Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13588
Submitted: September 21, 2025 at 11:05:06 PM
First Name: Yikai
Last Name: Zhou
Pronoun: He
Preferred Name: Ryan
Student Number: 20340457
Email: 21yz191@queensu.ca
Degree Program: Bachelor of Computing (Hons.)
Plan: Fundamental Computation
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Add a course after the academic deadline
Code: STAT 263
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Tyler Meadows
Code: CISC 422
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Juergen Dingel
Section/Class Number: .
Code: FILM 240
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Phillipe Gauthier
Province / Region: Eastern Ontario
Exam Centre: Kingston
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To: Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Arts & Science
From: Yikai Zhou (Student ID: 20340457)
Subject: Petition to add STAT 263, STAT 161, and CISC 422 for Fall 2025
Dear Associate Dean,
I am requesting permission to add STAT 263, STAT 161, and CISC 422 to my Fall 2025 schedule after the deadline. I understand that late adds are unusual, so I want to clearly explain what happened, why these courses matter for my program, and what I am already doing to catch up and succeed.
Why I could not add these courses on time. At the beginning of the add period, my SOLUS standing showed me as a third-year student. Because of that classification, I could not enroll in CISC 422, which is restricted to students with fourth-year standing and relevant prerequisites. I tried to resolve the standing issue, but by the time I received guidance, the late add deadline had passed. In the same time frame, during an advising conversation, I learned that I must retake STAT 263 and achieve at least a C- in order to take CISC 455 in the Winter term. That information changed my course plan in a way I could not act on before the add window closed. In short, a combination of system standing restrictions and late confirmation of the STAT 263 retake requirement prevented me from enrolling during the normal period.
Why these three courses now. The STAT 263 gives me the statistics foundation I need immediately and places me on track for CISC 455 in the Winter.I am also requesting STAT 161 as an elective. It is an entry-level data science course that will strengthen my foundation in data handling, basic inference, and practical workflow (from cleaning to simple modeling). Adding it now complements my Computing degree by giving me the statistical habits and tools that many upper-year CS courses and projects assume. It broadens my skill set for software work that interacts with real datasets. CISC 422 fits my degree plan and senior coursework; delaying it would push my timeline and create avoidable gaps in my final-year sequence. I have checked that there are seats available for all of these three courses. I am ready to join these classes and meet all course expectations.
What I have already done to catch up. I have contacted classmates in each course and obtained Week 1–2 notes, slides, and reading lists. I built a two-week catch-up schedule with daily study blocks focused on statistics problem sets and CISC 422 readings. I have also set up a detailed planner for all deliverables and added recurring reminders for quizzes, labs, and project checkpoints. I will attend office hours weekly (more often near midterms), participate actively on discussion boards, and meet with TAs/instructors to confirm any missed assessments or diagnostic tasks. If I fall behind on statistics, I will book peer tutoring and keep that support until my grades stabilize.
How I will manage workload and accountability. I have trimmed non-academic commitments this month to prioritize these courses. Every Sunday evening I update my plan for the week; every Wednesday I do a progress check. If anything slips more than 48 hours, I will inform the instructor, propose a concrete make-up plan, and follow through. I will also keep my advisor updated so we can adjust early if needed.
I appreciate your consideration. I accept full responsibility for the delay and am committed to meeting all course requirements. Approving this petition would allow me to stay on sequence for Winter CISC 455 and complete my program and my future success. I have attached a brief academic plan in the meantime indicating how I intend to catch up on the material that I missed in the courses.
Sincerely,
Yikai Zhou
Queen’s University | Faculty of Arts & Science
Email: 21yz191@queensu.ca | Student ID: 20340457
From: Yikai Zhou (Student ID: 20340457)
Subject: Petition to add STAT 263, STAT 161, and CISC 422 for Fall 2025
Dear Associate Dean,
I am requesting permission to add STAT 263, STAT 161, and CISC 422 to my Fall 2025 schedule after the deadline. I understand that late adds are unusual, so I want to clearly explain what happened, why these courses matter for my program, and what I am already doing to catch up and succeed.
Why I could not add these courses on time. At the beginning of the add period, my SOLUS standing showed me as a third-year student. Because of that classification, I could not enroll in CISC 422, which is restricted to students with fourth-year standing and relevant prerequisites. I tried to resolve the standing issue, but by the time I received guidance, the late add deadline had passed. In the same time frame, during an advising conversation, I learned that I must retake STAT 263 and achieve at least a C- in order to take CISC 455 in the Winter term. That information changed my course plan in a way I could not act on before the add window closed. In short, a combination of system standing restrictions and late confirmation of the STAT 263 retake requirement prevented me from enrolling during the normal period.
