Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: September 2, 2024
Dear Dean,
I am a B.A. Psychology student (online in Montreal), and a single mother of 4 writing to request extenuating circumstances for my Psychology 397 final exam with Prof. Mary Omstead. It is the second time I am asking to defer the exam or preferably to formally ask to have the grade expunged from my transcript. My current grade for the class sans the final exam stands at a D-.
My summer consisted of taking care of my children, trying to finish two classes after my Aunt Mary Ann Hollet died this July, compounding the grief of my father’s passing less than a year ago, and finding out Quebec AFE student loans denied my request for further financial help and therefore scrambling to come up with a solution. I spent August working on my appeal to them and trying to find other loans and bursaries to survive and pay for my next term of classes until I heard back from Quebec Student Loans. I obtained the Ban Righ Bursary and found a Quebec foundation called Norman Brie to pay my school fees for the upcoming term. Also, new neighbours have moved in above myself and my children making noise at all hours, leaving me unable to sleep, and adding to my mounting anxiety. Between all of the stress of the ensuing exam, lack of sleep, and not knowing how I would pay for the coming term for school, rent or feed my children, adding to my grief at my father and Aunt's passing, has resulted in uncontrollable anxiety, which I saw my doctor for and am also sending his note to attest to. I would like to note that the only I could finish the other summer class I took reasonably well (with a B) was that the exam was open book.
I have never before failed a course at Queens’. The university’s support in this case would help me finish my B.A. while the program is still being offered online, as I know new students are no longer being accepted. If I have to make up enough classes to bring up my GPA it will take even longer to finish my B.A. and again, I don’t know how long it will be offered online. I have had to do it part-time since I have full custody of my three children (the oldest is 20 and now on her own). I am trying to do more this coming term and will try to succeed at four unless I cannot due to time commitments with the children. If I cannot handle the full-time schedule, I will drop the class in the allotted time. I would also like to eventually go to a Master’s degree if possible and a D- will not help to that end. My doctor has prescribed me sleeping medication which I sincerely hope will help with not only the lack of sleep but the anxiety. If the anxiety persists I will be seeking the appropriate mental health support.

Best regards,
Claire-Elizabeth Djaballah
Student ID 20374912
claireelizabeth.djaballah@queensu.ca
(514)934-0409