Decision Letter
Submission Number: 13957
Decision Date: April 10, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Victoria Grzybowski
Student Email: 23nwmr@queensu.ca
Course: PHGY 216
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Nicolle Domnik
Dear Victoria Grzybowski:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add section number 4855 of PHGY 216 (W26) after the academic deadline. While I am unable to grant this request, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines and Winter term enrolment began during the 2025 Summer term in July. The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload.
I recognize that you originally submitted this petition request on January 22, 2026; however, it is my understanding that it was withdrawn by the Petition Coordinator on January 23, as section change requests are handled at the Department level and do not typically require a petition. I understand that, after being contacted by Petition Coordinator and informed why the Department could not facilitate your request, you subsequently resumed your petition on March 19.
I want you to know that I acknowledge the extenuating circumstances you outlined within your petition and I recognize the impact this situation has on your ability to participate in your current section of PHGY 216. I also appreciate the efforts you made to seek instructor support regarding enrollment in this course.
While I am empathetic to your situation and appreciate your motivation to switch sections of this course at this point in the Winter term course, I am unable to grant your request. Based on the information provided by the instructor of your desired section of the course, section 4855 is evaluated entirely differently than the section which you are currently enrolled in, including different grade breakdowns throughout the term. This means that changing sections would be similar to enrolling in a new course altogether.
I want you to understand that starting a course after week 4 of a 12-week term places a student at a great disadvantage and structurally inhibits their chance at success. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate a student for missed work resulting from late enrollment, and the academic deadlines are in place to ensure fairness and clarity for all students.
As your petition did not include documentation demonstrating that an extenuating circumstance beyond your control prevented you enrolling in section 4855 of PHGY 216 prior to the add deadline of January 23, 2026, I am unable to grant this request.
That said, if you have been unable to succeed in the section of PHGY 216 that you are currently enrolled it, I am willing to allow you to drop this course after the academic deadline so that your final grade will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript. If you want to accept this offer, please email asc.petitions@queensu.ca within 10 business days of receiving this letter.
Additionally, 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”). 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 (Academics)
Decision Date: April 10, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Victoria Grzybowski
Student Email: 23nwmr@queensu.ca
Course: PHGY 216
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Nicolle Domnik
Dear Victoria Grzybowski:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add section number 4855 of PHGY 216 (W26) after the academic deadline. While I am unable to grant this request, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines and Winter term enrolment began during the 2025 Summer term in July. The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload.
I recognize that you originally submitted this petition request on January 22, 2026; however, it is my understanding that it was withdrawn by the Petition Coordinator on January 23, as section change requests are handled at the Department level and do not typically require a petition. I understand that, after being contacted by Petition Coordinator and informed why the Department could not facilitate your request, you subsequently resumed your petition on March 19.
I want you to know that I acknowledge the extenuating circumstances you outlined within your petition and I recognize the impact this situation has on your ability to participate in your current section of PHGY 216. I also appreciate the efforts you made to seek instructor support regarding enrollment in this course.
While I am empathetic to your situation and appreciate your motivation to switch sections of this course at this point in the Winter term course, I am unable to grant your request. Based on the information provided by the instructor of your desired section of the course, section 4855 is evaluated entirely differently than the section which you are currently enrolled in, including different grade breakdowns throughout the term. This means that changing sections would be similar to enrolling in a new course altogether.
I want you to understand that starting a course after week 4 of a 12-week term places a student at a great disadvantage and structurally inhibits their chance at success. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate a student for missed work resulting from late enrollment, and the academic deadlines are in place to ensure fairness and clarity for all students.
As your petition did not include documentation demonstrating that an extenuating circumstance beyond your control prevented you enrolling in section 4855 of PHGY 216 prior to the add deadline of January 23, 2026, I am unable to grant this request.
That said, if you have been unable to succeed in the section of PHGY 216 that you are currently enrolled it, I am willing to allow you to drop this course after the academic deadline so that your final grade will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript. If you want to accept this offer, please email asc.petitions@queensu.ca within 10 business days of receiving this letter.
Additionally, 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”). 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 (Academics)
Generated April 10, 2026 at 9:30:58 AM.