Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Laura Marcela Salazar Restrepo
Student Number: 20331229
Calle 4#75-71 T2 apto 208 Cali, Colombia
Phone Number: 573160507799
October 25th, 2023
Queens University
Kingston Ontario
Dear Associate Dean,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to request an academic
petition and a tuition amendment in relation to my enrollment at Queens University.
My name is Laura Marcela Salazar Restrepo, and I am a student at Queens
University, Canada.
I am addressing this petition with regard to the class I enrolled in during Summer
2023, specifically HIST 125. Unfortunately, I faced unforeseeable and challenging
circumstances that significantly impacted my ability to meet the course
requirements. On February 18, 2022, my mother suffered a stroke, which required me
to be her primary caregiver for approximately one month. In response to these
circumstances, I was compelled to withdraw from the class, resulting in the loss of
tuition fees. The burden of caring for my mother, while concurrently maintaining
full-time employment to support my family, left me with no alternative.
Tragically, my mother experienced a second stroke in April of the same year, and
regrettably, she passed away on May 26, 2022. Following her passing, my
responsibilities extended to the care of my father, who was dependent on oxygen. I
was the primary provider for my family, making it essential for me to continue
working to sustain our financial stability. Unexpectedly, my father also passed away
on August 3, 2022. Coping with these losses, I have been grappling not only with the
grieving process but also with the emotional trauma I experienced during my
mother's extended hospitalization in the year prior to her passing.
In light of these significant and ongoing challenges, my ability to focus on my studies
has been severely compromised. My attempts to resume my studies as an Interest
student this year have been marked by considerable difficulty. Balancing the

demands of a full-time job with my academic responsibilities has proven to be a
daunting task, particularly in the midst of my emotional struggles.
I humbly request your assistance to facilitate the restart of my academic journey as
an Interest student. Specifically, I request:
An academic petition to drop the HIST 125 class I withdrew from after the
academic deadline.
A tuition amendment to refund the course fees for the HIST 125 class I was
unable to complete due to my extenuating circumstances.
As of now, I am unable to proceed with the HIST 125 class for which I am being
penalized, despite the fact that it will not serve me in any meaningful way. The
financial burden associated with this course continues to grow, causing me
significant concern. It has reached a point where I am apprehensive about my ability
to continue my studies or even make payments for the outstanding fees.
I implore you to review my situation and take into consideration the extenuating
circumstances that have led to my current predicament. To support my petition, I
have attached documentation from my doctor and information regarding the passing
of both my parents.
I am committed to my education and believe that a compassionate reconsideration
of my situation would greatly assist me in continuing my academic journey at
Queens University. I kindly request your support in both dropping the HIST 125 class
after the academic deadline and amending the tuition fees for this particular course
by providing a refund. This would allow me to alleviate the financial burden I currently
face and focus on my academic aspirations.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to a favorable resolution
that will enable me to move forward with my studies. Please do not hesitate to
contact me if you require any further information or documentation to aid in your
evaluation of my petition.
Sincerely,