Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Net ID: 21Hmm5
Student number: 20301835
I am writing to formally request a Credit Standing (CR) for my English 349 course due to exceptional circumstances that have significantly impacted my academic performance this past year.

From the beginning of November until mid-December, I was severely ill with pneumonia, which necessitated my return to my hometown. I was unable to navigate the stairs to my bedroom in my student house, making it impossible for me to stay in Kingston. During this period, I missed a substantial number of classes, which has greatly affected my attendance record and overall performance in English 349.

Despite these challenges, I have been enrolled in seven courses this semester and have been diligently working to pass all of them. I have accepted a spot in the Teacher's College at Nipissing University for September 2025, and I am committed to fulfilling the requirements for my English Honours degree. English 349 is crucial for this, and I have completed all tests except the final one due on April 21.

I have accommodations for absences in class, but my attendance, which constitutes 40% of the grade, is failing. I have reached out to my Ventus advisor to discuss this as well, however she is very busy this time of year- so no appointment can be made prior to the 4th- however I have emailed her and am hoping to communicate that way to provide me some guidance. I am not proud of this situation, but my mental health has been severely impacted this semester. I received accommodations in the second semester of my second year, which I use sparingly, primarily for exams in small rooms. I have also sought additional guidance through regular tutoring for my courses to help bridge the gap of being absent from class.

Last year, I attempted American English and received 48%, with one essay being failed despite appealing the grade. I felt the essay was marked unfairly, especially after seeking guidance from the professor and being dismissed, which left me in tears. As a result, I am now taking English 349 to fulfill the requirements for my degree.
I am not writing for sympathy; I have tried my best at Queen's despite a major setback in my second year that led to my need for accommodations. I spoke with the English department regarding taking two half credits in May( since this is a full year course), as this course fulfills a letter grade needed for my degree. They suggested I make this appeal to see if a CR would be possible. Unfortunately, no courses that fulfill this letter grade requirement are offered in the summer which adds to the complexity of my case.

Participation in the class involves handing in prompts at the beginning of each session, which I am unable to do when not physically present. I take full responsibility for missing classes this year; however, I was not in a mental position to attend. My six other courses (one being online) have substituted modes of delivery to accommodate my needs.

I am exploring my options before deciding whether to drop the class on April 4th to receive a NG instead of an F. All my documentation has been submitted through Ventus. I am not proud of how my mental health and pneumonia have affected my last year at Queen's, which was supposed to be exciting. However, I am proud of the determination and efforts I have made to keep my head above water and complete this year instead of taking the year off.

Thank you for considering my request. I hope you will grant me a Credit Standing for English 349, allowing me to continue my academic journey without further setbacks.

Sincerely,
Heather