Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13336
Submitted: June 11, 2025 at 11:54:13 PM
First Name: Adam
Last Name: Punjani
Pronoun: he/him
Preferred Name: Adam
Student Number: 20370562
Email: 22adp@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: ECON
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 333
Submitted: July 22, 2025 at 3:51:55 PM
Relevant Petition: 13336
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
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: Per the Dean's email (as forwarded by the Petition's group - I never got the email) - the Dean's invited me to submit additional information support my appeal and my original appeal was 'cut off' and she did not have a chance to review. Note the Associate Dean specifically references she was not able to properly review my initial submission and later invites me to submit additional information so she can reconsider her decision. Below is the email text as sent to me.
Dear Adam:
Thank you for your petition request to waive the requirement to withdraw for 1-year ruling. I have carefully reviewed your request and the supporting documentation that you supplied, and while I’m unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
A requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not a punishment; rather, it is intended to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.7.1.8. states that a petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances were temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to affect the student’s academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived.
Adam, I want to let you know that I have not been able to review your full petition letter, as it appears to have been submitted incompletely through the online portal. I understand that the Petitions Coordinator emailed you on June 13 to provide you with additional time to submit your letter; however, it has not been received to date. As a result, this decision is based on your Academic Plan and the supporting documentation you supplied.
I acknowledge the health-related extenuating circumstances referenced in the letter from Amein Punjani and I was encouraged to read that you have been connected with professional support. However, after a thorough review, your petition request does not include sufficient evidence to meet the standard required to waive the withdrawal ruling. While I appreciate your intention to seek health-care support, your petition does not confirm that appropriate supports are currently in place to ensure future academic success. In addition, the petitions team was unable to connect with your psychotherapist to verify their letter. As such, this document does not confirm that extenuating circumstances impacted your academic performance or prevented you from dropping courses by the relevant deadlines during the 2024/2025 academic year. For these reasons, I am unable to grant your request.
If additional information and documentation can be supplied through a subsequent appeal, I would be happy to reconsider this decision. Acceptable documentation may include an Off-Campus Physician’s form filled out by your health-care provider or an additional letter from your psychotherapist. While I do not question that your circumstances were significant, the lack of documentation limits my ability to support this request.
Please know that this decision is not intended to be punitive. Rather, it reflects the university’s intention to offer students time away from their studies to reflect on and address the factors that may be hindering their academic progress. While it is clear that you have experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to continue taking classes, my sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity away from school to make some changes and continue to access the support you need to achieve future academic success. Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university for the 2026 Fall term.
Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan department.
Student Academic Success Services (SASS) sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
The Student Wellness Services Centre queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
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”). 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
Associate Dean (Academic)
Dear Adam:
Thank you for your petition request to waive the requirement to withdraw for 1-year ruling. I have carefully reviewed your request and the supporting documentation that you supplied, and while I’m unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
A requirement to withdraw is invoked when students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not a punishment; rather, it is intended to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.7.1.8. states that a petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances were temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to affect the student’s academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived.
Adam, I want to let you know that I have not been able to review your full petition letter, as it appears to have been submitted incompletely through the online portal. I understand that the Petitions Coordinator emailed you on June 13 to provide you with additional time to submit your letter; however, it has not been received to date. As a result, this decision is based on your Academic Plan and the supporting documentation you supplied.
I acknowledge the health-related extenuating circumstances referenced in the letter from Amein Punjani and I was encouraged to read that you have been connected with professional support. However, after a thorough review, your petition request does not include sufficient evidence to meet the standard required to waive the withdrawal ruling. While I appreciate your intention to seek health-care support, your petition does not confirm that appropriate supports are currently in place to ensure future academic success. In addition, the petitions team was unable to connect with your psychotherapist to verify their letter. As such, this document does not confirm that extenuating circumstances impacted your academic performance or prevented you from dropping courses by the relevant deadlines during the 2024/2025 academic year. For these reasons, I am unable to grant your request.
If additional information and documentation can be supplied through a subsequent appeal, I would be happy to reconsider this decision. Acceptable documentation may include an Off-Campus Physician’s form filled out by your health-care provider or an additional letter from your psychotherapist. While I do not question that your circumstances were significant, the lack of documentation limits my ability to support this request.
Please know that this decision is not intended to be punitive. Rather, it reflects the university’s intention to offer students time away from their studies to reflect on and address the factors that may be hindering their academic progress. While it is clear that you have experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to continue taking classes, my sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity away from school to make some changes and continue to access the support you need to achieve future academic success. Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university for the 2026 Fall term.
Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan department.
Student Academic Success Services (SASS) sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
The Student Wellness Services Centre queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
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”). 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
Associate Dean (Academic)
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Appeal Letter 2 – Adam Punjani (Student Number 20370562)
July 21, 2025
Dear Associate Dean Naaman,
Per the note from the faculty on July 15, I am submitting additional information in support of my appeal of the Notice to Withdraw for 1 year. As you know, (perhaps due to an error of a negative service indicator to my account) I was unable to receive messages to my Queen’s email. As such I was unable to respond to the notes sent to me earlier this summer following my initial submission. I did not receive a decision letter or explanations until July 15th.
