Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13226
Submitted: May 23, 2025 at 2:33:04 PM
First Name: Oliver
Last Name: Day
Pronoun: He/Her/They
Student Number: 20163866
Email: 18owd@queensu.ca
Degree Program: Urban Planning Studies - Certificate
Plan: Urban Planning Studies - Certificate
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 334
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor's Name: Rachel Barber
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean,
I am petitioning for my grade of F in GPHY 334 to be changed to CR as I was unjustly graded due to the widespread strike.
The PSAC strike that interrupted most of the Winter 2025 semester caused my one, only, and final course to put on hold for a large portion of the most important weeks in the semester. My instructor did not have the option of continuing lectures of grading as she is a member of PSAC. During the strike our class was informed of multiple and conflicting changes to how we would be assessed. This manipulation of the weighting of the assignments long after their due dates put me at a clear disadvantage, for example the term paper proposal was originally weighted at 10% of my grade and due just as the strike started, this was later changed to be 35% mere hours before the final paper (not proposal) had to be submitted. I made a simple mistake and did not submit the proposal those months prior but knew that at 10% of my grade, it would not be completely detrimental. When the grading scheme changed on April 26th the proposal became 35% which consequently altered my ability to receive the credit. During the strike my class received no communication from the instructor or teaching assistants on what we specifically had to do going forward, for example how does one participate in a class that has been put on hold. Additionally, due to the instructor striking, no lectures were carried out, nothing was taught and there were no opportunities to discuss course content with her. On the midterm examination, which was done just before the strike, I received a grade in the 70s and obviously understood the course content, had the semester not been interrupted I believe I would have continued at least at that level.
I took GPHY 334 to complete the Certificate of Urban Planning, this was my only class this semester and my final class to satisfy the certificate. There are no opportunities to retake this or complete other classes during the spring or summer semesters that will satisfy the certificate requirements. I contacted my instructor after I received my grade who informed me that my final paper received a 49%, but that she did not have the ability to change my grade now that final grades were submitted and to instead pursue an academic petition. I believe that the grade I have received in this course does not accurately reflect my understanding of the subject matter and that it is unfair that the weighting of one particular assignment was changed so drastically to 35% from its original weighting of 10% long after it was submitted.
I hope my specific scenario has been explained thoroughly and that my plea for a CR is understood. While this experience has dampened my spirits quite a bit, I remain hopeful that my issue can be resolved.
Thank you for your time,
Oliver Day
I am petitioning for my grade of F in GPHY 334 to be changed to CR as I was unjustly graded due to the widespread strike.
The PSAC strike that interrupted most of the Winter 2025 semester caused my one, only, and final course to put on hold for a large portion of the most important weeks in the semester. My instructor did not have the option of continuing lectures of grading as she is a member of PSAC. During the strike our class was informed of multiple and conflicting changes to how we would be assessed. This manipulation of the weighting of the assignments long after their due dates put me at a clear disadvantage, for example the term paper proposal was originally weighted at 10% of my grade and due just as the strike started, this was later changed to be 35% mere hours before the final paper (not proposal) had to be submitted. I made a simple mistake and did not submit the proposal those months prior but knew that at 10% of my grade, it would not be completely detrimental. When the grading scheme changed on April 26th the proposal became 35% which consequently altered my ability to receive the credit. During the strike my class received no communication from the instructor or teaching assistants on what we specifically had to do going forward, for example how does one participate in a class that has been put on hold. Additionally, due to the instructor striking, no lectures were carried out, nothing was taught and there were no opportunities to discuss course content with her. On the midterm examination, which was done just before the strike, I received a grade in the 70s and obviously understood the course content, had the semester not been interrupted I believe I would have continued at least at that level.
I took GPHY 334 to complete the Certificate of Urban Planning, this was my only class this semester and my final class to satisfy the certificate. There are no opportunities to retake this or complete other classes during the spring or summer semesters that will satisfy the certificate requirements. I contacted my instructor after I received my grade who informed me that my final paper received a 49%, but that she did not have the ability to change my grade now that final grades were submitted and to instead pursue an academic petition. I believe that the grade I have received in this course does not accurately reflect my understanding of the subject matter and that it is unfair that the weighting of one particular assignment was changed so drastically to 35% from its original weighting of 10% long after it was submitted.
I hope my specific scenario has been explained thoroughly and that my plea for a CR is understood. While this experience has dampened my spirits quite a bit, I remain hopeful that my issue can be resolved.
Thank you for your time,
Oliver Day
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC