Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to petition for a late course drop of DEVS 100 (Fall/Winter 2022-2023) and DEVS 220 (Summer 2023). I would like to provide an explanation of the extenuating circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance in the courses. Throughout the 2022-2023 academic year I have been grappling with a mental health disability that severely impacted my ability to effectively manage my time and organize course work. I now recognize how vital this is for navigating dense course materials. Additionally, I have been caring for my sick child which further strained my ability to consistently uphold my academic commitments. The severity of the circumstances was profound, sincerely impeding my capacity to keep the pace with the demanding reading components required in both courses. Furthermore, the cognitive challenges associated with my mental health disability significantly prolonged the time required for comprehension, exacerbating the already constricted timeframe for completion. Moreover, the emotional strain of attending to my child's health needs exacerbated and compounded the stress making it evermore difficult to successfully complete the coursework. To address these challenges, I have ongoing support from the Student Academic Success Services (SASS) and have also maintained connection with the Ban Righ center. These resources have been invaluable in equipping me with coping mechanisms and strategies to navigate my academic responsibilities and manage my mental health disability. Both these courses were substantially denser in reading unlike other courses I was concurrently enrolled in. Additionally, both these courses demanded an exceptional level of time management and cognitive engagement, both of which were significantly impeded by my extenuating circumstances. Despite the persistent challenges I faced, I am inherently driven to persevere and overcome hardship. I had the intention of completing the courses successfully, believing that I could achieve the learning objectives in a very small time frame. However, as the deadlines got closer and the workload intensified, it became clear that the circumstances were insurmountable within the allotted timeframe. Through the ongoing support provided by SASS and the Ban Righ center, in addition to my family doctor and QSASS advisor, I have made substantial progress in managing my mental health disability and personal responsibilities. I have acquired essential academic skills such as effective time management, organization techniques to ensure adequate time for deadlines, and improved note-taking techniques. Additionally, I have utilized Glean services to gain more comprehensive understanding of all lecture materials. Should my petition be granted, I have created a plan to ensure academic success moving forward. I’m eager to share with you that I have successfully completed the equivalent to DEVS 100 which is DEVS 101 with a grade of A-, demonstrating my capability to excel in related coursework. Currently, I am enrolled in DEVS 102, furthering my academic pursuits in line with my goals. For DEVS 220, I intend to retake the course during the summer 2024 term. I have also made the decision to switch my major to Global Development studies and transition to on-campus classes, recognizing the value of in-person learning opportunities and pursuing my passion. These adjustments mirror my aspiration to thrive academically while effectively managing extenuating circumstances. The change has made a very positive impact and I am confident in my capacity to be adaptive and grow as I continue my academic journey. I am seeking your compassionate understanding and consideration in granting my petition for a late course drop. The extenuating circumstances I have encountered have posed challenges, but I am wholeheartedly committed to overcoming them with resilience and determination. Your support in this matter would be immensely appreciated, as it would afford me the opportunity to maintain a strong GPA which is vital for my goal of pursuing graduate studies.