Decision Letter
Submission Number: 14248
Decision Date: May 21, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Lingjie Kong
Student Email: 20lk21@queensu.ca
Course: BIOL 335
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Diane Tomalty
Additional Information: Final Exam
Course: PHGY 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Ward Christopher
Additional Information: Midterm Exam
Course: ANAT 315
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Diane Tomalty
Additional Information: Final Exam
Dear Jasmine,
Thank you for your petition regarding Exam Deferrals in ANAT 315, BIOL 335 and PHGY 215 (F25). I have carefully reviewed your request and, while I am unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that your circumstances have been considered thoughtfully and with care as part of the decision making process.
Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 1.7.1.6 (Requests for an Extension of an Exam Deferral) outlines that a student affected by extenuating circumstances who cannot write an exam as scheduled may request academic consideration and ask the course instructor for an exam deferral. Instructors may approve a deferral for up to one full term following the completion of a course. Where a student is unable to write the deferred exam due to the same or different extenuating circumstances, any request for an additional deferral must be made by petition to the Associate Dean (Academic) and must be supported by appropriate documentation. The instructor is consulted to confirm their agreement and availability to support a further deferral. If the instructor cannot support an extension of an exam deferral, the student may be encouraged to consider other petition options instead.
In addition, Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 1.7.1.5 (To Request an Extension of the Deadline to Submit Incomplete Work) states that a student with extenuating circumstances who have been unable to complete the majority of the work in a class should consider a petition to drop a class after the deadline rather than an extension of the deadline to submit incomplete work.
While I understand that your previous petition request (#14047) to drop ANAT 315, BIOL 335, and PHGY 215 (F25) was denied, I have considered your current request for an alternate academic remedy. My decision for each course is outlined below:
ANAT 315 (F25)
The instructor confirmed that you completed the midterm written exam (15%), the midterm lab exam (15%), and quizzes (10%). The final lab exam (30%) and final written exam (30%) remain outstanding. The instructor indicated that you were accommodated appropriately for the midterm lab exam through three deferred writing opportunities and suggests that they did not support an additional deferral for the final exam due to insufficient grounds. As the majority of the course remains incomplete, you are not eligible for either an extension of an incomplete grade or an additional exam deferral under the regulations. This request is therefore denied.
BIOL 335 (F25)
The instructor confirmed that you completed the midterm (20%) and were not successful in passing it. Two lab reports, the lab exam, and the final exam, together worth 80% of the course remain outstanding. As the majority of the course is incomplete, you are not eligible for either an extension of an incomplete grade or an additional exam deferral under the regulations. This request is therefore denied.
PHGY 215 (F25)
The instructor confirmed that you completed the Applied Physiology Assignment (20%) and were not successful on the final exam (40%). The midterm exam (40%) remains outstanding. The instructor has advised that two opportunities to complete the midterm have already been provided and that, based on your performance in the completed components, the course learning outcomes have not been met and are unlikely to be met even with an additional deferral. Based on instructor input and the extent of incomplete work, this request is therefore denied.
While I recognize the circumstances described in your petition letter, including a flare up of chronic extenuating circumstances, I note that the documentation you provided, dated April 30, 2026, confirms that you were supported professionally between January and April whenever an unexpected flare up occurred.
Jasmine, this is the 10th academic petition that you have submitted to the Faculty of Arts and Science. I want to let you know that the petition process is not meant to be used to manage a known, chronic condition or in lieu of accommodations, or as a regular remedy for failing courses. Academic impacts from ongoing circumstances should be managed proactively by utilizing options such as academic consideration or accommodations through QSAS. It is your responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on your coursework prior to the drop deadline of the term. If you fall behind in a course or find the material too difficult, you should drop the course by deadline. The drop deadlines, outlined in the “Important Dates” section on the Faculty of Arts and Science web page, have been established to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all students.
Additionally, if you wish to appeal this decision, information on the appeal process and deadlines is available at queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on “Second Level”). Appeals to the Board of Studies must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of this decision. 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 navigating your next steps.
