Decision Letter
Submission Number: 14347
Decision Date: May 22, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Xander. Tyler Ashton Sim
Student Email: 6taas@queensu.ca
Course: BCHM218
Term: Summer
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Dr. Douglas Quilty.
Dear Xander Tyler Ashton Sim:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add BCHM 218 (S26) after the academic deadline. While I am unable to grant this request, I want to assure you that I have taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines, and Summer term enrolment began during the Winter term in February. These deadlines are established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the necessary permissions, assess their interest in the course material, consider their ability to manage each course, and evaluate their overall workload.
According to Academic Petitions and Appeals regulation 1.1, petitions are only granted where there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of a particular Faculty regulation or decision. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional.
I recognize that you had planned to enroll in BCHM 218 for the Summer prior to the last date to add this course, and I appreciate the efforts you made to seek instructor support regarding enrollment in this course.
As your petition does not demonstrate that an unexpected extenuating circumstance prevented you from enrolling in this course through SOLUS prior to the academic add deadline, I am unable to grant this request.
While I am empathetic to your situation and appreciate your motivation to return to studies at this time, starting a course in week 3 of a 12-week term places a student at a significant disadvantage and may negatively affect their likelihood of success. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate missed work resulting from late enrolment. In addition, the instructor of BCHM 218 has indicated that, given the length of time since you completed the prerequisite course and the fact that you have already missed the first two quizzes, it would be very difficult to successfully complete the course. Academic deadlines are in place to ensure a good chance at success, and our regulations maintain fairness and equity to all students.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may 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). Appeals must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of this decision. 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, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academics)
Decision Date: May 22, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Xander. Tyler Ashton Sim
Student Email: 6taas@queensu.ca
Course: BCHM218
Term: Summer
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Dr. Douglas Quilty.
Dear Xander Tyler Ashton Sim:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add BCHM 218 (S26) after the academic deadline. While I am unable to grant this request, I want to assure you that I have taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines, and Summer term enrolment began during the Winter term in February. These deadlines are established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the necessary permissions, assess their interest in the course material, consider their ability to manage each course, and evaluate their overall workload.
According to Academic Petitions and Appeals regulation 1.1, petitions are only granted where there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of a particular Faculty regulation or decision. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student’s control and debilitating to their academic performance. These kinds of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional.
I recognize that you had planned to enroll in BCHM 218 for the Summer prior to the last date to add this course, and I appreciate the efforts you made to seek instructor support regarding enrollment in this course.
As your petition does not demonstrate that an unexpected extenuating circumstance prevented you from enrolling in this course through SOLUS prior to the academic add deadline, I am unable to grant this request.
While I am empathetic to your situation and appreciate your motivation to return to studies at this time, starting a course in week 3 of a 12-week term places a student at a significant disadvantage and may negatively affect their likelihood of success. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate missed work resulting from late enrolment. In addition, the instructor of BCHM 218 has indicated that, given the length of time since you completed the prerequisite course and the fact that you have already missed the first two quizzes, it would be very difficult to successfully complete the course. Academic deadlines are in place to ensure a good chance at success, and our regulations maintain fairness and equity to all students.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may 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). Appeals must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of this decision. 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, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academics)
Generated May 22, 2026 at 8:47:00 AM.