Why these three courses now. The STAT 263 gives me the statistics foundation I need immediately and places me on track for CISC 455 in the Winter.I am also requesting STAT 161 as an elective. It is an entry-level data science course that will strengthen my foundation in data handling, basic inference, and practical workflow (from cleaning to simple modeling). Adding it now complements my Computing degree by giving me the statistical habits and tools that many upper-year CS courses and projects assume. It broadens my skill set for software work that interacts with real datasets. CISC 422 fits my degree plan and senior coursework; delaying it would push my timeline and create avoidable gaps in my final-year sequence. I have checked that there are seats available for all of these three courses. I am ready to join these classes and meet all course expectations.
What I have already done to catch up. I have contacted classmates in each course and obtained Week 1–2 notes, slides, and reading lists. I built a two-week catch-up schedule with daily study blocks focused on statistics problem sets and CISC 422 readings. I have also set up a detailed planner for all deliverables and added recurring reminders for quizzes, labs, and project checkpoints. I will attend office hours weekly (more often near midterms), participate actively on discussion boards, and meet with TAs/instructors to confirm any missed assessments or diagnostic tasks. If I fall behind on statistics, I will book peer tutoring and keep that support until my grades stabilize.
How I will manage workload and accountability. I have trimmed non-academic commitments this month to prioritize these courses. Every Sunday evening I update my plan for the week; every Wednesday I do a progress check. If anything slips more than 48 hours, I will inform the instructor, propose a concrete make-up plan, and follow through. I will also keep my advisor updated so we can adjust early if needed.
I appreciate your consideration. I accept full responsibility for the delay and am committed to meeting all course requirements. Approving this petition would allow me to stay on sequence for Winter CISC 455 and complete my program and my future success. I have attached a brief academic plan in the meantime indicating how I intend to catch up on the material that I missed in the courses.
Sincerely,
Yikai Zhou
Queen’s University | Faculty of Arts & Science
Email: 21yz191@queensu.ca | Student ID: 20340457
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: 1) Goal & Rationale
STAT 263 (retake, target ≥ C-): Required to unlock CISC 455 in Winter; taking it now keeps my sequence intact.
STAT 161 (interest-based elective): Intro to data science. I’m taking it out of interest to broaden my skill set for software work that interacts with real datasets (data handling, basic inference, practical workflows).
CISC 422 (logic): Theory/logic course with problem-set focus (no group project). Content/skills are close to what I saw in CISC 223 (proof techniques, discrete reasoning), so the ramp-up is manageable.
2) Two-Phase Plan
Phase A — While petition is under review (Day 0–15)
Objective: Reach Day 15 already current on core material.
Materials & access
Use the syllabi classmates shared for all three courses. If allowed, request read-only onQ access; otherwise rely on notes/textbook sections listed in the outlines.
Self-study track
STAT 263: Weeks 1–3 topics (review probability basics, random variables, distributions, intro inference). Redo textbook/old problem sets; flag weak areas.
STAT 161 (elective): Work through data cleaning → EDA → simple modeling pipeline on small public datasets; mirror the weekly outline to build habits/tools.
CISC 422 (logic, no group work): With a friend, discuss the already-covered lectures; practice proofs (direct, contradiction, induction), propositional/first-order syntax/semantics, and typical problem-set styles. Write out full solutions and check against rubric patterns from the syllabus.
Touch-points & accountability
Attend public office hours if permitted; otherwise email concise questions (≤3 at a time).
Sunday plan / Wednesday check-in routine; unresolved issues >48h get escalated to office hours or tutoring.
Phase B — If petition is approved (Day 16+)
Activation (first 48h)
Enroll, confirm onQ, and send each instructor a one-page catch-up note: what I’ve finished, what is missing, and a 7–10 day timeline for any allowable make-ups.
Compressed schedule (first 2 weeks post-add)
STAT 263 / STAT 161: Submit low-stakes quizzes first, then larger assignments; prioritize items that unlock subsequent topics.
CISC 422: Submit any permissible back problem-sets; align with the current week’s proofs/exercises; book office hours to validate solution style and rigor.
Support intensity
Office hours weekly (twice weekly during the two-week catch-up).
If early stats scores lag, activate peer tutoring until performance stabilizes ≥ C- in STAT 263.
3) Workload Map
STAT 263/161: Phase A ~2–3 h/lecture hour; Phase B 1.5–2 h/lecture hour once current.
CISC 422: Three focused proof/practice blocks per week (short daily drills + one longer write-up session).
Non-academic load trimmed until all make-ups are cleared.
4) Risks & Contingencies
Decision >15 days: Continue Phase A aligned to Weeks 4–5 using the syllabus; check with instructors about any additional readings.
Seat limits after approval: Request instructor consent/waitlist; if blocked, meet advisor same day to pick the closest substitute that preserves STAT 263 → CISC 455.
Denial: Within 48h, finalize Winter/Summer plan to retake STAT 263 early and resequence advanced computing/logic accordingly.
5) Success Metrics
By Day 15: Weeks 1–3 covered in all three courses; one full practice set completed for STAT 263/161; CISC 422 proof drills done with peer review.
By Day 30 (≈ two weeks after approval): All permitted make-ups submitted; stats trending ≥ C+; CISC 422 current with consistent problem-set quality.
End-of-term: STAT 263 ≥ C-; other courses meeting degree requirements with no incompletes.
STAT 263 (retake, target ≥ C-): Required to unlock CISC 455 in Winter; taking it now keeps my sequence intact.
STAT 161 (interest-based elective): Intro to data science. I’m taking it out of interest to broaden my skill set for software work that interacts with real datasets (data handling, basic inference, practical workflows).
CISC 422 (logic): Theory/logic course with problem-set focus (no group project). Content/skills are close to what I saw in CISC 223 (proof techniques, discrete reasoning), so the ramp-up is manageable.
2) Two-Phase Plan
Phase A — While petition is under review (Day 0–15)
Objective: Reach Day 15 already current on core material.
Materials & access
Use the syllabi classmates shared for all three courses. If allowed, request read-only onQ access; otherwise rely on notes/textbook sections listed in the outlines.
Self-study track
STAT 263: Weeks 1–3 topics (review probability basics, random variables, distributions, intro inference). Redo textbook/old problem sets; flag weak areas.
STAT 161 (elective): Work through data cleaning → EDA → simple modeling pipeline on small public datasets; mirror the weekly outline to build habits/tools.
CISC 422 (logic, no group work): With a friend, discuss the already-covered lectures; practice proofs (direct, contradiction, induction), propositional/first-order syntax/semantics, and typical problem-set styles. Write out full solutions and check against rubric patterns from the syllabus.
Touch-points & accountability
Attend public office hours if permitted; otherwise email concise questions (≤3 at a time).
Sunday plan / Wednesday check-in routine; unresolved issues >48h get escalated to office hours or tutoring.
Phase B — If petition is approved (Day 16+)
Activation (first 48h)
Enroll, confirm onQ, and send each instructor a one-page catch-up note: what I’ve finished, what is missing, and a 7–10 day timeline for any allowable make-ups.
Compressed schedule (first 2 weeks post-add)
STAT 263 / STAT 161: Submit low-stakes quizzes first, then larger assignments; prioritize items that unlock subsequent topics.
CISC 422: Submit any permissible back problem-sets; align with the current week’s proofs/exercises; book office hours to validate solution style and rigor.
Support intensity
Office hours weekly (twice weekly during the two-week catch-up).
If early stats scores lag, activate peer tutoring until performance stabilizes ≥ C- in STAT 263.
3) Workload Map
STAT 263/161: Phase A ~2–3 h/lecture hour; Phase B 1.5–2 h/lecture hour once current.
CISC 422: Three focused proof/practice blocks per week (short daily drills + one longer write-up session).
Non-academic load trimmed until all make-ups are cleared.
4) Risks & Contingencies
Decision >15 days: Continue Phase A aligned to Weeks 4–5 using the syllabus; check with instructors about any additional readings.
Seat limits after approval: Request instructor consent/waitlist; if blocked, meet advisor same day to pick the closest substitute that preserves STAT 263 → CISC 455.
Denial: Within 48h, finalize Winter/Summer plan to retake STAT 263 early and resequence advanced computing/logic accordingly.
5) Success Metrics
By Day 15: Weeks 1–3 covered in all three courses; one full practice set completed for STAT 263/161; CISC 422 proof drills done with peer review.
By Day 30 (≈ two weeks after approval): All permitted make-ups submitted; stats trending ≥ C+; CISC 422 current with consistent problem-set quality.
End-of-term: STAT 263 ≥ C-; other courses meeting degree requirements with no incompletes.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Decision Letters
Amendment to Appeal 13588
Relevant Petition: 13588
New Information: Dear Associate Dean,
I am requesting permission to add STAT 263, CISC 422, and FILM 240 to my Fall 2025 schedule after the deadline. I understand late adds are exceptional, so I want to be clear about why I could not enroll on time, why these courses matter now, and how I will catch up responsibly.
Why I could not add courses on time. At the start of the add period, my SOLUS standing still showed me as a third-year student. Because of that, I was blocked from CISC 422, which restricts enrollment to students with fourth-year standing and the relevant prerequisites. Around the same time, in advising, I also learned that I must retake STAT 263 and earn at least a C- to unlock CISC 455 in the Winter. By the time these points were confirmed, the late add window had effectively closed, and I could not action the changes.
