Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To:
The Associate Dean (Studies)

With this letter I would like to submit an appeal for credit standing (CR) in COMM211 (Fall 2015).

I enrolled in COMM211 in July 2015 in order to begin fulfilling the requirements of the Certificate of Business program. After repeated attempts to be placed in an in-class section, I was instead forced to take this course, COMM211 (Financial Accounting), online. Beginning the semester, I was apprehensive of the difficulties that would undoubtedly arise from taking a course that introduced concepts of which I was completely unfamiliar, learned through a medium of which I was further less inclined. Over the course of the semester, I struggled with the material despite attending weekly sessions with teaching assistants.

My concern with taking a course online went further than simply a dislike for the lack of hands-on learning availability. After going through a clinical depression during winter of 2015 (which lessened, but continued in the subsequent months and through to the fall semester) I made significant attempts starting second year to be more social and confer with peers and professors whenever I could. I found that pushing myself to connect with others in my classes not only helped me academically, but also improved my mental state.

The results of this strategy are depicted in the grades I received in my four other fall semester courses. Though the overt symptoms of the illness were all but gone, I found that they were counteracted by a reliance on others to get me through the day. I did not rely on others for answers the material, I relied on them to motivate and give structure to my day. The reason the depression affected COMM211 in particular is because I did not have the peer/professor support I needed to put me into a mental state that allowed me to work. I was unable to perform to the best of my ability because the depression does not allow me to easily independently regulate myself; this is required to study online material.

I am being forced to withdraw from the Certificate of Business program based on my grade in COMM211. Whether or not CR standing is granted in order to rectify this grade, I will not be continuing with the program as I feel it would more constructive for me to focus solely on my Arts and Science degree.

Furthermore, I have visited a physician regarding these problems and explored steps that will prevent them from affecting my work this semester. I am beginning work with a psychotherapist at the beginning of February, as per the physician¿¿s recommendation. I am taking an online course this semester, and, given the difficulty I had in Fall 2015 with an online, I have engaged with others in the class from the very first week. This course (MUSC289) does not involve any concepts remotely relatable to COMM211 nor is the structure similar. Things seem to be progressing well.

Thank you in advance for considering my application.

Sincerely,

Jessica L Knezy