Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Members of the Academic Petitions Committee,

I am writing to formally request a re-evaluation of my final examination in MICRO 310, in which I was assigned a failing grade. This outcome has been deeply distressing and unexpected, particularly given the level of effort and academic dedication I have consistently demonstrated throughout the semester.

This past academic year has been one of the most demanding periods of my journey at Queen’s University. Determined to stay on track for graduation, I took on a heavy academic load—clearing my previous backlogs in the winter semester and subsequently enrolling in four third-year core economics courses: ECON 310, ECON 320, ECON 351, and ECON 348. Despite the intensity of this schedule, I successfully passed all the courses except for MICRO 310, which is now jeopardizing my academic progression.

In terms of my performance in MICRO 310, I scored 22.66 out of 25 in problem sets and 8 out of 20 in the midterm, totaling 30.66 out of 45 before the final exam. Based on the course structure, I needed a minimum of 20% in the final exam to pass. I studied rigorously for the final, ensuring a strong grasp of core concepts such as monopoly, perfect competition, oligopoly, and game theory. I attempted all four questions in the exam and felt confident in at least three of them. Therefore, it is difficult for me to understand how I ended up with a failing grade.

In addition to academic pressure, I was navigating mental health challenges, including clinical anxiety, and had been physically unwell prior to the final. The situation was made worse by the back-to-back scheduling of the MACRO 320 and MICRO 310 exams on April 16 and 17, respectively. Despite these hardships, I remained committed to performing my best.

As an international student, my education is being funded through loans taken by my father, and repeating this course would cause significant financial and emotional strain on my family. It would also delay my academic timeline and compromise my ability to graduate as planned. I am currently enrolled in four summer courses to ensure I stay on track with my degree requirements, and I remain fully committed to completing my program with integrity and dedication.

With this petition, I am respectfully requesting either a re-evaluation of my final exam or the opportunity to re-attempt the final and/or midterm under supervised conditions. I am not seeking leniency, but a fair chance to demonstrate my capabilities and move forward. I sincerely hope the Committee will consider the full context of my performance, my circumstances, and my determination to succeed. Thank you very much for your time and understanding. I would be truly grateful for your support in helping me continue my academic journey at Queen’s University.

Warm regards,
Aaryashur Goyal