Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Laiba Khokhar
20427451
Bachelor of arts in Psychology
Queen’s University
September 4 2024

To the Academic Petitions Committee,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally request an exception to the standard academic policy regarding the number of courses that can be taken on a Letter of Permission. My request stems from an unexpected issue that arose during my Fall 2024 course registration and my need to graduate by April 2025. Since enrolling at Queen’s University in Fall 2023, I have consistently maintained a course load of six courses per semester, exceeding the typical full-time course load of five courses. This has been in pursuit of my goal to graduate early, and I am pleased to report that I have maintained a GPA higher than 3.0 while doing so. Additionally, during the Summer 2024 term, I successfully completed six courses, despite the common practice of enrolling in only two courses during the summer. This demonstrates my commitment, responsibility, and ability to manage a rigorous academic workload. During the Fall 2024 term registration, I encountered an unexpected issue where none of my chosen courses were actually enrolled, leaving me without any courses at the start of the term. After consulting with an academic advisor, I initially considered enrolling in any available electives this semester and transferring universities in the Winter term to complete my remaining Psychology courses. However, after further discussion with another advisor, I was advised to petition. I understand that Queen’s University typically allows students to take up to six credits (two courses) on a Letter of Permission. However, I am respectfully requesting an exception to this policy, allowing me to take nine credits (three courses) in each of the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 terms, totaling 18 credits.

My reasoning for this request is as follows:
Urgency of Graduation: It is imperative that I graduate by April 2025, as I am applying to both law school and a master’s program in psychology for the Summer 2025 term. The timeline for these applications requires that I have completed my undergraduate degree by that time.

Academic Performance: Throughout my time at Queen’s University, I have demonstrated strong academic performance, managing a higher-than-average course load while maintaining a GPA above 3.0. This track record speaks to my ability to handle a demanding academic schedule.

Flexibility as a Distance Student: As a student enrolled in an online Psychology program, I have developed the skills necessary to effectively manage my time and workload independently. I believe that this flexibility, combined with my proven responsibility and work ethic, makes me a suitable candidate for this exception.
I am committed to doing whatever is necessary to graduate by April 2025 and am open to discussing any alternative solutions or accommodations that may be available if the Committee deems my request too difficult to grant. My ultimate goal is to continue my education and contribute positively to my chosen fields, and I am confident that an exception in this case will enable me to achieve that.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my petition. I am more than willing to provide any additional documentation or meet with the Committee to discuss my request further. I look forward to your response.

Sincerly, Laiba