Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Academic Petitions and Appeals Committee,


I am writing to explain the extenuating circumstances that have affected my academic performance in HLTH200 and EMPR230 during this term.

Over the past several months, my family has been dealing with significant mental health/ medical challenges involving my grandparent. As a result of these circumstances, my family has had to make the very sudden decision to sell her home, which has created considerable emotional stress and instability for everyone involved as we are her only family.

These circumstances have been especially difficult for me personally, as my father passed away 3 years ago and this grandparent is his only surviving parent. Supporting my family through this situation while also coping with the emotional impact myself has been extremely overwhelming.

In addition, since returning home for the summer, I have taken on the responsibility of being the primary caregiver for my younger cousins while other family members manage these sudden ongoing issues. Balancing these caregiving responsibilities alongside the emotional strain within my family has been extremely challenging and has directly affected my ability to fully focus on my coursework and academic responsibilities.

I was sick throughout part of April, which further impacted my ability to complete these two final exams, which was unfortunate and I apologize. In addition, I have been previously diagnosed with anxiety and am currently medicated for it. The ongoing stress and family circumstances have significantly intensified my anxiety symptoms and have affected my concentration, stress management, and overall academic functioning which plays a big factor in these circumstances.

Despite these challenges, I want to emphasize that I genuinely enjoy both HLTH200 and EMPR230 and have continued to make every effort to remain engaged in these courses. I am currently enrolled in three summer courses and am actively working to keep up with my responsibilities. However, the ongoing stress, emotional strain, and family responsibilities have significantly affected my overall well-being and academic performance.

I have been doing my best to manage these circumstances by maintaining communication with my instructors, organizing my academic responsibilities as effectively as possible, and supporting my family during this difficult time. If additional documentation is required, I can also attempt to schedule an appointment with my doctor on Monday for further support regarding these circumstances.

If possible, I would also be grateful for consideration regarding the option of writing my final exams remotely. I completely understand if this is not possible and recognize that I have already been provided with the regulations regarding examinations.

I respectfully ask that the committee consider these circumstances in reviewing my petition. Thank you for your time, understanding, and consideration.I also want to emphasize that I remain fully committed to writing my exams in Kingston moving forward and complying with all academic requirements in the future.

Sincerely,
Peyton McParland
20466892