Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13440
Submitted: August 2, 2025 at 9:04:46 AM
First Name: Mia
Last Name: Ferrante
Pronoun: she/her
Preferred Name: Mia
Student Number: 20390390
Email: 22wwv2@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: BIOL
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: PHYS 118
Term: Summer
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Anne Topper
Section/Class Number: Online-Class 2728
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Dorit Naaman,
I am writing to formally submit a petition for a Credit Standing (CR) in PHYS 118, a course that is no longer offered at Queen’s University.
I enrolled in PHYS 118 last summer because it is a prerequisite for my postgraduate plans which ended in early August last year. Since July 16th, 2025, I have been in ongoing contact with an academic advisor and the physics department in hopes of retaking the course. However, she later informed me that the course had been discontinued. Unfortunately, due to program changes and budget cuts, no equivalent replacement courses are available. I have been in direct communication with the Physics Department to explore potential course substitutions, and the exact course code is required to fulfill this requirement.
I understand that appeals for Credit Standing are typically required within one year of the end of the term in which the course was offered (per Academic Regulation 10). However, I have been actively engaged with an advisor since July 16th, 2025, in an effort to resolve this issue. I can provide documentation of these communications upon request.
The discontinuation of PHYS 118 is an unusual academic event that creates a hardship entirely outside my control, directly impacting my postgraduate opportunities. With this course no longer offered and no equivalent replacement available, I have no way to improve the current grade on my transcript. This limits my ability to meet admission requirements for my postgraduate plans and can change the trajectory of my life.
I respectfully request that you consider granting Credit Standing (CR) for PHYS 118. Please let me know if you require any additional documentation or information.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mia Ferrante
Student ID: 20390390
I am writing to formally submit a petition for a Credit Standing (CR) in PHYS 118, a course that is no longer offered at Queen’s University.
I enrolled in PHYS 118 last summer because it is a prerequisite for my postgraduate plans which ended in early August last year. Since July 16th, 2025, I have been in ongoing contact with an academic advisor and the physics department in hopes of retaking the course. However, she later informed me that the course had been discontinued. Unfortunately, due to program changes and budget cuts, no equivalent replacement courses are available. I have been in direct communication with the Physics Department to explore potential course substitutions, and the exact course code is required to fulfill this requirement.
I understand that appeals for Credit Standing are typically required within one year of the end of the term in which the course was offered (per Academic Regulation 10). However, I have been actively engaged with an advisor since July 16th, 2025, in an effort to resolve this issue. I can provide documentation of these communications upon request.
The discontinuation of PHYS 118 is an unusual academic event that creates a hardship entirely outside my control, directly impacting my postgraduate opportunities. With this course no longer offered and no equivalent replacement available, I have no way to improve the current grade on my transcript. This limits my ability to meet admission requirements for my postgraduate plans and can change the trajectory of my life.
I respectfully request that you consider granting Credit Standing (CR) for PHYS 118. Please let me know if you require any additional documentation or information.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mia Ferrante
Student ID: 20390390
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 346
Submitted: October 17, 2025 at 10:01:23 AM
Relevant Petition: 13440
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:
- 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: Associate Dean Naaman stated that
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Dear Members of the Board of Studies,
I am writing to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my petition for credit standing in PHYS 118.
In the Associate Dean’s written statement, it was noted that the original medical documentation did not sufficiently demonstrate how my health circumstances directly affected my final exam performance.
I understand you are unable to grant my petition based on the original doctor’s note I provided. Therefore, I am attaching a new note from my doctor that will provide more insight, and dates which will help clarify the exact timing of my circumstance. I was happy to learn that Ms. Topper mentioned that I preformed strongly in all components of my course prior to my final exam because it reinforces the medical issue I dealt with prior to my exam.
I initially felt embarrassed to reveal that I suffer from female reproductive issues, however, I feel that revealing this private issue could help explain my case further. I don’t suffer from these issues every month, but some months are worse than others and are very unpredictable. Prior to the exam, I suffered debilitating cramps that caused gastrointestinal issues which affected my ability to study well and prepare properly for the exam. This medical issue not only gives me cramps, but causes me to vomit and become bedridden.
Attached you will find a note from my physician. This documentation should also help clarify your question regarding the correlation between my health issue and the poor results on my final exam.
I have learned from this experience that it is important to defer an exam when unwell, and I will apply this understanding in the future. I respectfully request that the Board reconsider my petition in light of this updated documentation and clarification of circumstances.
Thank you,
Mia Ferrante
SN: 20390390
I am writing to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my petition for credit standing in PHYS 118.
In the Associate Dean’s written statement, it was noted that the original medical documentation did not sufficiently demonstrate how my health circumstances directly affected my final exam performance.
I understand you are unable to grant my petition based on the original doctor’s note I provided. Therefore, I am attaching a new note from my doctor that will provide more insight, and dates which will help clarify the exact timing of my circumstance. I was happy to learn that Ms. Topper mentioned that I preformed strongly in all components of my course prior to my final exam because it reinforces the medical issue I dealt with prior to my exam.