Firstly, thank you for your note of July 11. In that note (that I only received last week on the 15th) you acknowledged you had not reviewed my full submission. Furthermore, you specifically referenced the opportunity to submit additional information and documentation through a subsequent appear. I welcome this opportunity to answer your questions through this submission.
Specifically, I am including:
1. Original Documentation (so there is no question of my first submission)
a. Letter from myself
b. Letter from my psychotherapist
c. Letter from my father
2. Supplemental documentation
a. This letter
b. New letter from my psychotherapist
c. New letter from my father
d. Revised Academic Plan (Econ requirements have modified)
e. Support Plan
As of this letter, I have had 5 sessions with my psychotherapist. She is a very experienced and wise person. She is helping work through my difficulties, and with each session, I can better see my way through the barriers I formed that limited me. Her letter is enclosed per the request listed in your note. Also, she has told me that she didn’t receive any inquiry from the school to validate her first letter.
My father has requested to submit an additional letter. I respectfully include his thoughts on that matter. I am very appreciative of his support, understanding and love throughout this difficult time.
Due to some change in the Economics department requirements, I am also submitting a revised and much clearer Academic Plan. With my father’s urging, I wanted to make clear that I know the exact path I have to take to achieve my degree. Of course, there may be a change here or there due to course availability, but this is the plan I will be working towards with the Economics departments approval.
Finally, I’m submitting a support plan. One item you asked of me in your letter is “what supports are currently in plan to ensure future academic success”. I believe it will be a three-prong approach:
1) Continued Therapy,
2) Close Family Support,
3) Academic Tutoring.
I will be continuing my therapy sessions with Caree Brown every two weeks during the academic year. Also, every two weeks I will have a check-in with my father and review my progress from the prior two weeks and what I have to accomplish over the next two weeks. Finally, I will have an Academic Tutor. I have identified two Queen’s Econ Graduates available to provide close support – with emphasis on the mathematical aspects that have been at the core of my anxiety. With this “team” approach supporting me, I believe I will get over the hump and roadblocks that I have experienced.
I’m eager to get back to Queen’s. I’ve so far had a successful summer, and I truly believe my return in the fall will mark a very fulfilling path that will not only result in attaining my degree but also will have fundamentally changed my life for the better.
Thank you,
Adam Punjani
July 21, 2025
Dear Associate Dean Naaman,
Per the note from the faculty on July 15, I am submitting additional information in support of my appeal of the Notice to Withdraw for 1 year. As you know, (perhaps due to an error of a negative service indicator to my account) I was unable to receive messages to my Queen’s email. As such I was unable to respond to the notes sent to me earlier this summer following my initial submission. I did not receive a decision letter or explanations until July 15th.
Firstly, thank you for your note of July 11. In that note (that I only received last week on the 15th) you acknowledged you had not reviewed my full submission. Furthermore, you specifically referenced the opportunity to submit additional information and documentation through a subsequent appear. I welcome this opportunity to answer your questions through this submission.
Specifically, I am including:
1. Original Documentation (so there is no question of my first submission)
a. Letter from myself
b. Letter from my psychotherapist
c. Letter from my father
2. Supplemental documentation
a. This letter
b. New letter from my psychotherapist
c. New letter from my father
d. Revised Academic Plan (Econ requirements have modified)
e. Support Plan
As of this letter, I have had 5 sessions with my psychotherapist. She is a very experienced and wise person. She is helping work through my difficulties, and with each session, I can better see my way through the barriers I formed that limited me. Her letter is enclosed per the request listed in your note. Also, she has told me that she didn’t receive any inquiry from the school to validate her first letter.
My father has requested to submit an additional letter. I respectfully include his thoughts on that matter. I am very appreciative of his support, understanding and love throughout this difficult time.
Due to some change in the Economics department requirements, I am also submitting a revised and much clearer Academic Plan. With my father’s urging, I wanted to make clear that I know the exact path I have to take to achieve my degree. Of course, there may be a change here or there due to course availability, but this is the plan I will be working towards with the Economics departments approval.
Finally, I’m submitting a support plan. One item you asked of me in your letter is “what supports are currently in plan to ensure future academic success”. I believe it will be a three-prong approach:
1) Continued Therapy,
2) Close Family Support,
3) Academic Tutoring.
I will be continuing my therapy sessions with Caree Brown every two weeks during the academic year. Also, every two weeks I will have a check-in with my father and review my progress from the prior two weeks and what I have to accomplish over the next two weeks. Finally, I will have an Academic Tutor. I have identified two Queen’s Econ Graduates available to provide close support – with emphasis on the mathematical aspects that have been at the core of my anxiety. With this “team” approach supporting me, I believe I will get over the hump and roadblocks that I have experienced.
I’m eager to get back to Queen’s. I’ve so far had a successful summer, and I truly believe my return in the fall will mark a very fulfilling path that will not only result in attaining my degree but also will have fundamentally changed my life for the better.
Thank you,
Adam Punjani
Documentation
Document: Appeal Letter and Plans.pdf
Document: Caree Brown LCSW-2nd letter-0.pdf
Document: First Appeal Submission.pdf