Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Submission Number: 13747
Decision Date: December 10, 2025
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Aidon Lambert-McComb
Student Email: a.lambertmccomb@queensu.ca

Course: RELS 235
Term: Fall
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: David Hanes

Course: CHEM 312
Term: Fall
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Jean Michel Nunzi

Course: LAW 204
Term: Fall
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Rachel Law

Course: PHIL 203
Term: Fall
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CHEM 212
Term: Fall
Year: 2024
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CHEM 222
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CHEM 223
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CHEM 321
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Dear Aidon Lambert-McComb:

I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your petition letter. I have carefully considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be "Required to Withdraw for One Year" as well as your requests to Waive the Petition Deadline related to the 2023 Fall and 2024 Winter terms and to drop CHEM 212, CHEM 312, LAW 204, PHIL 203, RELS 235 (F24), CHEM 222, CHEM 223, and CHEM 321 (W25) after the academic deadline. After reviewing the information and documentation that you supplied, I have decided to grant your requests. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University.

I have granted your request to Waive the Petition Deadline related to the 2023 Fall and 2024 Winter terms. You may now access on the on-line petition portal at queensu.ca/artsci/undergraduate/student-services/academic-petitions-and-appeals to submit your new petition under the appropriate category such as, to drop a course after the academic deadline. Your new petition request should include a letter that outlines how each course was affected by extenuating circumstances and why you didn’t drop them by the academic deadline. In addition to confirming the timeline of the circumstance, it is important that your documentation also outlines the academic impacts during the terms that you are petitioning. Documentation can include but is not limited to a letter from a professional such as Student Wellness Services (SWS), an off-campus physician’s letter (if your healthcare provider is not within the Queen’s community), a death certificate, or legal documents if relevant. If your extenuating circumstances are personal in nature or cannot be documented professionally, we may accept a letter from a family member or friend as long as they supply their contact information so that it can be verified.

I have granted your request to drop CHEM 212, CHEM 312, LAW 204, PHIL 203, RELS 235 (F24), CHEM 222, CHEM 223, and CHEM 321 (W25) after the academic deadline. Your grades in these courses will be replaced by a DR notation on your transcript once this has been processed by the office of the University Registrar.

I have also granted your request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw. Upon your return to studies, you should know that it is your responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of extenuating circumstances on your coursework prior to the drop deadline of the term. If you fall behind in a course or find the material too difficult, you should drop the course by deadline. The drop deadlines, outlined in the “Important Dates” section on the Faculty of Arts and Science web page, have been established to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all students.

As you continue in your course of study, I strongly suggest that you consider taking no more than 9.0 units per term for the upcoming academic year and that you utilize instructor and teaching assistant support in each of your classes. It is also your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:

• 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 meet with an Academic Advisor online at queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/student-services/academic-advising. Academic Advising may also be available through the Department of the Plan you are pursuing.
• 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.

I wish you success in your studies in the new year.

Sincerely,

Dorit Naaman
Associate Dean (Academic)