Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Yara Alkhiami (Student ID: 20463609), and I am writing to request a late course drop under extenuating circumstances. I am petitioning to have the following courses removed from my transcript for the Fall 2025 term:
ARAB 100A – Introductory Arabic
CHEM 112A – General Chemistry (with an appeal in progress for potential transfer to CHEM 113)
CISC 124 – Intro. to Computing Science II
On October 10th, my brother passed away unexpectedly. This tragic loss has had a severe emotional and psychological impact on me and my family. Since that time, I have been deeply involved in supporting my parents and younger brother, who also attends Queen’s. I was responsible for helping plan the funeral, handling administrative and legal matters, and meeting with police and government offices. I also had to travel to my brother’s apartment in London to collect his belongings and finalize related affairs.
These responsibilities, combined with the emotional weight of the loss, made it impossible for me to continue my studies. I was unable to focus on coursework or attend lectures, and my academic performance declined as a result. Despite my efforts to remain enrolled, it became clear that I could not continue this semester.
I was in contact with Care and Support Services at Queen’s, including Meghan and another advisor, to discuss my situation and next steps. After those discussions, and careful consideration of my family’s needs, I decided to withdraw from my courses on November 6th. This was the earliest opportunity I had to take formal action after processing the situation and confirming my decision to move home to Toronto to support my parents.
Given these circumstances, I am requesting that the above courses be removed from my academic record entirely rather than listed as dropped. This is not only because the loss made it impossible for me to continue academically, but also because having these withdrawals appear on my transcript could negatively affect future transfer and postgraduate applications. I want to ensure that my record accurately reflects my academic ability rather than this period of personal tragedy, which was completely beyond my control.
I plan to resume my Psychology studies at a university closer to home once I am emotionally ready and my family’s situation stabilizes. I am committed to continuing my education with renewed focus and stability when circumstances allow.
I am attaching a death certificate as supporting documentation and can provide additional supporting material if required.
Thank you for your time, understanding, and compassion during this extremely difficult period for me and my family.
Sincerely,
Yara Alkhiami