Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13524
Submitted: September 12, 2025 at 1:18:09 PM
First Name: Rebecca
Last Name: Davidson
Pronoun: She/her
Student Number: 20401321
Email: 22bnq3@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: PSYC
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another institution
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Rebecca Davidson
Student ID# 20401321
Queen’s University
September 11th, 2025
Dr. Dorit Naaman
Associate Dean (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University
Re: Academic Petition Letter to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another university
Dear Dr. Naaman,
I am petitioning to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another university. Specifically, I am requesting to take 15.0 units of courses during the Winter 2026 term through the Sant’Anna Institute in Italy, whose school of record is Jacksonville University, Florida. Jackson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. This winter term study abroad program is offered through SAI.
I am a full-time third-year student in good standing with a GPA of 2.97 in the Bachelor of Arts Honours program, pursuing a Psychology Major and an English Language and Literature Minor. I qualified for, and applied to, a bilateral exchange program at Queen’s, but was unable to be matched due to overwhelming demand. I therefore am seeking an opportunity to study abroad independently.
The SAI program at Sant’Anna Institute offers an exceptional academic opportunity to broaden my academic horizons while aligning with the requirements of my undergraduate program. The opportunity to learn, study, and grow abroad is one that will strengthen my academic foundation, complement my current studies at Queen’s, and further my long-term goal to become an educator. This program offers immersive learning opportunities to help develop cultural competence, which is particularly meaningful in my Psychology studies. Other factors I have considered include SAI’s attention to student safety and Italy’s reputation as a celiac-friendly destination. I also chose SAI because the Queen’s International Program Office has previously issued International Letters of Permission for SAI programs.
I am requesting permission to take 15.0 units of elective courses during the Winter 2026 term, including Cross-Cultural Psychology, History of the Mafia, Drawing on Location, Introduction to Marine Biology, and Elementary Italian Language. Each course offers experiential learning that is unique to the region and unavailable at Queen’s. While some courses have similarities to courses offered at Queen’s (e.g., Mafia Culture LLCU 214, Introductory Drawing ARTF 100, Beginning Italian ITLN 111), the courses through SAI offer an exceptional opportunity for deep immersion into the culture, language, and living history in Italy. Other courses, including Cross-Cultural Psychology and Introduction to Marine Biology, do not have equivalents at Queen’s, or are only offered through Bader College, UK.
My academic progress toward my Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology Major and English Minor will not be adversely affected by this study semester abroad. I have mapped out my Academic Plan below and can confirm that I will satisfy my program requirements in both Psychology and English by the end of the 2026-2027 Academic year, and be on track to graduate at the end of my fourth year.
Thank you for your time to consider my petition. I am committed to furthering my education and upholding Queen’s standards of academic excellence as I embark on my journey to study abroad independently. I would be extremely grateful for your support in taking these 15.0 units of courses on an International Letter of Permission.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Davidson
Queen’s Student # 20401321
Student ID# 20401321
Queen’s University
September 11th, 2025
Dr. Dorit Naaman
Associate Dean (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University
Re: Academic Petition Letter to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another university
Dear Dr. Naaman,
I am petitioning to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another university. Specifically, I am requesting to take 15.0 units of courses during the Winter 2026 term through the Sant’Anna Institute in Italy, whose school of record is Jacksonville University, Florida. Jackson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. This winter term study abroad program is offered through SAI.
I am a full-time third-year student in good standing with a GPA of 2.97 in the Bachelor of Arts Honours program, pursuing a Psychology Major and an English Language and Literature Minor. I qualified for, and applied to, a bilateral exchange program at Queen’s, but was unable to be matched due to overwhelming demand. I therefore am seeking an opportunity to study abroad independently.
The SAI program at Sant’Anna Institute offers an exceptional academic opportunity to broaden my academic horizons while aligning with the requirements of my undergraduate program. The opportunity to learn, study, and grow abroad is one that will strengthen my academic foundation, complement my current studies at Queen’s, and further my long-term goal to become an educator. This program offers immersive learning opportunities to help develop cultural competence, which is particularly meaningful in my Psychology studies. Other factors I have considered include SAI’s attention to student safety and Italy’s reputation as a celiac-friendly destination. I also chose SAI because the Queen’s International Program Office has previously issued International Letters of Permission for SAI programs.