Sincerely,
Dorit Naaman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: May 21, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Lingjie Kong
Student Email: 20lk21@queensu.ca
Course: BIOL 335
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Diane Tomalty
Additional Information: Final Exam
Course: PHGY 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Ward Christopher
Additional Information: Midterm Exam
Course: ANAT 315
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Diane Tomalty
Additional Information: Final Exam
Dear Jasmine,
Thank you for your petition regarding Exam Deferrals in ANAT 315, BIOL 335 and PHGY 215 (F25). I have carefully reviewed your request and, while I am unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that your circumstances have been considered thoughtfully and with care as part of the decision making process.
Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 1.7.1.6 (Requests for an Extension of an Exam Deferral) outlines that a student affected by extenuating circumstances who cannot write an exam as scheduled may request academic consideration and ask the course instructor for an exam deferral. Instructors may approve a deferral for up to one full term following the completion of a course. Where a student is unable to write the deferred exam due to the same or different extenuating circumstances, any request for an additional deferral must be made by petition to the Associate Dean (Academic) and must be supported by appropriate documentation. The instructor is consulted to confirm their agreement and availability to support a further deferral. If the instructor cannot support an extension of an exam deferral, the student may be encouraged to consider other petition options instead.
In addition, Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 1.7.1.5 (To Request an Extension of the Deadline to Submit Incomplete Work) states that a student with extenuating circumstances who have been unable to complete the majority of the work in a class should consider a petition to drop a class after the deadline rather than an extension of the deadline to submit incomplete work.
While I understand that your previous petition request (#14047) to drop ANAT 315, BIOL 335, and PHGY 215 (F25) was denied, I have considered your current request for an alternate academic remedy. My decision for each course is outlined below:
ANAT 315 (F25)
The instructor confirmed that you completed the midterm written exam (15%), the midterm lab exam (15%), and quizzes (10%). The final lab exam (30%) and final written exam (30%) remain outstanding. The instructor indicated that you were accommodated appropriately for the midterm lab exam through three deferred writing opportunities and suggests that they did not support an additional deferral for the final exam due to insufficient grounds. As the majority of the course remains incomplete, you are not eligible for either an extension of an incomplete grade or an additional exam deferral under the regulations. This request is therefore denied.
BIOL 335 (F25)
The instructor confirmed that you completed the midterm (20%) and were not successful in passing it. Two lab reports, the lab exam, and the final exam, together worth 80% of the course remain outstanding. As the majority of the course is incomplete, you are not eligible for either an extension of an incomplete grade or an additional exam deferral under the regulations. This request is therefore denied.
PHGY 215 (F25)
The instructor confirmed that you completed the Applied Physiology Assignment (20%) and were not successful on the final exam (40%). The midterm exam (40%) remains outstanding. The instructor has advised that two opportunities to complete the midterm have already been provided and that, based on your performance in the completed components, the course learning outcomes have not been met and are unlikely to be met even with an additional deferral. Based on instructor input and the extent of incomplete work, this request is therefore denied.
While I recognize the circumstances described in your petition letter, including a flare up of chronic extenuating circumstances, I note that the documentation you provided, dated April 30, 2026, confirms that you were supported professionally between January and April whenever an unexpected flare up occurred.
Jasmine, this is the 10th academic petition that you have submitted to the Faculty of Arts and Science. I want to let you know that the petition process is not meant to be used to manage a known, chronic condition or in lieu of accommodations, or as a regular remedy for failing courses. Academic impacts from ongoing circumstances should be managed proactively by utilizing options such as academic consideration or accommodations through QSAS. It is your responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on your coursework prior to the drop deadline of the term. If you fall behind in a course or find the material too difficult, you should drop the course by deadline. The drop deadlines, outlined in the “Important Dates” section on the Faculty of Arts and Science web page, have been established to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all students.
Additionally, if you wish to appeal this decision, information on the appeal process and deadlines is available at queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals (click on “Second Level”). Appeals to the Board of Studies must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of this decision. 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 navigating your next steps.
Sincerely,
Dorit Naaman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated May 21, 2026 at 2:48:36 PM.