Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: December 9,2017
Paula Mapplebeck
51-1250 Marlborough Court
Oakville ON
L6H 2W7
Student Number: 20041283
pmapplebeck@gmail.com
Dear Associate Dean:
Today, I am writing you requesting that I drop out of PHIL 259 - Critical Thinking CDS F17. The reason for this decision is that I am unable to meet the standards of the course. Presently, I have just begun new employment within human services and this is required to be my priority. The job is very intense and takes a great deal of focus and energy. The philosophy course that I am currently enrolled states a minimum of 10 hours a week and I am unable to meet this requirement. I believe that it is important you know that I am a sole parent which, of course, is my absolute main priority. Due to these circumstances I am requesting to drop the above-mentioned course.
As completing my degree was always a goal of mine, I have struggled throughout the journey of online learning. I am currently on academic probation and the assistance that I have asked for from most of the courses I have completed so far has been minimal. Psychology was the first course that I completed and failed and is the reason for the academic probation. The assignments that I completed that required responses from other students, at times, were insulting and lacked constructive criticism. It can also be said that some of the response were positive and encouraging. As I wrote to the professor of the one insulting comment the response simply stated, sorry that happened to you. For another course, Philosophy, I emailed the professor and requested an extension for an assignment and did not get a response. I understand this is university and the expectations are high, however, I hold high expectations towards treatment of others and feel that I have not been treated respectively. The only positive I can state is with sociology as the professor and TA were extremely helpful and attentive to all the students in the class.
Although I am unable to complete this online learning program in the present, I do hope that my schedule will allow me to continue in the future. As my probation for my new employment is one year, it will be completed in June 2018. It is my hope that I can continue with the program at that time. I understand that I am to re-take psychology, which I do not have a problem doing. I am also considering another major that may be better suited for me.
It could be that distant online learning is not the style of learning that works for me. At this time, I am unable to complete the Bachelor of Arts degree I have enrolled in and do not have the motivation to complete this program due to the comments that I have received from some courses that I have completed. I do hope that you consider my request and take the comments I have written seriously.

Sincerely,
Paula Mapplebeck