Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Manage Appeals

Petition Type: New
ID: 12350
Submitted: September 27, 2024 at 12:11:13 AM
First Name: Luke
Last Name: Barnes
Pronoun: He/Him
Preferred Name: Luke
Student Number: 20453450
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: ECON
Level of Study: 1

Petition Categories

Petition Categories: Add a course after the academic deadline
Code: HLTH 102
Term: Fall
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Lim
Section/Class Number: 3258
Province / Region: Other
Exam Centre: Online Proctor

Petition Letter

Petition Letter: Dear Dean of Academics and University Personnel,

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Luke Barnes, and I am a first-year student in the Bachelor of Arts (Honors) program, majoring in Economics. I am writing to formally petition for a potential course adjustment during this fall semester. Unfortunately, I had attempted to make a course swap in SOLUS without knowing that course registration had closed just 2 days prior. I hope that I can be reconsidered and amended due to extenuating circumstances.

To provide context for this current situation, I had initially enrolled in the GPHY 101 (3.0) course for the semester. I had attended all the required lectures and completed the required coursework. However, as the first few weeks had concluded, I decided that I wanted to look for a course that I could swap with the GPHY 101 class. Following a lengthy search, I noticed that IDIS 199 (The Science of Mental Health, Well-being, and Resiliency), as well as HLTH 102 (Personal Health and Wellness) still had seats available in their respective classes. Once those courses were available, I did not hesitate to drop my GPHY 101 class in the hopes of successfully enrolling in one of those two potential alternatives. I intended to switch from GPHY 101 to either HLTH 101 or IDIS 199, as both of these courses are more aligned with my major and would also help mitigate some of the stress that university will bring throughout the year. However, even though I could drop my geography course easily when I went to enroll in one of the two classes, I was prompted by a message implying that this transaction could not be completed. As my confusion mounted, one of my friends let me know that the window to add a course had closed just two days after I tried to complete this transaction. In the moments
following that interaction, I panicked as it would mean that I would only be able to enroll in four classes in the first term, meaning that I would fall below my 30.0 unit plan that I had set for myself before the academic school year.

I would like to acknowledge and hold myself accountable for the fact that it is my responsibility to keep track of crucial deadlines and processes, and I deeply regret my oversight that has led to this difficult situation. The reason why I decided to make the switch, and why I am writing this petition now is because enrolling in one of these two courses would ensure that I can make the most out of my first academic term. My academic studies at Queen’s have always been and will continue to be my main priority of this university experience, so ensuring that I can enroll in a fifth course would mean that I will continue to challenge myself academically and going through the petition process has taught me valuable lessons regarding time management, and the importance of staying ahead of deadlines, and closures.

I kindly would like to ask for your consideration in granting me an exception to Queen's University’s course registration deadline policy, allowing me to successfully enroll in either IDIS 199 (The Science of Mental Health, Well-being, and Resiliency) or HLTH 102 (Personal Health and Wellness). I completely respect and understand the fact that these decisions are not taken lightly, and I have learned a lot of lessons from going through this procedure. However, I believe allowing this change would be in the best interest of my personal academic development, as well as Queen's University’s goal to support student success.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. I appreciate your understanding and support through this difficult process. If there is any documentation or further information regarding this petition, I am more than happy to provide it. Thank you very much for your consideration, and I hope to find a reasonable resolution to this matter soon.

All the best,
Luke Barnes

Academic Plan

Academic Plan: Name: Luke Barnes
Semester: Fall 2024
Proposed Courses (Post-Adjustment):
- HLTH 101 (Introduction to Health Studies) or
- IDIS 199 (Interdisciplinary Studies)

Overview of the Plan

If my petition to enroll in either HLTH 101 or IDIS 199 is gratefully accepted, it is my utmost priority to realign my academic trajectory for this semester in order to ensure optimal performance, and achieve strong results through my first academic semester. The following plan that I have put together will help paint a clear picture for the key steps that I will take throughout the semester to meet my academic, and future goals.

1. Adjusted Course Schedule

If the request is accepted, I will immediately be in communication with university staff and course instructors to finalize my enrollment and begin catching up on any work that I have missed. I have already confirmed that both courses have clear spots in my schedule, so I anticipate being able to smoothly integrate into the new class without excess stress, or delay. My personal goal is to ensure that my schedule for the semester is balanced and allows me to succeed academically, while challenging myself to be creative, innovative, and hard-working.

Here is a projected breakdown of my course load for the remainder of the semester:
Course 1: HLTH 101 or IDIS 199
Course 2: ECON 110A
Course 3: MATH 126A
Course 4: POLS 111
Course 5: DEVS 101

The switch will provide me with coursework that is more relevant to my major, and will allow me to learn lessons, and begin building skills that will be relevant once my time at university comes to a close.

2. Time Management

Switching into HLTH 101 or IDIS 199 midway through the semester will force me to adjust and adapt my time management approach to ensure that I can catch up with any missed assessments while keeping pace with my four other courses. My plan for time management includes:

- Syllabus Review: Within the first week of being admitted to the new course, I will review the syllabus in detail to understand any upcoming assignments, assessments, or required readings. This will allow me to map out the workload and adjust my study schedule accordingly.

- Weekly Time Blocks: I will dedicate specific weekly time blocks to each course. Since I will need extra time to catch up on material from HLTH 101 or IDIS 199, I will allocate at least 6-8 hours per week specifically for that course, including additional hours for tutoring or study sessions if needed.

- Academic Calendar: I will update my academic calendar to reflect key dates for assignments, exams, and any other course-related deadlines to ensure I stay organized and on track.

3. Academic Support and Resources

Since I will be entering a course much later than the rest of the class, I will need to take proactive action to ensure that I do not fall behind in the new material. This will include:

- Office Hours: I will regularly attend office hours for the professor of HLTH 101 or IDIS 199 to seek clarification on any content that I missed during the early weeks of the semester.

- Study Groups: Engaging with other students will help me cover any gaps in knowledge and will be essential for collaboration on group projects or assignments.

4. Focus on Core Learning Objectives

To maximize the value of either HLTH 101 or IDIS 199, I will focus on mastering the core learning objectives of the course. My aim is not only to catch up with the course material but also to excel and achieve results that will make this switch extremely worthwhile.

- For HLTH 101: Understanding the foundations of health studies, public health issues, wellness strategies, and health systems will allow me to gain ground quickly, and see results that indicate my understanding of the material.

- For IDIS 199: Gaining insight into interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving, which will allow me to connect ideas across different academic disciplines. This will broaden my critical thinking skills which will allow me to excel in both university, and post-university endeavours.

5. Long-Term Academic Goals

Switching to HLTH 101 or IDIS 199 will keep me on track to graduate in four years and support my future academic and career aspirations. Specifically:

- Relevance to Major and Career: These courses will provide foundational knowledge that is crucial for my intended career path. HLTH 101 offers essential insights into health systems, which is highly relevant to my major. Alternatively, IDIS 199 will develop my skills in synthesizing information across disciplines, which is valuable for any career that requires innovative problem-solving.

- Maintaining Academic Performance: My goal is to maintain or improve my current GPA by committing hard work to my studies. I believe that my performance in either of these two classes will be successful, parallel to my increased interest in both of these course offerings.

- Planning for Future Semesters: The knowledge gained in either course will directly inform my choices for future elective courses, internships, or research opportunities.

6. Reflection and Commitment

Upon reflecting on this petition process, I recognize and admit to my very costly oversight in missing the drop deadline. This was a massive mistake, but I am fully committed to making the most of this adjustment opportunity. I will be diligent in staying organized, making use of available academic resources, and ensuring that I am fully caught up and engaged with the new course material.

7. Conclusion

This academic plan is designed to help me transition smoothly into either HLTH 101 or IDIS 199 while maintaining high academic standards in my other courses. By staying proactive, seeking support, and managing my time effectively, I am confident that I will be able to meet the demands of the semester and continue progressing toward my academic goals.

Documentation

Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Document: sched.jpg
Documentation Detail: Due to my petition coming from self error, I have no documentation from professionals. However, I have attached my weekly schedule to show that I have the time to catch up on my newly added course.
Select a decision letter template to generate and queue a decision letter using its content.

History

Originally submitted September 27, 2024 at 12:11:13 AM.

FieldReferenceOld ValueNew ValueNoteUserDate/Time
statusN/AReceivedIncompleteKerri Andrews2024-09-27 2:44:28 PM
courseIDIS 199IDIS 199Kerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:38:46 PM
termIDIS 199FallKerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:38:46 PM
yearIDIS 1992024Kerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:38:46 PM
appeal_category_per_courseIDIS 199Add a course after the academic deadlineKerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:38:46 PM
instructorIDIS 199CunninghamKerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:38:46 PM
sectionIDIS 1996570Kerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:38:46 PM
statusN/AIncompleteIn ReviewKerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:39:02 PM
statusN/AIn ReviewGrantedKerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:40:07 PM
associate_deanN/AJenn Stephenson, Ph.D.Kerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:40:07 PM
decision_letterN/AN/ADecision letter sentKerri Andrews2024-09-30 12:42:57 PM