Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

I am submitting this petition to request a review of the grading decisions in ECON 310, specifically the late penalty applied to Assignment 4 and the resulting impact on my final exam performance and overall course outcome.

Assignment 4 was due on December 2nd. During this time, I was navigating one of the heaviest academic workload periods of the semester. I completed the assignment to a high standard but submitted it 45 minutes after the deadline. The assignment was graded at 82 percent based on quality; however, due to the late policy, 50 percent of this grade was deducted. I contacted the instructor, Professor Hongfei Sun, the night the grade was released to explain the situation and request some flexibility given the circumstances but was informed that no flexibility would be granted.

The timing of when the penalty was communicated to me had a major and direct effect on my academic performance during the final exam. The grade reflecting the severe penalty was released the night before the ECON 310 final exam, which was worth 65 percent of my final grade. Seeing such a substantial deduction immediately before such a high-stakes exam caused intense stress and emotional distress. That night, I struggled to sleep and experienced significant anxiety. Despite having prepared extensively for the exam, I was unable to concentrate, remain composed, or perform anywhere near my true academic ability. This situation directly contributed to my failing the final exam, and consequently the course, particularly given the significant weighting of the exam in the overall grade.

This outcome has extremely serious consequences for me. I am a third-year student who has been working very hard to maintain strong academic standing. In my situation, it is particularly important to retain good standing for an eventual master’s program. To have my academic future jeopardized by a 45-minute delay, despite the quality of the work I submitted, feels deeply disproportionate to the situation.

Given these extenuating academic circumstances, I respectfully request that the Committee review this case. I ask that reconsideration be given to the 50 percent late penalty, as well as the impact that the timing of the grade release had on my final examination performance. If possible, I would be extremely grateful for any academic accommodation that would allow a fair reassessment of my standing in the course, including the opportunity to retake the final exam so that I may demonstrate my knowledge and ability under fair conditions.

I remain available should you have any questions.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,
Maximilien Gignac