Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to formally request permission to drop courses after the official deadline due to extenuating circumstances that significantly affected my academic performance over the course of this academic year. These circumstances were ongoing, overlapping, and beyond my control, and together they had a substantial impact on my ability to maintain consistent academic engagement and performance.

My difficulties began during the Fall term, when I experienced recurring periods of illness lasting approximately one and a half to two weeks at a time. These episodes occurred intermittently throughout both the Fall and Winter terms until mid March, rather than as a single isolated event, which made it difficult to establish any consistent academic routine and made it difficult to attend lectures consistently and keep up with coursework. As a result, I began to fall behind on assigned work and struggled to maintain regular academic engagement.

In addition to these health challenges, I experienced the loss of my maternal grandfather shortly before the start of the academic year, and the loss of my paternal grandfather during the Winter term. These losses occurred within a relatively short period and took a significant toll on me and my mental health. While I attempted to continue with my studies, I found it increasingly difficult to concentrate, retain information, and effectively prepare for assessments. The grieving process, combined with the demands of my academic workload, made it increasingly difficult to perform at the level I am accustomed to.
These circumstances directly affected my academic performance in the courses I am requesting to drop. I was unable to attend lectures regularly, missed assignments, and struggled to prepare adequately for coursework. Even when attempting to study, I found that my concentration and ability to process material were significantly reduced, which resulted in a performance and participation that did not reflect my usual academic standard. I was often unable to process or retain the material in a way that translated into academic performance despite attempting to prepare in advance.

At the time, I attempted to manage these challenges independently, as I am not someone who typically likes to seek support from others or talk about my problems. I relied on advice from my parents, both of whom work in the medical field, to help manage my physical health concerns. I also attempted to continue attending classes and completing coursework despite my circumstances. More recently, I reached out to one of my instructors to request consideration for late submission of assignments, however, this was not possible due to course policy. Following this, I sought support from Student Wellness Services and have a follow-up appointment scheduled. I now recognise the importance of accessing support earlier and intend to continue engaging with these services as I work through these difficulties and work on healing.

While I am still in the process of grieving, I am now taking active steps to improve my academic performance moving forward. These include continuing with formal support services, seeking additional academic assistance such as tutoring, enrolling in summer courses where appropriate, and utilising instructor office hours in future terms. I also plan to contact an academic advisor to help me plan out steps I can take to do netter next year and am now currently in contact with student care services to help me understand and utilise the recourses I have available to me.

Given the timing, duration, and cumulative impact of these extenuating circumstances, I respectfully request consideration for a late course drop. I remain committed to my academic progress and to returning to my studies with stronger support systems in place.

Thank you for your time and consideration.