Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 5956
Decision Date: July 9, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ali Pirhadi
Student Email: 16ap8@queensu.ca

Course: BCHM 218
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PHGY 215
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Ali Pirhadi:

I was sorry to read that you were dealing with health related challenges during this past year. After carefully considering your appeal to drop BCHM 218, CHEM 281 and PHGY 218 (F 2018) past the academic deadline, I have decided to grant your request based on the circumstances outlined as well as your documentation. I was also pleased to see that you had withdrawn from Winter term 2019 courses when you realized they were in academic jeopardy. This demonstrates that you were being mindful of drop dates and trying to make good academic decisions during that term.

I have granted this appeal based on the circumstances outlined but need to warn you that the appeals process is not meant to be used to manage a chronic or ongoing condition. An appeal based on the same circumstances may not be granted in the future. I encourage you to continue to seek out support from your doctor and suggest that you consider registering with QSAS and work with an accommodation advisor who can help you manage both your health and academics. This could include taking a lighter course load, as you have done in the past, and would include once again evaluating the impact of your health on your studies prior to week 8 of term. The drop deadlines, as they have been outlined in the €œImportant Dates€ section on the Arts and Science web page, have been established by the Faculty of Arts and Science to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of all students and to facilitate the timely completion of university studies at Queen's.

Note that any change in academic registration may impact government or private-firm student financial assistance eligibility and/or funding. Please consult with the Student Awards Office, Office of the University Registrar, Gordon Hall, to understand the potential implications of changes to course or program registration and/or the consequences of not successfully completing the required course load.

Yours sincerely,


Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)


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