Report #249

DATE: August 14, 2000
PARTIES: Ms. F. F. (the Student) v UTM


Hearing Date(s): August 14, 2001

Committee Members:
Professor Ralph Scane, Acting Chair
Professor Clare Beghtol
Mrs. Jenny Carson
Professor Vivek Goel
Ms. Karen Lewis

Secretary:
Ms. Margaret McKone

In Attendance:
Mr. F.F., Appellant (the Student)

UTM:
No one appearing

UTM – late withdrawal without academic penalty and request to defer one–year suspension – previous late withdrawal granted on condition that Student was expected to follow procedures and timelines in future – stress from financial and familial circumstances – Student knew drop dates and warning that Faculty would not accommodate requests if procedures not complied with – not reasonable to attempt to complete all courses given weak academic record – academic record did not corroborate the claim that grades were brought about by external circumstances – appeal dismissed

Request for late withdrawal without academic penalty from three courses, and to defer a one–year suspension. The Student failed the three courses. The Student had served her suspension and sought the remedy for its practical future benefit. The Student had previously enrolled in one of the three courses at appeal and she had petitioned, and was granted, late withdrawal without academic penalty from the course. In granting the request, the Faculty advised the Student that she was expected to follow appropriate procedures and timelines in the future. The Student claimed that she was suffering stress from financial and familial circumstances, including stress derived from her resistance to agree to an arranged marriage.  The Committee found that the Student was suffering from adverse circumstances but that she knew about the existence of drop dates, and that she had been warned that the Faculty would not accommodate her further requests if she did not comply with its procedures. The Committee found that the gamble the Student took in attempting to complete all of her courses was not reasonable, given her weak academic record. The Committee found that given the Student’s academic record, granting her relief would undermine the University’s drop date policy.  The Committee observed that the appeal was presented as an indirect appeal of the Student’s failing grades in the three courses. The Committee found that the Student’s academic record did not corroborate the claim that the grades in question might be an aberration brought about only by the external circumstances. Appeal dismissed.