I initially felt embarrassed to reveal that I suffer from female reproductive issues, however, I feel that revealing this private issue could help explain my case further. I don’t suffer from these issues every month, but some months are worse than others and are very unpredictable. Prior to the exam, I suffered debilitating cramps that caused gastrointestinal issues which affected my ability to study well and prepare properly for the exam. This medical issue not only gives me cramps, but causes me to vomit and become bedridden.
Attached you will find a note from my physician. This documentation should also help clarify your question regarding the correlation between my health issue and the poor results on my final exam.
I have learned from this experience that it is important to defer an exam when unwell, and I will apply this understanding in the future. I respectfully request that the Board reconsider my petition in light of this updated documentation and clarification of circumstances.
Thank you,
Mia Ferrante
SN: 20390390
Documentation
Document: Doctors Note -11.pdf
I plan to submit additional documentation at a later date: I had to fax the documentation to my doctor in Toronto in a rush due to the Thanksgiving weekend. So I apologize for not including my student number at the top of this letter.
Level 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 347
Submitted: October 17, 2025 at 10:05:59 AM
Relevant Petition: 13440
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses: PHYS 118, Summer 2024 (Anne Topper )
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:
- 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: Associate Dean Naaman stated that
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Dear Members of the Board of Studies,
I am writing to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my petition for credit standing in PHYS 118.
In the Associate Dean’s written statement, it was noted that the original medical documentation did not sufficiently demonstrate how my health circumstances directly affected my final exam performance.
I understand you are unable to grant my petition based on the original doctor’s note I provided. Therefore, I am attaching a new note from my doctor that will provide more insight, and dates which will help clarify the exact timing of my circumstance. I was happy to learn that Ms. Topper mentioned that I preformed strongly in all components of my course prior to my final exam because it reinforces the medical issue I dealt with prior to my exam.
I initially felt embarrassed to reveal that I suffer from female reproductive issues, however, I feel that revealing this private issue could help explain my case further. I don’t suffer from these issues every month, but some months are worse than others and are very unpredictable. Prior to the exam, I suffered debilitating cramps that caused gastrointestinal issues which affected my ability to study well and prepare properly for the exam. This medical issue not only gives me cramps, but causes me to vomit and become bedridden.
Attached you will find a note from my physician. This documentation should also help clarify your question regarding the correlation between my health issue and the poor results on my final exam.
I have learned from this experience that it is important to defer an exam when unwell, and I will apply this understanding in the future. I respectfully request that the Board reconsider my petition in light of this updated documentation and clarification of circumstances.
Thank you,
Mia Ferrante
SN: 20390390
I am writing to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my petition for credit standing in PHYS 118.
In the Associate Dean’s written statement, it was noted that the original medical documentation did not sufficiently demonstrate how my health circumstances directly affected my final exam performance.
I understand you are unable to grant my petition based on the original doctor’s note I provided. Therefore, I am attaching a new note from my doctor that will provide more insight, and dates which will help clarify the exact timing of my circumstance. I was happy to learn that Ms. Topper mentioned that I preformed strongly in all components of my course prior to my final exam because it reinforces the medical issue I dealt with prior to my exam.
I initially felt embarrassed to reveal that I suffer from female reproductive issues, however, I feel that revealing this private issue could help explain my case further. I don’t suffer from these issues every month, but some months are worse than others and are very unpredictable. Prior to the exam, I suffered debilitating cramps that caused gastrointestinal issues which affected my ability to study well and prepare properly for the exam. This medical issue not only gives me cramps, but causes me to vomit and become bedridden.
Attached you will find a note from my physician. This documentation should also help clarify your question regarding the correlation between my health issue and the poor results on my final exam.
I have learned from this experience that it is important to defer an exam when unwell, and I will apply this understanding in the future. I respectfully request that the Board reconsider my petition in light of this updated documentation and clarification of circumstances.
Thank you,
Mia Ferrante
SN: 20390390
Documentation
Document: Doctors Note -11.pdf
I plan to submit additional documentation at a later date: I had to fax the documentation to my doctor in Toronto in a rush due to the Thanksgiving weekend. So I apologize for not including my student number at the top of this letter.
History
Originally submitted August 2, 2025 at 9:04:46 AM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Incomplete | Kerri Andrews | 2025-08-05 9:48:36 AM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | Withdrawn | Kerri Andrews | 2025-08-05 10:03:37 AM | |
| status | N/A | Withdrawn | Incomplete | Kerri Andrews | 2025-08-20 1:27:15 PM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Kerri Andrews | 2025-08-26 11:15:37 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | Kerri Andrews | 2025-10-07 10:39:12 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic) | Kerri Andrews | 2025-10-07 10:39:12 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Kerri Andrews | 2025-10-07 10:40:23 AM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 346 | 22wwv2 | 2025-10-17 10:01:23 AM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 347 | 22wwv2 | 2025-10-17 10:05:59 AM | |
| status | N/A | Received | Withdrawn | Kerri Andrews | 2025-10-17 11:37:11 AM | |
| status | N/A | Withdrawn | Received | Kerri Andrews | 2025-10-17 11:37:38 AM | |
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Kathrine Scott | 2025-10-17 11:42:27 AM |