I am requesting permission to take 15.0 units of elective courses during the Winter 2026 term, including Cross-Cultural Psychology, History of the Mafia, Drawing on Location, Introduction to Marine Biology, and Elementary Italian Language. Each course offers experiential learning that is unique to the region and unavailable at Queen’s. While some courses have similarities to courses offered at Queen’s (e.g., Mafia Culture LLCU 214, Introductory Drawing ARTF 100, Beginning Italian ITLN 111), the courses through SAI offer an exceptional opportunity for deep immersion into the culture, language, and living history in Italy. Other courses, including Cross-Cultural Psychology and Introduction to Marine Biology, do not have equivalents at Queen’s, or are only offered through Bader College, UK.
My academic progress toward my Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology Major and English Minor will not be adversely affected by this study semester abroad. I have mapped out my Academic Plan below and can confirm that I will satisfy my program requirements in both Psychology and English by the end of the 2026-2027 Academic year, and be on track to graduate at the end of my fourth year.
Thank you for your time to consider my petition. I am committed to furthering my education and upholding Queen’s standards of academic excellence as I embark on my journey to study abroad independently. I would be extremely grateful for your support in taking these 15.0 units of courses on an International Letter of Permission.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Davidson
Queen’s Student # 20401321
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Academic Plan to accompany Petition Letter:
I am requesting permission to take 15.0 units of elective courses on an international letter of permission through another university.
I am a full-time third-year student in good standing in the Bachelor of Arts Honours program, pursuing a Psychology Major (Arts) and an English Language and Literature Minor. My academic progress toward my Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology Major and English Minor will not be adversely affected by this study semester abroad. I have mapped out my Academic Plan and can confirm that I will satisfy my program requirements in both Psychology and English by the end of Winter Term 2027, the end of my fourth year.
I require a total of 48.0 units to complete my Psychology – Major (Arts) and will have completed 33.0 units by the end of Fall Term 2025 (cumulative GPA 3.063). I will require 15.0 more PSYC units to complete my Major requirements:
1. 3.0 units from PSYC at the 400-level
2. 3.0 units from PSYC_Clinical
3. 6.0 units from PSYC at the 300-level or above
4. 3.0 units from PSYC at the 200-level or above
I require a total of 24.0 units to complete my English Language and Literature Minor and will have completed 15.0 units by the end of Fall Term 2025 (cumulative GPA 3.333). I will require a further 9.0 units to complete my Minor requirements:
1. 6.0 units from ENGL 200
2. 3.0 units from ENGL at the 200-level or above
If the Dean’s Office approves my petition to take 15.0 elective units abroad during Winter term 2026, I will be on track to complete my degree requirements by the end of the Winter term 2027:
1. 75.0 units completed by Fall term 2025
2. 15.0 units completed during Winter term 2026
3. 30.0 units completed during the 2026-27 Academic Year
During the 2026-27 Academic Year, I will be able to take all remaining required units to satisfy the requirements for my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree by the end of my fourth year:
1. 15.0 PSYC units
2. 9.0 ENGL units
3. 6.0 elective units
I am requesting permission to take 15.0 units of elective courses on an international letter of permission through another university.
I am a full-time third-year student in good standing in the Bachelor of Arts Honours program, pursuing a Psychology Major (Arts) and an English Language and Literature Minor. My academic progress toward my Bachelor of Arts Honours Psychology Major and English Minor will not be adversely affected by this study semester abroad. I have mapped out my Academic Plan and can confirm that I will satisfy my program requirements in both Psychology and English by the end of Winter Term 2027, the end of my fourth year.
I require a total of 48.0 units to complete my Psychology – Major (Arts) and will have completed 33.0 units by the end of Fall Term 2025 (cumulative GPA 3.063). I will require 15.0 more PSYC units to complete my Major requirements:
1. 3.0 units from PSYC at the 400-level
2. 3.0 units from PSYC_Clinical
3. 6.0 units from PSYC at the 300-level or above
4. 3.0 units from PSYC at the 200-level or above
I require a total of 24.0 units to complete my English Language and Literature Minor and will have completed 15.0 units by the end of Fall Term 2025 (cumulative GPA 3.333). I will require a further 9.0 units to complete my Minor requirements:
1. 6.0 units from ENGL 200
2. 3.0 units from ENGL at the 200-level or above
If the Dean’s Office approves my petition to take 15.0 elective units abroad during Winter term 2026, I will be on track to complete my degree requirements by the end of the Winter term 2027:
1. 75.0 units completed by Fall term 2025
2. 15.0 units completed during Winter term 2026
3. 30.0 units completed during the 2026-27 Academic Year
During the 2026-27 Academic Year, I will be able to take all remaining required units to satisfy the requirements for my Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree by the end of my fourth year:
1. 15.0 PSYC units
2. 9.0 ENGL units
3. 6.0 elective units
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC