Decision Letter
Submission Number: 13589
Decision Date: September 30, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Hayden Carter
Student Email: 21hsc6@queensu.ca
Course: HIST 200
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Heather Robin, Poussard Nadeau
Course: HIST 219
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Caroline-Isabelle Caron
Course: HIST 214
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Aditi Sen Chowdhury
Dear Hayden Carter:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add HIST 200, HIST 214, HIST 219 (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 want to commend you on the steps that you have taken to address this health issue and engage in treatment. I also recognize the effort you made in proactively seeking support from the instructors of these courses.
That said, Fall term course enrollment began in July, and starting a course in week 5 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.
While I understand that a financial-related hold on your SOLUS account prevented you from enrolling before the Fall term add deadline, owing money to the University from a prior term is not considered an unexpected circumstance. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that their SOLUS account is in good standing in order to access course enrollment for the term in which they plan to register.
Going forward, I suggest a gradual return to studies so that you can focus on your recovery along with the 6.0 units of courses that you are currently enrolled in for the 2025 Fall term.
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 30, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Hayden Carter
Student Email: 21hsc6@queensu.ca
Course: HIST 200
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Heather Robin, Poussard Nadeau
Course: HIST 219
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Caroline-Isabelle Caron
Course: HIST 214
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Aditi Sen Chowdhury
Dear Hayden Carter:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add HIST 200, HIST 214, HIST 219 (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 want to commend you on the steps that you have taken to address this health issue and engage in treatment. I also recognize the effort you made in proactively seeking support from the instructors of these courses.
That said, Fall term course enrollment began in July, and starting a course in week 5 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.
While I understand that a financial-related hold on your SOLUS account prevented you from enrolling before the Fall term add deadline, owing money to the University from a prior term is not considered an unexpected circumstance. It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that their SOLUS account is in good standing in order to access course enrollment for the term in which they plan to register.
Going forward, I suggest a gradual return to studies so that you can focus on your recovery along with the 6.0 units of courses that you are currently enrolled in for the 2025 Fall term.
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 30, 2025 at 9:40:38 AM.