Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am petitioning to add two courses after the deadline (FREN 118 and FILM 335) for the winter term of 2024. I am completing a double degree with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics, and I have planned my course loads by using the support of academic advisors as well as the SOLUS requirement page. I was told on the add/drop date (Jan 19) that I was missing the supporting 3A section of my plan. This was incorrect, as I chose to substitute COMM 161 and an artsci elective for this portion. I was later told, after the add/drop date had passed, that what I had been told before (that COMM 161 and COMM 162 could be used towards my Bachelor of Arts credits), was incorrect and that I was missing 6 units in order to graduate this winter as I had planned. Throughout my academic career, I met with multiple academic advisors prior to choosing my courses for the year, both through scheduled and drop in sessions, and each time I was told that I was on track to graduate in 2024 Winter. January 19 2023, October 10 2022, July 7 2021 were three of these scheduled sessions, while multiple others took advantage of the drop in advising sessions provided by Queens. Furthermore, the “plan by requirements” section on SOLUS which I had used to initially plan my courses, demonstrates that I have completed all the required courses in order to graduate. Ultimately, the varying advice and explanations that was given to me by the advisors that I spoke to caused me to create a plan that was short 6 units, as explained to me after the add/drop date for this term. Additionally, a broken fibula has caused me to miss the first week of school and has heavily impacted both my mental and physical health, denying me the ability and time to confirm with drop in advising that I had enough credits to graduate. As I have a full time job that I begin in May, I am petitioning for the faculty to allow me to add two courses to the current term (Winter 2024) in order to graduate according to my plan. Although 7 courses is often seen as an overload, my time playing on the soccer team at Queens has given me the ability to manage many time consuming commitments at the same time. I do not believe the extra work from two additional courses will affect my overall academic success. Both proposed courses currently have open seats and have the capacity to include an extra student. The contradicting meetings, incorrect advice, and the impact to my physical and mental health are all extenuating circumstances that I believe should permit me to add two courses to this term.

Thank you very much for your consideration of my petition,
Manuel Dirube | Student no. 20151171