Decision Letter
Submission Number: 14075
Decision Date: April 10, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Shiv Parekh
Student Email: 22shp3@queensu.ca
Course: BIOL 300
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an incomplete grade
Instructor: Dr. Paul Martin
Course: BIOL 330
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Maria Aristizabal
Additional Information: Final exam
Course: PSYC 370
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Dr. Monica Valsangkar-Smyth
Additional Information: Final exam
Dear Shiv Parekh,
Thank you for your petition requesting exam deferrals in BIOL 330, PSYC 370 (F25) and an Extension of an Incomplete Grade in BIOL 300 (F25). I have carefully reviewed your request, along with the information provided by the course instructors. While I’m unable to grant all of your requests, I want to assure you that your circumstances were considered thoughtfully and with care as part of the decision-making process.
I acknowledge the health-related challenges you described in your petition letter. I am sincerely sorry that these circumstances have had such a significant impact on your Fall term. I appreciate the documentation that you supplied and am glad to hear that you are receiving appropriate support at this time.
I have granted your request for an exam deferral in BIOL 330 and PSYC 370 (F25) as the instructors can offer you an opportunity to write the outstanding exams. It is your responsibility to contact instructors of these classes so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.
Regarding your request for an Extension of an Incomplete Grade in BIOL 300 (F25), Academic Petitions and Appeal Regulation 1.7.1.5. states that a student affected by extenuating circumstances may submit a request for academic consideration or ask the course instructor for incomplete standing (IN) for up to one full term after the completion of a class. If this request is granted, any further request to submit incomplete work after that term has elapsed must be made through a petition to the Associate Dean (Academic). The instructor will be consulted for their agreement to a further extension and stating a revised final date for completion of the course work in question must also be included.
Normally such requests are considered if the student has participated actively in the class and only one or two elements of the course work have not been completed due to extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Students 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.
Based on the information provided by the instructors of this course, while you completed the Lecture Components, the majority of the Lab Components remain incomplete. The instructor of the lab portion of BIOL 300 confirmed that none of the Practice Lab Reports or the Final Lab Report were submitted during the term. The instructor also suggests that as the feedback for all lab components have been returned to students, it is not possible for them to accept new submissions of the same assignments at this time. As a result, you are not eligible for an Extension of an Incomplete Grade in BIOL 300 based on the applicable regulations.
That said, as the documentation you supplied confirms the academic impacts of extenuating circumstances during the 2025 Fall term, I will allow you to drop BIOL 300 (F25) after the academic deadline. If you accept this offer, your final grade will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript. Please email asc.petitions@queensu.ca within 10 business days of receiving this letter if you would like to proceed with this academic option.
Going forward, I recommend meeting with an Academic Advisor to discuss your academic plan. You can find information on how to connect with an Academic Advisor, including the Zoom link, here: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising.
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 make use of the support and resources available to you, and I wish you the best in navigating your next steps.
Sincerely,
Dorit Naaman, PhD
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: April 10, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Shiv Parekh
Student Email: 22shp3@queensu.ca
Course: BIOL 300
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an incomplete grade
Instructor: Dr. Paul Martin
Course: BIOL 330
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Maria Aristizabal
Additional Information: Final exam
Course: PSYC 370
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: Dr. Monica Valsangkar-Smyth
Additional Information: Final exam
Dear Shiv Parekh,
Thank you for your petition requesting exam deferrals in BIOL 330, PSYC 370 (F25) and an Extension of an Incomplete Grade in BIOL 300 (F25). I have carefully reviewed your request, along with the information provided by the course instructors. While I’m unable to grant all of your requests, I want to assure you that your circumstances were considered thoughtfully and with care as part of the decision-making process.
I acknowledge the health-related challenges you described in your petition letter. I am sincerely sorry that these circumstances have had such a significant impact on your Fall term. I appreciate the documentation that you supplied and am glad to hear that you are receiving appropriate support at this time.
I have granted your request for an exam deferral in BIOL 330 and PSYC 370 (F25) as the instructors can offer you an opportunity to write the outstanding exams. It is your responsibility to contact instructors of these classes so that the appropriate arrangements can be made.
Regarding your request for an Extension of an Incomplete Grade in BIOL 300 (F25), Academic Petitions and Appeal Regulation 1.7.1.5. states that a student affected by extenuating circumstances may submit a request for academic consideration or ask the course instructor for incomplete standing (IN) for up to one full term after the completion of a class. If this request is granted, any further request to submit incomplete work after that term has elapsed must be made through a petition to the Associate Dean (Academic). The instructor will be consulted for their agreement to a further extension and stating a revised final date for completion of the course work in question must also be included.
Normally such requests are considered if the student has participated actively in the class and only one or two elements of the course work have not been completed due to extenuating circumstances beyond the student’s control. Students 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.
Based on the information provided by the instructors of this course, while you completed the Lecture Components, the majority of the Lab Components remain incomplete. The instructor of the lab portion of BIOL 300 confirmed that none of the Practice Lab Reports or the Final Lab Report were submitted during the term. The instructor also suggests that as the feedback for all lab components have been returned to students, it is not possible for them to accept new submissions of the same assignments at this time. As a result, you are not eligible for an Extension of an Incomplete Grade in BIOL 300 based on the applicable regulations.
That said, as the documentation you supplied confirms the academic impacts of extenuating circumstances during the 2025 Fall term, I will allow you to drop BIOL 300 (F25) after the academic deadline. If you accept this offer, your final grade will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript. Please email asc.petitions@queensu.ca within 10 business days of receiving this letter if you would like to proceed with this academic option.
Going forward, I recommend meeting with an Academic Advisor to discuss your academic plan. You can find information on how to connect with an Academic Advisor, including the Zoom link, here: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising.
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 make use of the support and resources available to you, and I wish you the best in navigating your next steps.
Sincerely,
Dorit Naaman, PhD
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated April 10, 2026 at 9:23:52 AM.