairness at queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/procedural-fairness, and they are also available to support you at queensu.ca/ombuds.
I hope that you continue to seek out the support and resources available to you, and I wish you the best in your Winter term courses.
Warm regards,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated January 28, 2025 at 1:35:23 PM.