Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Faculty of Arts and Science Associate Dean,

I am writing to request a late academic appeal for PSYCH 355 Comparative Cognition, completed in the winter semester of 2015.

The reason I am submitting my appeal after the deadline, is that I intended to retake the course the following year. Unfortunately, I found out late in 2015 the course had been discontinued, and that its replacement was a 200-level lab course that could not overwrite my mark. I spoke with my professor and the psychology department several times once I heard the decision was made to discontinue the course, to look for a solution, but I was told by everyone I spoke with nothing could be done. I am able to support this statement with email history if required.

I feel the 52 grade I received on the 35 midterm does not reflect my overall academic performance, but the poor psychological state I was in leading up to the midterm, in combination with an overwhelming workload in my extracurricular responsibilities that week. Currently, my 4-year cumulative average is a 3.28. My average from summer 2015 to the present is 3.71, and I am continuing to demonstrate A level work this semester in my fifth year of undergraduate studies.

I have done my very best to make the most out of my undergraduate degree, and give the most to the university community in return. During the winter semester of 2015 while taking PSCYH 355 I was working as a Fit to Lead Coach at the Smith School of Business, co-chairing the Accessibility Queen¿¿s Committee, volunteering at Revved Up through the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, and training in the Queen¿¿s Rowing Winter program. Under normal circumstances, my dedication and organization enables me to be successful even while highly committed. However, at the time I was in the midst of a very difficult and personally harmful break-up with a long-term boyfriend. In the meantime, my relationship with my two closest friends was becoming more distant. I was on the phone with my dad nearly every night, and he supported me through persistent breakdowns. I had a counselling appointment at Queen's in March to help me recover from my personal challenges, whom I have contacted and have consented for the release of information to the Faculty of Arts & Science Associate Dean. When returning home for the summer, I furthered this psychological treatment with my family doctor. The clinic is in the process of providing the doctor's note. I will be able to submit this soon, if requested. The PSYCH 355 midterm unfortunately marked the worst of my psychological state, and was weighted very heavily. The C grade I received in this course could quite likely bring my GPA below the grade requirements for occupational therapy school admissions.

I have worked so hard to prepare myself for a career in occupational therapy through work experience, volunteering and studying in related areas. For example, I have worked in over nine years of paid and volunteer support care for a woman with intellectual disabilities. I know I will contribute to the community in a meaningful way, and will be an exceptional occupational therapist. I am dedicated and supportive to myself and those around me, to help others reach their own goals. I have fully recovered from my poor state of mental health, and I feel more capable and resilient.

According to the appeal regulations section 1.1, the extenuating circumstance I am reporting is reoccurring psychological events leading up to a midterm. This was on part of long-term relationship ending abruptly, and causing me overwhelming distress. Meeting my responsibilities at work and in school that week were at levels outside of my control, as was retaking the course the following year as I had intended. I am hoping that these circumstances will not prevent me from continuing into graduate studies, and pursuing the professional field I believe am meant for.

Thank you for your review, and for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Jenelle Weidner