Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Riley Kapuscinski
46 Sandhill Crt.
Whitby, ON. L1M2J4
August 27th, 2024

Associate Deans Office (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queens University

My name is Riley Kapuscinski. Should my first petition to waive the Petition Deadline be granted, in this letter, I am petitioning that the failed grades I received in the Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 courses be changed to late course drops due to extraordinary and extenuating circumstances. The Fall 2021 courses include CLST 205, SOCY 200, SOCY 210, SOCY 226, and SOCY 302. The Winter 2022 courses include SOCY 227, SOCY 235 and SOCY 389.

During the semesters mentioned above, I faced significant personal trauma as a victim of domestic violence. The culminating incident of violence, which involved police intervention, occurred in February 2021. Although the criminal acts occurred before the start of the academic terms for which I am petitioning, the prolonged legal proceedings and ongoing trauma from the case deeply affected my mental and emotional well-being. The accused ultimately pled guilty to all five charges where I was the victim in April 2022, at the end of the Winter 2022 term. The impact of the case and the stress it imposed on my day-to-day life was substantial. While the case was ongoing, I corresponded with the Crown Attorney and Victim Services about its progress. The potential need to write a victim impact statement was discussed. It was an extensive process, and I was often overwhelmed by the feelings associated with not knowing the duration or outcome of the case.

Despite my best efforts to focus on and prioritize my studies, I found myself unable to perform at my usual academic level due to immense psychological and emotional strain. I acknowledge that I did not fully communicate the severity of my situation at the time, but my failure to complete these courses did not reflect my academic capabilities or dedication. The gravity of the circumstances weighed on me heavily, and I found it extremely difficult to communicate or articulate the severity. I could not speak about the incident or proceedings without getting extremely emotional, even to individuals closest to me. Communicating with faculty members at Queen’s about my academic performance was a daunting task that I feared would unearth further overwhelming feelings. I consulted with a healthcare professional in April 2022 for mental health concerns. I subsequently consulted with multiple healthcare professionals regarding mental health during my Required to Withdraw for a period of one year for poor academic performance.

Following my RTW and return to studies, I have made significant personal changes that testify to my perseverance and resilience. In April 2023, I shifted my academic plan from a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Sociology Major Plan to a General Sociology Bachelor of Arts that could be completed online. This plan would help ensure academic success, as I no longer lived in Kingston and now reside in Whitby. I worked as a server at a restaurant and was hired by the Durham Regional Police Service as a civilian. In December 2023, I began working full-time with DRPS, supporting investigations for Major Crimes units. I was also completing my studies at Queen’s as a full-time online student. I continued to work part-time as a server. During the Winter 2024 term, I maintained a high-stress full-time job where I often worked overtime, a part-time job, and earned a 3.0 GPA—my best term GPA to date. I was then released from Academic Probation on May 15, 2024.

I have also recently made significant strides in communicating with Support Services at Queen’s. I have had numerous meetings and correspondences to discuss the progression of my academic plan and the options for improving my GPA and transcript. I have reached a point where I can communicate and articulate the effects these extraordinary and extenuating circumstances had on my life in all areas. The support from faculty members such as Barbara Lotan, Gail Motut, Amanda Taillefer, and Haley Everson in the past couple of months has been incredibly empowering and has helped reignite my academic ambition. I aim to continue striving for academic success and keep in contact with the mentioned faculty members, who have been invaluable in my journey.

Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that my failed courses from Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 be considered for a retroactive change to “late drops” on my transcript. This adjustment would more accurately represent my academic performance and account for the extraordinary hardships I endured during this period.

Riley Kapuscinski
20115258