Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to petition the final assessment outcome in ASTR 101, due to extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control and that significantly affected my academic performance in the course. Specifically, the university strike during the term disrupted the grading processes and the opportunity to receive timely feedback on coursework. These disruptions directly impacted both my learning and my ability to accurately assess my standing in the course before the final exam, and improve my understanding of the material without feedback on my work.
During the strike period, communication surrounding assignments and expectations was inconsistent. Several of the graded components, including the astronomy lab reports, which represented a good portion of the course grade, were not returned, and I was not given feedback to improve on future lab reports to improve my understanding. As a result, I did not receive meaningful feedback before completing later assignments or before the final exam. Because the lab reports were ultimately graded to be assumed as 80% on each portion, it is unclear whether the grading reflected the full quality of my work. Under normal circumstances, with regular guidance and timely marking, I believe I would have demonstrated stronger and more consistent performance in this course, given the ability to improve my performance.
These academic disruptions were compounded and impacted my performance the final exam, on which I underperformed. I acknowledge the disappointing result; however, I believe it does not reflect my understanding of the course content or my performance across the term in the lecture quizzes. Had the strike not interrupted instruction and assessment, I would have been better prepared and more aware of areas needing improvement before the cumulative evaluation.

Throughout the term, I made efforts to manage the situation by continuing to complete all required work, monitoring course announcements closely, and seeking clarification when possible. Still, the uncertainty created by the strike had a substantial and lasting impact on my academic progress in ASTR 101.
Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that my situation be reconsidered and that appropriate academic relief be granted. I believe that the disruptions caused by the strike significantly affected both the quality of instruction and my ability to succeed in the course.
Thank you for taking the time to review my petition. I am prepared to provide any additional information or documentation as needed.