Decision Letter
Submission Number: 13608
Decision Date: September 24, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Makayla King
Student Email: 21mimk@queensu.ca
Course: ARTH 307
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Dawn cunningham
Course: ARTH 391
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Dawn Cunningham
Course: ARTH 383
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Katherine Romba
Course: ARTH 348
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Norman Vorano
Course: ARTH 234
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Juliana Ribeiro da Silva Bevilacqua
Dear Makayla King:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add ARTH 234, ARTH 307, ARTH 348, ARTH 383, and ARTH 391 (F25) past the academic deadline 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.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload.
I acknowledge the circumstances that you described within your petition letter and the steps you took at the end of August by contacting your Department to inquire about course enrollment. I also recognize the efforts you made in proactively obtaining support from several instructors.
That said, Fall term course enrollment began in July, and starting a course in week 4 of a 12-week term places a student at a great disadvantage, and structurally inhibits their chance at success. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate a student for missed work resulting from late enrollment, and the academic deadlines are in place to ensure fairness and clarity for all students.
You were also sent a letter in May of 2024 outlining the conditions of your requirement to withdraw. That letter stressed the importance of submitting a Return to Studies form to the Faculty of Arts and Science by April of the year you intended to resume studies. It is the students’ responsibility to complete this process in a timely manner to ensure that their SOLUS account has access for the course enrollment period in July.
I encourage you to plan ahead for the 2026 Winter term and to take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps toward the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. I strongly encourage you to consider the following strategies:
Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan department.
Student Academic Success Services (SASS) sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
The Student Wellness Services Centre queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
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,
Dorit Naaman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academics)
Decision Date: September 24, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Makayla King
Student Email: 21mimk@queensu.ca
Course: ARTH 307
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Dawn cunningham
Course: ARTH 391
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Dawn Cunningham
Course: ARTH 383
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Katherine Romba
Course: ARTH 348
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Norman Vorano
Course: ARTH 234
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Juliana Ribeiro da Silva Bevilacqua
Dear Makayla King:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add ARTH 234, ARTH 307, ARTH 348, ARTH 383, and ARTH 391 (F25) past the academic deadline 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.
As you know, courses must be added on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload.
I acknowledge the circumstances that you described within your petition letter and the steps you took at the end of August by contacting your Department to inquire about course enrollment. I also recognize the efforts you made in proactively obtaining support from several instructors.
That said, Fall term course enrollment began in July, and starting a course in week 4 of a 12-week term places a student at a great disadvantage, and structurally inhibits their chance at success. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate a student for missed work resulting from late enrollment, and the academic deadlines are in place to ensure fairness and clarity for all students.
You were also sent a letter in May of 2024 outlining the conditions of your requirement to withdraw. That letter stressed the importance of submitting a Return to Studies form to the Faculty of Arts and Science by April of the year you intended to resume studies. It is the students’ responsibility to complete this process in a timely manner to ensure that their SOLUS account has access for the course enrollment period in July.
I encourage you to plan ahead for the 2026 Winter term and to take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps toward the successful completion of your program and to maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. I strongly encourage you to consider the following strategies:
Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes? Your Academic Advisement Report in SOLUS will allow you to see your remaining requirements and help you plan out future courses. You can read about the other program/plan options that may interest you in the Academic Calendar at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/schools-departments-programs/.
Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. The Arts and Science Faculty Office is located in Dunning Hall (main floor). You can also book an appointment with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Academic advising may also be available through your Plan department.
Student Academic Success Services (SASS) sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
The Student Wellness Services Centre queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, is available to all Queen’s students. SWS offers counselling as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
Academic Consideration is a process for the university community to provide a compassionate response to assist students experiencing a short-term extenuating circumstance. You can familiarize yourself with your consideration options at: queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations.
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,
Dorit Naaman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academics)
Generated September 24, 2025 at 12:32:10 PM.