Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom it may concern,

I am writing today to ask that consideration be taken concerning two classes that I took in the Winter 2023 semester, PSYC 100, and ASTR 101. Particularly ASTR 101. For PSYC 100 I did successfully pass the class, however, with a letter grade of D, and for ASTR 101 I was unsuccessful completely. Both of which are now affecting my overall GPA and ability to be accepted to teachers’ college. I understand that some time has passed since I took these classes however, at the time I was unaware of the impact these two classes would have on my future education and
I simply was not mentally well enough to do anything about it.

In June of 2022, I experienced a significant life event that triggered a chain of mental health episodes as I navigated the repercussions of that event. Unfortunately, in January of 2023, it became too much to bear, and I experienced what I now look back on as one of the darkest times of my life. During this time, I was off of work with doctor's documentation from January 9, 2023, almost consistently until October 2023, I made several attempts to return to work unsuccessfully until last October. Since then, I have consistently attended work and been successful in my studies. During the summer of 2023, I worked hard to take back my life and put appropriate support in my life that would assist me in being successful. As you will see in my transcript from the 2023 summer and fall semesters I have been quite successful in maintaining a GPA more accurate of my abilities. I contacted QSAS and Caroline Teske has assisted me in obtaining accommodations as of April 13, 2023. Unfortunately for the semester I am referring to these accommodations were set in place too late, and I wasn’t able to access them to my advantage that semester with better overall results.

As I am now about to enter my final semester in the Bachelor of History Arts and Science program at Queens University I have begun to prepare for the next chapter of my education and am now met with a roadblock. These two classes have impacted my GPA so much that I have been unsuccessful in being accepted to Teachers College at SUNY Potsdam University this fall with their reasoning being a low GPA. I have worked extremely hard to get where I am despite the challenges life threw at me at the beginning of my studies at Queens. I battled a hard fight with mental health and have now come out on the other side stronger for it. I am a mature student and am fully employed with Limestone District School Board as an Educational Assistant and returned to my studies in May of 2022 intending to obtain my BA in History so that I could continue at teachers’ college afterwards and fulfil my lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. Because I am the sole supporter of my household I need to attend teachers' college online so that I can continue to work to support my daughter and myself, therefore, Potsdam is my only option to make that happen, I need to turn this around and get an acceptance. So, I am asking that you consider removing ASTR 101 from my transcript as it was an elective course and not required to fulfil the requirements of my History BA, I have since taken other electives to replace it, in fact, the following semester I took CLST 205 as an elective and obtained a letter grade of A. As for PSYC 100 upon speaking with Arts and Science online it was suggested that I ask you to consider the extenuating circumstances I faced and use the credit standing in a course option as a CR so that it would no longer impact my GPA negatively.

Thank you in advance for your consideration, I am hopeful that a resolution can be achieved so that all of the hard work I have put into myself and my studies since then can shine through the darkness of that time in my life. Should you require any further information or would like any copies of the doctor's notes please feel free to contact me at your convenience either by telephone at (613) 876-5585 or by email 22ambs@queensu.ca .

Best Regards,
Amy Bauder-Sauve