Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am petitioning to drop GEOL 337 (Fall, 2023). Due to the unforeseen circumstance of the untimely death of my boyfriend Oscar Wojtal, a Queen’s 2023 graduate on November 16th, 2023. I was unable to complete GEOL 337. At the time of the initial accident on November 11th was he was hospitalized with life treating injuries, only 9 labs were complete out of 10 worth 40%, and a midterm worth 10%. The remaining weighting of the course is supposed to be 10% lab exam, 10% Ordovician Life Assignment (group project), 30% final exam. I am currently on long term academic consideration and plan to write my exams in January. I also found out that another course I previously took can be used as a prerequisite towards my geology (arts) minor, instead of GEOL 337.I am petitioning to only drop this course, since the remaining courses I am taking are all prerequisites to chemistry (science) major and geology (arts) minor, which I hope and. plan to graduate with this coming spring. I didn’t drop the course earlier because I have a genuine interest in fossils and paleontology, and believed I needed to complete it to complete my minor’s degree requirements. In addition, I have completed the course requirements for my other classes to a further degree, then achieved on GEOL 337. Also, the date of the accident occurred after the drop deadline.
I am unable to finish this course because I am currently at home and about 3 hours away from Kingston. In addition, the remaining 50% of the course is 10% group project that I was unable to participate due to the timing of the assignment and accident. I missed a significant amount of class time, from November 11th onward, I was not present the final lab exam, and I don’t want to have to write four final exams when I come back in January. Since, I believe that it will already be a stressful time returning to school and normal life. Should my petition be granted, all my degree perquisites for both chemistry (science) major and geology (arts) minor will still all be completed by the end of the 2024 winter semester in time for Spring 2024 graduation.