Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Atkinson,

I am writing to appeal for Credit Standing in Physic (PHYS117), Biology (BIO102) and Math121. While I recognize that all students need to go through a significant period of adjustment, I believe there were extenuating circumstances that impacted my grades in those classes.

My overall academic performance was significantly impacted by a number of personal challenges I experienced throughout the academic year. These challenges are most evident for tests and exams, especially if there is a significant portion of multiple choice questions. I found writing exams in large groups a problem and was not able to focus on the questions. This would often result in me freezing up for long periods of time and made it difficult to answer all the questions effectively. I did meet with Counsellors at Queen's during the school year for advice and direction with my challenges, but I was not able to effectively use their suggestions. The Counsellors will be providing supporting documentation for this appeal. I have also met with my family doctor in the past, but he wanted me to try dealing with my situation on my own before taking further action. Unfortunately, the impact of my personal issues worsened over the school year and were not something I had been required to deal with previously.

Over the summer months, I have spoken to my family doctor to explain the changes in my circumstances and he has referred me to additional support resources. He has provided a letter in support of this appeal. I have met with the resources he referred me to, who have assessed my personal situation. They have agreed to provide a referral to similar resources in Kingston. I continue to address my challenges and have taken some summer classes to demonstrate my ability to focus properly without the pressure to write exams in large groups. I will ensure that I continue to leverage the new professional resources available to me and will take advantage of the advice they provide. I will also increase my work with those professionals prior to exams to help me manage my situation. If I feel these measures are not working, I will take a reduced course load in the second term to improve my chances of success.
Thank you for considering this appeal. I look forward to hearing from you and would be available to meet with you at your convenience if required.


Sincerely,
Alexea Johnston