Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Submission Number: 13021
Decision Date: May 12, 2025
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ella Purdie
Student Email: 22hls3@queensu.ca

Course: PHGY 216
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Dr. Nicolle Domnik

Dear Ella,

Thank you for your petition regarding Aegrotat Standing in PHGY 216 (W25). I have carefully reviewed your request and the supporting documentation that you supplied, and while I’m unable to grant your petition, I want to assure you that I’ve taken your circumstances into account as part of this decision.

According to the Academic Appeal and Petition Regulation 3.3.1.3, Aegrotat standing is reserved for a course in which a student who, because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond their control, is unable to complete all the work of the class. At least 60 per cent of the work to be evaluated in the class (assignments, midterms, laboratories, final examination, as specified in the class syllabus) must be completed. As part of the petition decision process, the instructor must assert that the student has met all of the course learning outcomes. A student with extenuating circumstances who may be able to complete the remaining work in a class should consider a petition to extend the deadline to submit incomplete work or complete a deferred exam instead.

I understand that you are not able to write the outstanding midterm exam during the deferral period in May due to a conflicting commitment that you have with the Queen’s Medical Brigades. I also understand that you cannot write the exam during the 2025 Fall term deferral period in January of 2026 due to an international exchange opportunity. I have however, denied your request for Aegrotat Standing in PHGY 216 (W25) as the instructor of the course has confirmed that you have not met the learning outcomes in the course based on the work that you had completed. As the midterm assesses content from weeks 1 – 6, it is a required component of the course. Also, your petition did not demonstrate that extenuating circumstances beyond your control are impacting your ability to complete the course during the 2025 Summer term.

That said, the instructor of the course has let me know that they also offered you an in-person deferral for the outstanding midterm during the exam period in August, 2025. I understand that you were not expecting to be in Kingston during the Summer months, however I encourage you to consider their offer so that you can complete the course. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please reach out to Instructor Domnik as soon as possible to make the arrangements.

Additionally, if you wish to appeal this decision, you are welcome to 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”). 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,

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