Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 3755
Decision Date: September 1, 2017
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Kamal Aboulmagd
Student Email: 15ka32@queensu.ca

Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ECON 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ENGL 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: MATH 121
Term: Summer
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ECON 111
Term: Summer
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Mr. Aboulmagd:

I have carefully considered your appeal to drop ECON 111 (F 2016), ENGL 100, MATH 121 (FW 2016/17), ECON 111 and MATH 121 (S 2017) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to grant your request.

I would like to note however, that this is a lenient decision. The documentation you supplied does not confirm the severity or impact that your mental health challenges had on your academic studies over the fall, winter and summer terms. Furthermore, your letter does not address why you were not able to drop these classes by the drop deadlines or why only these classes were affected by your circumstances and not the other classes that you were able to successfully complete. I am granting this appeal based on the fact that you were a first year student and still inexperienced in handling the transition to university as well as the fact that your documentation does generally confirm that you had some challenges last year. Be cautioned that any further appeals submitted based on these same circumstances will require documentation from a health care provider that fully addresses the timeline, severity and specific impact that your condition had on your classes.

As a part of my decision, I strongly urge you to follow through with your doctor€™s recommendations to monitor your symptoms carefully and continue to receive help through Student Wellness Services over the next year. It is your responsibility as a student to monitor your academic progress carefully and if you feel that you are falling behind, to consider dropping classes by the drop deadlines. I will ask that you see an academic advisor prior to the fall and winter term drop deadlines to review your progress to date, seek advice and information concerning your progress and options and receive referrals to other services on campus, as needed. Appointments can be made by calling the Faculty Office at 613-533-2470.

Note that any change in academic registration (e.g. dropping courses) may impact government or private-firm student financial assistance eligibility and/or funding such as OSAP, scholarships, or bursaries. Please consult with the Student Awards Office (Office of the University Registrar, Gordon Hall) to understand the potential implications of changes to course or program registration and/or the consequences of not successfully completing the required course load. A change in academic registration may also affect a student€™s enrollment status as a full or part-time student, eligibility for student visas, or benefits through external agencies.

I am confident that in the future you will make every effort to inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in Important Dates Section on the Arts and Science web page. These deadlines have been established by the Faculty of Arts and Science to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of all students and to facilitate the timely completion of university studies at Queen's.

Yours sincerely,


Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)


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