Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to request permission to withdraw from PSYC 271 and BIOL 343 and instead enroll in ENSC 301 and CLST 335 for the Fall 2025 term. I have already spoken with Dr. Whitelaw (ENSC 301) and Dr. Skaltsa (CLST 335), and both have kindly given me their approval to join their classes.

I am requesting permission due to the significant challenges I faced while registering for this term. Many of the courses that would normally satisfy my program requirements were either full, not offered this year, or conflicted with the rest of my schedule. I tried to get help through Student Services but had difficulty accessing support through the online advisory drop-ins, which added to my anxiety. After meeting with Student Services in person several times, I was left with very few options and eventually enrolled in PSYC 271 and BIOL 343 because they fit my schedule.

Once I received access to the syllabi, however, it became clear that the workload for these courses would be extremely difficult to manage on top of my other classes. Both PSYC 271 and BIOL 343 are designed for students specializing in psychology or data analysis, with a heavy focus on assignments, technical skills, and content. After taking BIOL 243, I know that I struggle learning now to code, earning a C- in the class. With a six-course load this term, which I must take to graduate on track this winter, I quickly realized that trying to keep up with the volume of material and assignments in these two courses would leave me unable to dedicate enough time to my current classes. The prospect of falling behind in multiple areas was overwhelming and caused me a great deal of anxiety, impacting my ability to focus on my classes and at home.

The alternative courses I am requesting, being ENSC 301 and CLST 335, are a much better fit to my academic goals, current workload, and academic interests. They meet my degree requirements, do not conflict with my existing schedule, and will allow me to maintain a more balanced and sustainable workload while still challenging myself academically. The courses not only align with my interests but will allow me to explore new fields related to biology, i.e. environmental science, in order to be more informed for potential master’s programs. Additionally, I am considering applying to teacher’s college and classics courses will bring me a step closer to fulfilling my requirements. Having already received permission from the instructors, I feel confident that these courses will help me stay on track to graduate and succeed in my final year.



I strongly hope to graduate along with my classmates this year both for financial and social reasons. An additional semester’s tuition would not be feasible for me, as I have already accumulated debt from my current degree. Additionally, it would further throw off my budget for a post-graduate degree, setting me behind in my academic goals as I would likely have to delay admission to save money. From a social standpoint, my current social and support network consists fully of fourth year students set to graduate this winter semester. If I were to stay for an additional year or semester, not only would I have to find a new living situation, resulting in more cost, but also would lose a great deal of support. I had struggled in my first year to find people who would support me emotionally and academically and now that I finally found them, I do not wish to start the search over again simply to enroll in two additional courses. Overall, I wish to enroll in the alternative courses to stay on track along with my peers and my financial goals.

Thank you very much for your time and understanding. I appreciate the committee’s consideration of my request, and I am hopeful for a positive outcome that will allow me to move forward this term with a manageable and meaningful schedule, and one that can minimize my anxieties.