Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to petition for Credit (CR) standing in GNDS 215 and ARTV 102. I completed all required coursework, including final assignments, and received passing grades in both classes. However, due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control, my final grades were substantially lower than what would reasonably have been expected. I am requesting that these grades be replaced with CR standing.
The extenuating circumstance affecting my performance was the PSAC-901 teaching assistant strike, which lasted through the majority of the Winter 2025 term. Because TAs were not permitted to grade or provide feedback, I was unable to receive any assessment or guidance on my work for most of the semester. This meant I could not understand where I stood academically, learn from mistakes, or make improvements on future submissions.
Throughout the term, the Department of Gender Studies communicated multiple times that students in courses taught by Teaching Fellows, including GNDS 215, would receive Credit standing instead of a letter grade if the strike continued. Several official emails stated that CR was the expected outcome, and that a CR would not negatively affect students. I relied on this information when completing the course under strike conditions with no feedback. When the strike ended near the end of the term and contracts were extended, evaluative grades were suddenly issued instead of the CR that we had been told to expect.
This shift had a direct impact on my academic record. The lack of feedback, uncertainty surrounding grading, and late change in grading expectations resulted in final grades (D+) that do not reflect my academic ability or the work I put into the course. These circumstances meet the criteria for CR standing: they were (1) beyond my control, (2) directly tied to a documented disruption, and (3) resulted in grades that were substantially lower than reasonably expected.
I respectfully request that my grades in GNDS 215 and ARTV 102 be replaced with Credit (CR) standing. Please let me know if any additional documentation is required.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Madison Ferreira
20402677