Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally request consideration for a late drop of the course WRIT120 for the Winter 2023 semester. As a new employee at the university, I did not fully understand the process for employees registering for classes.

In August 2022, I registered for WRIT120 scheduled to begin in January 2023. A that time, I had been employed by Queen's for nine months. Unfortunately, I did not comprehend the specific procedures related to employee class registration. It came to my attention after registering that one year of service is a prerequisite for employees to qualify for paid courses, a policy I was not aware of at the time of registration.

I did not receive any communication from Queen's regarding the course until this fall when I received an “Outstanding Balance” to my Queen’s work email. I was not aware of a separate Queen's email that I should have been checking the whole time. The lack of information led to my unintentional oversight of important course-related details, including the deadlines for dropping the course. Had I known about the separate Queen’s email that I should have been checking, I would have dropped the course and enrolled in a course following the proper protocol for Queen’s employees.

I take full responsibility for this oversight, and I acknowledge that the associated fees are my responsibility. However, I am seeking your assistance in mitigating the academic consequences by removing the 'F' from my transcript. I never had the intention to neglect my academic responsibilities, and I assure you that, had I been aware of the situation, I would have taken immediate action to rectify it.

I did not attend a single class, and the gravity of the situation regarding the 'F' on my transcript has become apparent to me. As someone who has never been to university before, pursuing a university degree is a significant personal goal, and I am genuinely dedicated to ensuring a positive academic record. This 'F' could potentially impact my future academic pursuits or career opportunities.

I understand the importance of adhering to Queen's policies, and I sincerely regret any inconvenience this may cause. I am more than willing to meet with you in person to discuss my situation further or provide any additional information that may be necessary to process my petition.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I genuinely appreciate the university's commitment to supporting its students, and I am hopeful that you will grant my request for a late drop of WRIT120.

Respectfully,
Shannon Bowes