Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Jenn Stephenson
Associate Dean - Academics
Queen’s University
Kingston, ON

June 2nd, 2024

Dear Dr. Stephenson,

I acknowledge that I have received the academic letter RTW1 and would like to thank you for allowing me to put forth a case for a return to study commencing September 2024. I am formally submitting an appeal for your decision to allow me to attend Queens and further my academic education commencing September 2024.
I have read and understood the requirements of maintaining a GPA average to ensure that I can remain in my Fine Arts program. I also know that I will be under academic probation this coming year.

As a Bader student, I thrived in the UK. I upheld my grades and the learning platform is one that I was successful in. When we were abruptly informed that we would not be continuing with the program and that necessary steps had to be taken to leave, I became undone. I did not take the steps needed to work through the change that I had not prepared for. The idea of coming home after processing the change was hard and I did not anticipate how it would negatively impact me. I left Bader College on November 20th, 2023 due to circumstances out of my control. Once I had arrived home and started to adjust to online learning, my grandfather passed away suddenly on December 02, 2023. This impacted my final assessments and exams as I did not reach out to my professors to ask for accommodations during this difficult time. I thought that starting in Queens and staying on West campus would be good for me instead of taking up the option to defer until September which was offered to us over the parent Zoom call in November. West campus life was not for me. I tried several times for a dorm change but was unsuccessful. I was on a predominantly male floor with no Don and I found it overwhelming. I would hide in my room and pretend I was not there just to avoid the noise and distraction. This in turn greatly affected my mental health and I did not ask for help. With all of the changes that happened at once along with the death of an immediate family member, change of environment, workload, and stress of having to adjust to a new living environment and schooling situation that wasn’t anticipated, my mental health was negatively impacted. Looking back, I was not in the right mental space and due to the sudden change, I felt disconnected from the rest of Queens as a Bader student coming in and did not take advantage of the peer-to-peer work groups that were offered nor make any network connections.


Next steps:

After the year has come to a close, and I am now back in my home environment and in the care of my supportive family, I see where I went wrong. I am now seeing a therapist to help with the challenges that I have faced. The first step is admitting that I had struggles and I am now on a road to make better pathways for myself. I have connected with Alana from Psych Company who is also a therapist for U of T and we have started counselling. I feel like she is the right person for me as I connected with her and she is also in a post secondary environment which will help me navigate the stresses of University life. I have complete support from my parents and family when it comes to counselling and I have now been open with them about my struggles. I have arranged weekly check-ins with my parents on my academic progress to ensure that my grades remain.

Academic plan:

I now know my target GPA and the requirements and expectations that must be upheld at Queens to remain. I value having set goals and now that I am aware of what my academic goals are to remain, I am confident that I can meet them in September. I am making arrangements to work with an academic support coach and will utilize my academic advisors as much as possible. I am willing to get tutoring if and when needed. I will have an academic plan in place for study as well as workload. I will have a course load and study schedule by using a pIanner. I am looking forward to a more positive way to this new year, having my own living situation not on campus and living with three other high-achieving academic students who are also enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences program at Queens. I know that if I am facing any challenges, I have the resources to acquire help academically. I am academically motivated and highly prioritize my academic achievements, so I believe that I can acquire at least the minimum GPA in order to continue my studies at Queens. I would do summer courses online in preparation for the start of September if I was permitted to. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you for recommendations on moving forward. I am and will put in the effort and hard work to be successful at Queens. It is an honour to go to this prestigious school and I would very much like the opportunity to prove to you that I can be successful here at Queens. I do believe that my circumstances were out of my control and put me into an unsuccessful academic year. I am happy to send any documentation you may need if required.

Dr Stephenson, I am reaching out to you with heart in hand that I am asking for a second chance. I can do this and show you that I can if you allow me to do so. I know you are extremely busy and I value the time you have taken to hear my appeal for a second chance.

Please feel free to contact me as I am happy to answer any questions you may have and to show you that I am prepared to start fresh come September.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my appeal to remain a Queens student for September 2024.

Kindly,
Morgan Say