Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to respectfully request Aegrotat Standing for GNDS 326 and GNDS 480 Winter 2024 semester, due to serious and unforeseen personal challenges that significantly affected my academic performance. This letter is part of my formal appeal and is accompanied by supporting correspondence from my instructors of both courses and accessibility advisor.

Until that term, I maintained a perfect GPA throughout my undergraduate studies. Academic achievement has always been deeply important to me, and I consistently worked hard to meet expectations despite managing long-term health and wellness challenges. With the support of my accessibility advisor, Cristina Cardelus, I was able to succeed academically throughout my degree while maintaining privacy and accessing appropriate accommodations.

However, in my final semester, I faced a sudden and critical shift in circumstances: I was unexpectedly cut off from financial support and had to take on the responsibility of covering rent, bills, and other basic needs, all while managing my ongoing health concerns. Therapy—an essential part of my care—became financially inaccessible to me during this time. This financial hardship, layered on top of my preexisting wellness issues, made it extremely difficult to focus on coursework.

At the same time, I was navigating student immigration requirements. Due to the nature of my situation, my student visa could not be extended, and I was required to graduate that semester. This meant I could not delay or defer my courses.

I remained in communication throughout the semester with my instructors, Professor Melissa Houghtaling and Professor Patricia Salah, both of whom are aware of my situation and have expressed support for this appeal. I also worked closely with my accessibility advisor, Cristina Cardelus, who was my primary point of contact during my time at university after my diagnosis of the Disability of Depression/Anxiety Disorder. While I understand that I am no longer an active student and do not qualify for her services at this time, I trust that she would be willing to confirm the truth of the circumstances I describe if the committee were to contact her.

This appeal is not made lightly. I fully understand the value of academic integrity and accountability. I am not seeking to avoid responsibility, but rather to request fair consideration for a one-time, exceptional situation that does not reflect my academic commitment or ability. Granting Aegrotat Standing would allow me to preserve the integrity of my academic record and keep open the possibility of pursuing graduate studies in the future.
Thank you very much for your time, understanding, and consideration. I am more than willing to provide any further information or documentation if needed.

Sincerely,
Nicky Ningfu Han
20100041