Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hi,

My name is Maximilien Gignac, and I’m a second-year student at Queen’s University. I’m writing to formally request a late drop for ECON 280 due to the academic challenges brought on by the strike this semester.

The disruption caused by the strike made it extremely difficult to keep up with the course. With limited lectures, no TA support, and very little direct guidance, it was challenging to stay engaged with the material or get help when needed. ECON 280 relied heavily on two major exams and one paper, and with the strike affecting both instruction and preparation time, I felt unprepared going into assessments despite the effort I put in.

I normally do well in economics courses and have taken demanding classes such as ECON 255 and ECON 212 in past semesters without issue. But this course, especially under the conditions created by the strike, felt completely different. The average on the midterm was 45%, and the final wasn’t much higher, which shows how many students struggled. It’s frustrating to know that, in a course I chose as an elective to explore a topic I was interested in, I ended up with a failing grade that could significantly affect my GPA, future academic plans, and job prospects.

As an international student who travels thousands of kilometers to study here, this has been a really difficult and disappointing experience. I’m asking for a late drop on compassionate and academic grounds due to the exceptional circumstances this term. I hope you’ll consider this request seriously.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Sincerely,
Maximilien Gignac