Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Submission Number: 13511
Decision Date: November 5, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Meera Feerasta
Student Email: 17mf49@queensu.ca

Course: CHEM 281
Term: Summer
Year: 2025
Category: Request an extension of an exam deferral
Instructor: John Carran
Additional Information: Final Exam

Dear Meera Feerasta,

Thank you for your petition regarding a deferral of the final exam in CHEM 281 (S25). I have carefully reviewed your request and the information that I received from the instructor of the course, and while I’m unable to grant this petition, I want to assure you that your circumstances were considered thoughtfully and with care as part of the decision-making process. 

The Academic Petitions and Appeal Regulation 1.7.1.6. states that a student affected by extenuating circumstances who cannot write their exam as scheduled may submit a request for academic consideration and ask the course instructor for an exam deferral. The instructor may agree to a deferral for up to one full term after the completion of a class. If the student is unable to write the deferred exam due to the same or different extenuating circumstances, any further request for an additional exam deferral must be made through a petition to the Associate Dean (Academic). In such petitions, the instructor will be consulted for their agreement to a further deferral and confirmation of the new exam timeframe must also be included. If the instructor cannot support an extension of an exam deferral, the student may be encouraged to consider other petition options instead.

I acknowledge the health-related challenges you described in your petition letter, and I am sincerely sorry that these circumstances prevented you from completing the exam within the summer term and the deferred period scheduled by the instructor.

I want to remind you that requests for further deferrals require instructor support, as instructors are responsible for facilitating and grading deferred exams during the subsequent term. After consulting with the instructor of CHEM 281, I regret to inform you that no additional exam attempts are possible, as the instructor is unable to offer further deferrals in this course beyond those already provided.

I want you to know that I also explored other academic options, including Aegrotat Standing. Under Academic Petition and Appeal regulation 1.7.1.3, Aegrotat standing is available only when a student is unable to complete all course work due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, and when the instructor confirms that the student has met the essential learning outcomes based on the work that they were able to complete. As the

instructor of CHEM 281 has indicated that the final exam is the primary indicator of these outcomes, you do not meet the criteria for this academic option.

However, as the documentation you supplied confirms that you were unable to complete academic responsibilities during the timeline of August 9 to September 6, 2025, I will allow you to drop CHEM 281 (S25) after the academic deadline. If you choose this option, your final grade will be replaced with a DR notation on your transcript and will no longer be included within the calculation of your cumulative GPA. Please email asc.petitions@queensu.ca within 10 business days of receiving this letter if you would like to proceed with this academic option.

Additionally, if you wish to appeal this decision, 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 make use of the support and resources available to you, and I wish you the best in navigating your next steps. 

Sincerely, 

Dorit Naaman, PhD
Associate Dean (Academic)