Decision Letter
Submission Number: 14479
Decision Date: July 3, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Tami Sakariyas-DE
Student Email: t.sakariyasde@queensu.ca
Dear Tami Sakariyas-DE:
I have carefully considered your petition to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year and while I’m unable to grant your request, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account in reaching this decision.
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 a student’s control, affected their academic performance. Where such circumstances are temporary, a student must indicate and document how they have been resolved and why they are not expected to continue to affect academic performance. Where circumstances are ongoing, a student must demonstrate how these challenges will be effectively managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived.
In addition, Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 states that petitions are granted only where there are significantly extenuating circumstances that 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 has a debilitating impact on academic performance. These types of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional.
While documentation does not need to disclose the specific nature of a condition, it must clearly indicate how the circumstances affected academic performance in terms of timing and impact, and verify that these effects were substantial enough to result in the academic difficulty. Information regarding the onset, duration, and current status of the circumstances is critical in enabling an informed decision. It is also important that documentation address whether the circumstances have improved or are being effectively managed such that they will not have a significant negative impact on future academic performance.
I acknowledge the family-related extenuating circumstances described in your petition and understand how these experiences impacted your well-being during the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 academic year. I am glad to hear that you are currently receiving professional support.
However, after a thorough review, I must conclude that your petition does not include sufficient documentation to meet the standard required to waive the requirement to withdraw. Specifically, it does not include documentation confirming that unexpected extenuating circumstances affected your academic performance or prevented you from dropping your Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 courses by the applicable deadlines.
While I appreciate the document that you supplied dated June 15, it does not establish that extenuating circumstances, as defined by the regulations, directly impacted your academic performance or your ability to make academic decisions, such as dropping courses, within the required timeframes. For these reasons, I am unable to grant your request.
Please know that this decision is not intended as a punishment. Rather, it reflects the university’s intention to provide students with 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 challenging year and are eager to continue your studies, my sincere hope is that you will use this time away from the university to make meaningful changes and continue accessing the support you need to achieve future academic success. Please note that you will be eligible to return to the university for the 2027 Summer 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 the necessary steps to support the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. You may find the following strategies helpful:
· Choose courses carefully. Achieving a higher grade in a repeated course can improve your GPA and support your return to and maintenance of good academic standing.
· Reflect on your program choice. Consider whether your current plan aligns with your interests and strengths. Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS can help you track requirements and plan future courses. Information on program options is available in the Academic Calendar: queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
· Seek academic advising. You may consult an Academic Advisor through the Faculty Office (Dunning Hall) or online: queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Departmental advising may also be available.
· Use Student Academic Success Services (SASS). sass.queensu.ca/ offers workshops and supports to strengthen study skills and academic strategies.
· Access Student Wellness Services. queensu.ca/studentwellness/ provides counselling and support for managing personal challenges.
· Understand Academic Consideration. queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations outlines options available when experiencing short-term extenuating circumstances.
Additionally, if you wish to appeal this decision, you are welcome to submit an appeal to the Board of Studies. Appeals to the Board of Studies must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of this decision. 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, PhD
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: July 3, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Tami Sakariyas-DE
Student Email: t.sakariyasde@queensu.ca
Dear Tami Sakariyas-DE:
I have carefully considered your petition to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year and while I’m unable to grant your request, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account in reaching this decision.
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 a student’s control, affected their academic performance. Where such circumstances are temporary, a student must indicate and document how they have been resolved and why they are not expected to continue to affect academic performance. Where circumstances are ongoing, a student must demonstrate how these challenges will be effectively managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived.
In addition, Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.1 states that petitions are granted only where there are significantly extenuating circumstances that 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 has a debilitating impact on academic performance. These types of extraordinary situations should be supported by official documentation from a health care practitioner or other relevant professional.
While documentation does not need to disclose the specific nature of a condition, it must clearly indicate how the circumstances affected academic performance in terms of timing and impact, and verify that these effects were substantial enough to result in the academic difficulty. Information regarding the onset, duration, and current status of the circumstances is critical in enabling an informed decision. It is also important that documentation address whether the circumstances have improved or are being effectively managed such that they will not have a significant negative impact on future academic performance.
I acknowledge the family-related extenuating circumstances described in your petition and understand how these experiences impacted your well-being during the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 academic year. I am glad to hear that you are currently receiving professional support.
However, after a thorough review, I must conclude that your petition does not include sufficient documentation to meet the standard required to waive the requirement to withdraw. Specifically, it does not include documentation confirming that unexpected extenuating circumstances affected your academic performance or prevented you from dropping your Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 courses by the applicable deadlines.
While I appreciate the document that you supplied dated June 15, it does not establish that extenuating circumstances, as defined by the regulations, directly impacted your academic performance or your ability to make academic decisions, such as dropping courses, within the required timeframes. For these reasons, I am unable to grant your request.
Please know that this decision is not intended as a punishment. Rather, it reflects the university’s intention to provide students with 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 challenging year and are eager to continue your studies, my sincere hope is that you will use this time away from the university to make meaningful changes and continue accessing the support you need to achieve future academic success. Please note that you will be eligible to return to the university for the 2027 Summer 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 the necessary steps to support the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. You may find the following strategies helpful:
· Choose courses carefully. Achieving a higher grade in a repeated course can improve your GPA and support your return to and maintenance of good academic standing.
· Reflect on your program choice. Consider whether your current plan aligns with your interests and strengths. Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS can help you track requirements and plan future courses. Information on program options is available in the Academic Calendar: queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
· Seek academic advising. You may consult an Academic Advisor through the Faculty Office (Dunning Hall) or online: queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Departmental advising may also be available.
· Use Student Academic Success Services (SASS). sass.queensu.ca/ offers workshops and supports to strengthen study skills and academic strategies.
· Access Student Wellness Services. queensu.ca/studentwellness/ provides counselling and support for managing personal challenges.
· Understand Academic Consideration. queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations outlines options available when experiencing short-term extenuating circumstances.
Additionally, if you wish to appeal this decision, you are welcome to submit an appeal to the Board of Studies. Appeals to the Board of Studies must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of this decision. 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, PhD
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated July 3, 2026 at 2:57:03 PM.