Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13126
Submitted: May 12, 2025 at 3:12:37 PM
First Name: Elaha
Last Name: Kaukab
Pronoun: Her
Preferred Name: Elaha
Student Number: 20142897
Email: 18ek16@queensu.ca
Degree Program: Global Development Studies (BA)
Plan: BA
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: DEVS 101
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: devs 364
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 349
Submitted: December 13, 2025 at 12:23:54 AM
Relevant Petition: 13126
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Drop a course after the academic deadline: DEVS 101, Winter 2025
Drop a course after the academic deadline: devs 364, Winter 2025
Drop a course after the academic deadline: devs 364, Winter 2025
Appeal Grounds
Appeals to the Board of Studies must include a letter based on one or more of the Grounds for Appeal (Appeal Regulation 3.4). What are the grounds you are basing your appeal on?
- The Associate Dean's decision did not follow the rules of procedural fairness. A breach of procedural fairness includes such things as the Associate Dean failed to:
- Follow the university rules and regulations in a way that supported your right to a fair process.
- Make a reasonable decision in your appeal. A “reasonable” decision is one that is based on evidence, thought out and supported by facts and logical inferences from the facts. To be reasonable, the decision must contain adequate reasons for the conclusions.
Appeal Grounds Details: Dear Members of the Board of Studies and Dr. Scott-Morgan Straker,
I am writing to respectfully request reconsideration of the decision to deny my petition to retroactively drop DEVS 101 and DEVS 364 for the Winter 2025 term. During this term, I was experiencing a medically high-risk pregnancy complicated by a subchorionic hematoma and severe symptoms, including chronic fatigue, nausea, pain, and cognitive impairment. These conditions significantly affected my ability to engage academically and manage administrative responsibilities.
The most acute phase of my medical condition occurred during and immediately after the course drop deadline. At that time, I was under medical monitoring and was also the primary caregiver for three young children, which further limited my capacity to take timely action. I am forwarding additional medical documentation from my physician to support my appeal, which clarifies the severity and timing of my condition and confirms its direct impact on my ability to meet academic and administrative deadlines.
I respectfully ask that my circumstances be reconsidered on both evidentiary and compassionate grounds. My failure to withdraw by the deadline was not due to neglect, but to an exceptional and overwhelming medical and personal situation. I remain committed to my studies at Queen’s and appreciate your time and consideration.
I wish you a happy holiday season and every good wish for the New Year. Thank you again for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Elaha
I am writing to respectfully request reconsideration of the decision to deny my petition to retroactively drop DEVS 101 and DEVS 364 for the Winter 2025 term. During this term, I was experiencing a medically high-risk pregnancy complicated by a subchorionic hematoma and severe symptoms, including chronic fatigue, nausea, pain, and cognitive impairment. These conditions significantly affected my ability to engage academically and manage administrative responsibilities.
The most acute phase of my medical condition occurred during and immediately after the course drop deadline. At that time, I was under medical monitoring and was also the primary caregiver for three young children, which further limited my capacity to take timely action. I am forwarding additional medical documentation from my physician to support my appeal, which clarifies the severity and timing of my condition and confirms its direct impact on my ability to meet academic and administrative deadlines.
I respectfully ask that my circumstances be reconsidered on both evidentiary and compassionate grounds. My failure to withdraw by the deadline was not due to neglect, but to an exceptional and overwhelming medical and personal situation. I remain committed to my studies at Queen’s and appreciate your time and consideration.
I wish you a happy holiday season and every good wish for the New Year. Thank you again for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Elaha
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Dear Members of the Board of Studies,
I am writing to respectfully appeal the decision to deny my petition to retroactively drop DEVS 101 and DEVS 364 for the Winter 2025 term. I fully appreciate the time and consideration that has been given to my initial petition. However, I believe the documentation and information now provided offer a clearer and more complete picture of the exceptional circumstances I faced and how they directly impaired my ability to meet both academic and administrative responsibilities during the term.
In your response, the petition was declined based on the view that I had not sufficiently demonstrated either of the following:
First, that extenuating circumstances significantly impaired my ability to fulfill academic responsibilities. Second, that those circumstances prevented me from taking timely action to drop the courses by the published deadline.
I would like to address both points in turn.
1. Significant Academic Impairment Due to Extenuating Circumstances
In the Winter 2025 term, I was in the early stages of a medically high-risk pregnancy, complicated by a subchorionic hematoma and other severe symptoms. These included persistent nausea, chronic fatigue, cognitive fog, and pain. These symptoms went beyond typical pregnancy experiences and significantly disrupted my ability to engage with coursework or maintain academic routines. This was not a case of poor time management or temporary illness. Rather, these conditions interfered with my ability to focus, retain information, plan assignments, and attend to university obligations.
2. Inability to Act by the Drop Deadline
The week of January 13, 2025, and the following two weeks marked the most acute phase of these medical challenges. This period coincided directly with the university’s deadline to drop courses with a full refund. During these weeks, I was in medical distress and under regular monitoring. I was not in a condition, physically, mentally, or emotionally, to complete a course withdrawal, especially while also
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caring for three children under the age of eight as their primary caregiver. My ability to take timely administrative action was directly and substantially impaired.
I did submit a medical note dated January 17 with my original petition. However, I now understand that it may not have sufficiently detailed the functional impact of my condition. I have since provided additional documentation from my physician that explicitly confirms the severity of my condition, the timing of its most acute phase, and its direct connection to my inability to act within the university’s prescribed timeline. The letter also speaks to the compounded personal responsibilities I was carrying at the time.
3. Request for Compassionate Consideration
I respectfully ask that my situation also be viewed on compassionate grounds. This was an exceptional term in which I was navigating a high-risk pregnancy, managing persistent health challenges, and caring for three young children without consistent support. My failure to meet the administrative deadline was not due to neglect or disengagement, but the result of a medically and personally overwhelming situation. I continued to try and meet academic expectations for as long as I could, but ultimately, I was not in a position to make informed or timely decisions about my enrollment.
In light of this additional context and documentation, I respectfully request that the Board reconsider its decision and allow for the retroactive withdrawal from DEVS 101 and DEVS 364. I remain committed to my studies at Queen’s and will continue to seek support proactively should future challenges arise.
Thank you again for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Elaha Kaukab
I am writing to respectfully appeal the decision to deny my petition to retroactively drop DEVS 101 and DEVS 364 for the Winter 2025 term. I fully appreciate the time and consideration that has been given to my initial petition. However, I believe the documentation and information now provided offer a clearer and more complete picture of the exceptional circumstances I faced and how they directly impaired my ability to meet both academic and administrative responsibilities during the term.
In your response, the petition was declined based on the view that I had not sufficiently demonstrated either of the following:
First, that extenuating circumstances significantly impaired my ability to fulfill academic responsibilities. Second, that those circumstances prevented me from taking timely action to drop the courses by the published deadline.
I would like to address both points in turn.
1. Significant Academic Impairment Due to Extenuating Circumstances
In the Winter 2025 term, I was in the early stages of a medically high-risk pregnancy, complicated by a subchorionic hematoma and other severe symptoms. These included persistent nausea, chronic fatigue, cognitive fog, and pain. These symptoms went beyond typical pregnancy experiences and significantly disrupted my ability to engage with coursework or maintain academic routines. This was not a case of poor time management or temporary illness. Rather, these conditions interfered with my ability to focus, retain information, plan assignments, and attend to university obligations.
2. Inability to Act by the Drop Deadline
The week of January 13, 2025, and the following two weeks marked the most acute phase of these medical challenges. This period coincided directly with the university’s deadline to drop courses with a full refund. During these weeks, I was in medical distress and under regular monitoring. I was not in a condition, physically, mentally, or emotionally, to complete a course withdrawal, especially while also
2 / 2
caring for three children under the age of eight as their primary caregiver. My ability to take timely administrative action was directly and substantially impaired.
I did submit a medical note dated January 17 with my original petition. However, I now understand that it may not have sufficiently detailed the functional impact of my condition. I have since provided additional documentation from my physician that explicitly confirms the severity of my condition, the timing of its most acute phase, and its direct connection to my inability to act within the university’s prescribed timeline. The letter also speaks to the compounded personal responsibilities I was carrying at the time.
3. Request for Compassionate Consideration
I respectfully ask that my situation also be viewed on compassionate grounds. This was an exceptional term in which I was navigating a high-risk pregnancy, managing persistent health challenges, and caring for three young children without consistent support. My failure to meet the administrative deadline was not due to neglect or disengagement, but the result of a medically and personally overwhelming situation. I continued to try and meet academic expectations for as long as I could, but ultimately, I was not in a position to make informed or timely decisions about my enrollment.
In light of this additional context and documentation, I respectfully request that the Board reconsider its decision and allow for the retroactive withdrawal from DEVS 101 and DEVS 364. I remain committed to my studies at Queen’s and will continue to seek support proactively should future challenges arise.
Thank you again for your time and thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Elaha Kaukab
Documentation
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I plan to submit additional documentation at a later date: I have my doctor review the documents and have signed it.
He has always asked to be contacted by the office should there be any additional questions regarding this appeal.
He has always asked to be contacted by the office should there be any additional questions regarding this appeal.