Decision Letter
Submission Number: 14010
Decision Date: March 9, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Michael Wall
Student Email: 24hbt@queensu.ca
Dear Michael:
Thank you for your petition requesting permission to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission, specifically your request to complete 30.0 units at another Canadian institution. After a thorough review, I regret to inform you that I’m unable to grant this request in its entirety, but I want to emphasize that this decision is based on the guidelines outlined in the Faculty of Arts and Science Academic Petition and Appeal Regulations. Your petition and supporting documentation were carefully reviewed in relation to these regulations before reaching this decision.
Academic Regulation 14.1 indicates that a student on a degree program in the Faculty of Arts and Science may be permitted to take up to 6.0 units of undergraduate classes elsewhere for credit toward a degree offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science via a Letter of Permission. Students with extenuating circumstances or an opportunity to pursue an exceptional learning experience not available through Queen's may submit a petition to the Associate Dean (Academic) to request an exception to the 6.0 unit maximum.
I understand that upon successful completion of your 2026 Winter term courses, you still require 21.0 units for your Major, 18.0 units for your Minor and 21.0 units of electives. You indicated in your petition that you plan to return to your studies at Queen’s for the 2026/2027 academic year to complete some of these requirements and that you are requesting permission to take 30.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission through Athabasca University including 9.0 units for your Major and 21.0 units of electives.
I have granted your request to take 9.0 units of your required 300-level DEVS courses at Athabasca during the 2026 Summer term. Please know that students can take a maximum of 18.0 units per term, including courses taken at other institutions. As a result, it would not be possible to complete all 60.0 remaining units within the next three academic terms, as the maximum course load across three terms would be 54.0 units. I encourage you to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss an academic plan moving forward.
It is important to note that some institutions are not eligible for a Letter of Permission, and not all courses are eligible for transfer credits. It is your responsibility to apply for a Letter of Permission through SOLUS and receive approval before applying to the host institution. Please also be advised that as per Academic Regulation 16.1.3 no more than one-half less 6.0 units of the total required for your Global Development Studies Major may be transfer credits from outside Queen’s University.
Regarding your request to take 21.0 units elective courses at another institution, I am unable to grant this part of your petition. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.7.1.7 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petition requests to take courses at another institution must directly address how this is necessary due to extenuating circumstances or to an exceptional academic opportunity. As your petition did not demonstrate such extenuating circumstances preventing you from taking your remaining electives in person or online at Queen’s, I cannot grant this part of your request.
I do recognize that you plan to return to in-person study at Queen’s for the 2026/2027 academic year to complete your remaining Major and Minor requirements, and I encourage you to explore online elective options through Arts and Science for the Summer and Fall terms of 2027.
If you wish to appeal this decision 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 (Academic)
Decision Date: March 9, 2026
Associate Dean: Dorit Naaman (Associate Dean Academic)
Student Name: Michael Wall
Student Email: 24hbt@queensu.ca
Dear Michael:
Thank you for your petition requesting permission to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission, specifically your request to complete 30.0 units at another Canadian institution. After a thorough review, I regret to inform you that I’m unable to grant this request in its entirety, but I want to emphasize that this decision is based on the guidelines outlined in the Faculty of Arts and Science Academic Petition and Appeal Regulations. Your petition and supporting documentation were carefully reviewed in relation to these regulations before reaching this decision.
Academic Regulation 14.1 indicates that a student on a degree program in the Faculty of Arts and Science may be permitted to take up to 6.0 units of undergraduate classes elsewhere for credit toward a degree offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science via a Letter of Permission. Students with extenuating circumstances or an opportunity to pursue an exceptional learning experience not available through Queen's may submit a petition to the Associate Dean (Academic) to request an exception to the 6.0 unit maximum.
I understand that upon successful completion of your 2026 Winter term courses, you still require 21.0 units for your Major, 18.0 units for your Minor and 21.0 units of electives. You indicated in your petition that you plan to return to your studies at Queen’s for the 2026/2027 academic year to complete some of these requirements and that you are requesting permission to take 30.0 units of courses on a Letter of Permission through Athabasca University including 9.0 units for your Major and 21.0 units of electives.
I have granted your request to take 9.0 units of your required 300-level DEVS courses at Athabasca during the 2026 Summer term. Please know that students can take a maximum of 18.0 units per term, including courses taken at other institutions. As a result, it would not be possible to complete all 60.0 remaining units within the next three academic terms, as the maximum course load across three terms would be 54.0 units. I encourage you to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss an academic plan moving forward.
It is important to note that some institutions are not eligible for a Letter of Permission, and not all courses are eligible for transfer credits. It is your responsibility to apply for a Letter of Permission through SOLUS and receive approval before applying to the host institution. Please also be advised that as per Academic Regulation 16.1.3 no more than one-half less 6.0 units of the total required for your Global Development Studies Major may be transfer credits from outside Queen’s University.
Regarding your request to take 21.0 units elective courses at another institution, I am unable to grant this part of your petition. The Academic Petitions and Appeals Regulation 1.7.1.7 at queensu.ca/academic-calendar/arts-science/appeal-regulations/ stress that petition requests to take courses at another institution must directly address how this is necessary due to extenuating circumstances or to an exceptional academic opportunity. As your petition did not demonstrate such extenuating circumstances preventing you from taking your remaining electives in person or online at Queen’s, I cannot grant this part of your request.
I do recognize that you plan to return to in-person study at Queen’s for the 2026/2027 academic year to complete your remaining Major and Minor requirements, and I encourage you to explore online elective options through Arts and Science for the Summer and Fall terms of 2027.
If you wish to appeal this decision 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 (Academic)
Generated March 9, 2026 at 4:42:40 PM.