Decision Letter
Submission Number: 13896
Decision Date: January 26, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Clarke Smith
Student Email: 21cims@queensu.ca
Course: BLCK 320
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Kesha Fevrier
Course: GNDS 312
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Jennifer H.
Course: GNDS 480
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Alanna Veitch
Course: GNDS 326
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Patricia Salah
Dear Clarke:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add BLCK 320, GNDS 312, GNDS 326 and GNDS 480 (W26) after the academic deadline. 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 and Winter term enrolment began during the 2025 Summer term in July. 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 want you to know that I acknowledge the health-related extenuating circumstances that you presented within your petition request and I recognize the impact that they have had on your ability to enroll in Winter term classes so close to the add deadline. I also appreciate the efforts you made to seek instructor support regarding enrollment in these courses.
While I am empathetic to your situation and understand that you are motivated to return to your studies, I am concerned about your academic standing as I see that you were not able to successfully complete any of your Fall term courses. I want you to understand that 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.
As your petition did not include documentation to confirm that the extenuating circumstances that impacted your academic ability in the Fall term are resolved or are being managed and supported in a way that you can successfully complete a full course load, I am unable to grant this request.
I encourage you to plan ahead for the 2026 Summer term (enrollment will begin in February) and to take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. I would suggest that you consider registering with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) if you have not done so already, so that you can obtain ongoing support from an Accessibility Advisor who can help manage the ongoing impacts of your health on your academics.
It is 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: January 26, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Clarke Smith
Student Email: 21cims@queensu.ca
Course: BLCK 320
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Kesha Fevrier
Course: GNDS 312
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Jennifer H.
Course: GNDS 480
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Alanna Veitch
Course: GNDS 326
Term: Winter
Year: 2026
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Patricia Salah
Dear Clarke:
I have carefully considered your petition request to add BLCK 320, GNDS 312, GNDS 326 and GNDS 480 (W26) after the academic deadline. 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 and Winter term enrolment began during the 2025 Summer term in July. 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 want you to know that I acknowledge the health-related extenuating circumstances that you presented within your petition request and I recognize the impact that they have had on your ability to enroll in Winter term classes so close to the add deadline. I also appreciate the efforts you made to seek instructor support regarding enrollment in these courses.
While I am empathetic to your situation and understand that you are motivated to return to your studies, I am concerned about your academic standing as I see that you were not able to successfully complete any of your Fall term courses. I want you to understand that 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.
As your petition did not include documentation to confirm that the extenuating circumstances that impacted your academic ability in the Fall term are resolved or are being managed and supported in a way that you can successfully complete a full course load, I am unable to grant this request.
I encourage you to plan ahead for the 2026 Summer term (enrollment will begin in February) and to take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. I would suggest that you consider registering with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) if you have not done so already, so that you can obtain ongoing support from an Accessibility Advisor who can help manage the ongoing impacts of your health on your academics.
It is 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 January 26, 2026 at 12:24:25 PM.