Decision Letter
Submission Number: 13614
Decision Date: October 3, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Emeren-Pearl Conde
Student Email: 21epc5@queensu.ca
Course: MUSC 171
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Robb MacKay
Course: DEVS 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Marcus Taylor
Course: ENGL 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Ruth Wehlau
Dear Emeren-Pearl Conde:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add MUSC 171, DEVS 101 and ENGL 281 (F25) past the academic deadline. While I am unable to grant your petition, and 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 offer my condolences. I understand that you were not able to enroll in 2025 Fall term courses prior to the academic deadline and I also recognize the effort you made in proactively seeking support from the instructors of these courses.
That said, 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.
Going forward, I suggest that you meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss your academic goals so that you can create a plan to return to studies in the 2026 Winter term. Information (including the Zoom link) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising
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: October 3, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Emeren-Pearl Conde
Student Email: 21epc5@queensu.ca
Course: MUSC 171
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Robb MacKay
Course: DEVS 101
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Marcus Taylor
Course: ENGL 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2025
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Ruth Wehlau
Dear Emeren-Pearl Conde:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add MUSC 171, DEVS 101 and ENGL 281 (F25) past the academic deadline. While I am unable to grant your petition, and 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 offer my condolences. I understand that you were not able to enroll in 2025 Fall term courses prior to the academic deadline and I also recognize the effort you made in proactively seeking support from the instructors of these courses.
That said, 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.
Going forward, I suggest that you meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss your academic goals so that you can create a plan to return to studies in the 2026 Winter term. Information (including the Zoom link) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising
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 October 3, 2025 at 1:38:43 PM.