Program constraints this term. In addition, the Computing degree plan restructuring has limited access to upper-year CISC offerings I had originally planned to take. This reduced the realistic set of advanced Computing courses for Fall and forced me to re-think my schedule around what is still available and academically coherent.
Why the switch from STAT 161 to FILM 240. Initially I considered STAT 161 as an elective to strengthen my data literacy. However, STAT 161 is an Exclusion to STAT 263, so I cannot take both in the same program path. Since I must prioritize STAT 263 (retake) to remain eligible for CISC 455 in Winter, I am now petitioning to add FILM 240 instead of STAT 161. FILM 240 fits my open elective slot, keeps me at a full academic load, and provides breadth outside Computing at a time when upper-year Computing options are constrained by the plan changes. It also complements my interests by building analytic reading and argumentation skills through close work with visual/media texts—useful across advanced CS topics that value clarity of reasoning (and a good counterpart to CISC 422’s logic emphasis).
What I am doing to catch up. While the petition is under review, I have already obtained syllabi, Week 1–3 notes, and reading lists from classmates for all three courses. I set a two-week catch-up schedule with daily blocks for statistics problem sets and logic exercises, plus a reading plan for FILM 240. If granted access, I will immediately (i) confirm onQ materials, (ii) check with each instructor what early quizzes or assignments can be completed retroactively and on what timeline, and (iii) submit any permitted make-up work within 7–10 days. I will attend office hours weekly (twice weekly during the catch-up period) and use tutoring if my early statistics results fall below target. I have trimmed non-academic commitments and will keep my advisor informed of progress.
I accept full responsibility for the delay.
In the mean time, I am in touch with instructors of FILM 240, STAT 263 and CISC 422 courses and forward their support/approval once I obtain it.
Approving this petition would allow me to (1) complete STAT 263 now so I can take CISC 455 in Winter, (2) take CISC 422 this term as planned once the standing block is resolved, and (3) maintain a balanced full-load via FILM 240 given the current Computing course constraints. Thank you for considering my request.
I am requesting permission to add STAT 263, CISC 422, and FILM 240 to my Fall 2025 schedule after the deadline. I understand late adds are exceptional, so I want to be clear about why I could not enroll on time, why these courses matter now, and how I will catch up responsibly.
Why I could not add courses on time. At the start of the add period, my SOLUS standing still showed me as a third-year student. Because of that, I was blocked from CISC 422, which restricts enrollment to students with fourth-year standing and the relevant prerequisites. Around the same time, in advising, I also learned that I must retake STAT 263 and earn at least a C- to unlock CISC 455 in the Winter. By the time these points were confirmed, the late add window had effectively closed, and I could not action the changes.
Program constraints this term. In addition, the Computing degree plan restructuring has limited access to upper-year CISC offerings I had originally planned to take. This reduced the realistic set of advanced Computing courses for Fall and forced me to re-think my schedule around what is still available and academically coherent.
Why the switch from STAT 161 to FILM 240. Initially I considered STAT 161 as an elective to strengthen my data literacy. However, STAT 161 is an Exclusion to STAT 263, so I cannot take both in the same program path. Since I must prioritize STAT 263 (retake) to remain eligible for CISC 455 in Winter, I am now petitioning to add FILM 240 instead of STAT 161. FILM 240 fits my open elective slot, keeps me at a full academic load, and provides breadth outside Computing at a time when upper-year Computing options are constrained by the plan changes. It also complements my interests by building analytic reading and argumentation skills through close work with visual/media texts—useful across advanced CS topics that value clarity of reasoning (and a good counterpart to CISC 422’s logic emphasis).
What I am doing to catch up. While the petition is under review, I have already obtained syllabi, Week 1–3 notes, and reading lists from classmates for all three courses. I set a two-week catch-up schedule with daily blocks for statistics problem sets and logic exercises, plus a reading plan for FILM 240. If granted access, I will immediately (i) confirm onQ materials, (ii) check with each instructor what early quizzes or assignments can be completed retroactively and on what timeline, and (iii) submit any permitted make-up work within 7–10 days. I will attend office hours weekly (twice weekly during the catch-up period) and use tutoring if my early statistics results fall below target. I have trimmed non-academic commitments and will keep my advisor informed of progress.
I accept full responsibility for the delay.
In the mean time, I am in touch with instructors of FILM 240, STAT 263 and CISC 422 courses and forward their support/approval once I obtain it.
Approving this petition would allow me to (1) complete STAT 263 now so I can take CISC 455 in Winter, (2) take CISC 422 this term as planned once the standing block is resolved, and (3) maintain a balanced full-load via FILM 240 given the current Computing course constraints. Thank you for considering my request.
Student Number: 20340457
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC