Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Office of the Associate Dean,


This letter is regarding a grade appeal provided by Professor Heejun Lim, and Teacher Assistant, Alyssa Comfort, in class HLTH 102 for Assignment “Health Behaviour Self-Analysis Part 1 Contract”.

Grade given 0/10.


Grounds for appeal:

I am a full-time university student in my third year, and fully online. During several classes, there has been the occasional issue when submitting a .docx file in the submission folder specifically in terms of consistency with what I see versus what the teaching team sees (formatting). For this reason, previous TA’s and Professors have not only welcomed additional efforts in submission formats, but encouraged it, as it provides peace of mind to me, the student, and confirmation of submission for the teaching team. Distant learning requires effort on both sides and until now, the experience has been wonderful. Professors and TA’s are always understanding and aware of tech issues, and we figure it out together. Efforts such as including a share links that are available in Microsoft Word for each document, and pdfs by email are two of the most frequently used measures to ensure assignments have been received. See attached examples of direction from previous teaching teams.

On October 25th, 2024, I submitted the assignment “Health Behaviour Self-Analysis Part 1 Contract”, on time, and within the body of the submission, included a note referencing some discrepancies the past, therefore highlighting that I also included a share link to be safe. (See attached screenshot). I only use the Microsoft Word platform provided by Queens meant for student use. I did not feel comfortable submitting it on the same submission folder that was experiencing the issue at hand, and felt I made the most responsible, most appropriate decision, with confidence and good faith – especially considering that this is encouraged in other classes.

On November 5th, 2024, at 2:50pm, I received an email from Alyssa Comfort, my TA, that the submission folder included a blank document and to resubmit it. I responded at 3:54pm (one hour, four minutes later), noting that there have been issues with online submissions with other students/classes and that is why a link was included in my original submission, thus why I was replying with a pdf attached; the most logical method to ensure that my assignment was in fact received. See email attached.

I am in full-time university, work a full-time job, and am a single mother of three. All of my school responsibilities were taken care of for that week, including responding to my TA’s email, with peace of mind, I not only included a share link, but at this point, also a PDF (which has metadata on it to verify when a file was created– within allowable assignment submission timelines) as I had work commitments in the coming days.

I proceed to enter my three-day annual fundraiser from November 6-10 sponsored by CP24 Chum Christmas Wish, raising 30,000 meals for the food bank. I am not on school email on weekends as I also work. Upon returning, I opened my emails as per a normal Monday morning, to find a second email sent by the course Professor, Heejun Lim. This email was sent to me on the 6th mid-afternoon, giving me until only the next day to submit the assignment in the submission folder. I was baffled as I took measures to ensure my submission was received on November 5th via my TA, and did not feel comfortable submitting to the same folder that clearly had issues with the file being illegible.

I then requested an informal review, pleading my case and highlighting A) the methods other classes encourage as means to ensure our work is received, B) reiterating that there was a link in the initial submission, asking why this was not utilized, and C) inquired about the PDF I resent to my TA, Alyssa Comfort, on November 5th asking why it also wasn’t utilized?

After an informal review, my grade was not changed.
This is absolutely devastating.


Summary:

I am a responsible, hard-working, diligent student who takes my work very seriously. I have accommodations in place, but do not apply them unless it is necessary, and push myself to work within all standard timelines without extensions. I hold my educational integrity with high value. If I did not show intent to submit on time, nor provide a specific note highlighting occasional issues with files, nor provide alternatives such as the shared link that Microsoft Word provides (an many classes use exclusively) in my original submission, nor a PDF of my assignment promptly to my TA, than yes, a 0/10 would be justified, however, I have displayed effort, responsibility for my work, good intent, and thoroughness during this process. I do not deserve to receive 0/10, and deserve my work to be accepted, and graded accordingly.


Overview:

My work was not accepted, nor graded.

My intent was not to miss a deadline, not submit or produce an empty file, which is clear in my additional efforts.

I provided my assignment in multiple forms.

I responded to my TA’s email promptly, with a logical explanation, followed by a copy of my assignment.

I did not use my accommodations and believe they shouldn’t be used unless absolutely necessary.

I am a student, at a distance. I cannot be responsible for tech issues, nor am I a Microsoft user outside of Queens as I use apple for work purposes. I do not have the ability to troubleshoot issues I can’t see on that end.

I took steps I felt were the most responsible, that gave reassurance, and confirmation that my assignment was received, and, additionally a link with an explanation.

I took a second step to ensure my assignment was received, by submitting a PDF via email in light of the apparent tech issues.

I have asked numerous times by email, why my link, and my email pdf submissions were not acknowledged, and I have yet to receive a response regarding these questions.



Request:

I am asking for my assignment to be permitted for submission, and properly graded. I work hard at my education here at Queens University, and until now, have felt that all of my TA’s and Professors have had students’ success as a priority, and supported students through technical issues by navigating with a sense of logic, and humanity.

I have not made a mistake here. and am only asking for my work to be graded, and my efforts to be acknowledged.

Thank you kindly in advance for your time, support, and your effort.
I appreciate any assistance you’re able to provide.



Best,


Marcie Costello
#20380494