Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am appealing to drop class SPAN 111 (Fall, 2017).

I would like to appeal from this class due to the fact I have recently experienced a death in my family--which was my grandmother, whom I have lived with from the age of 5-years-old. About a month ago, her illness has negatively affected my academics in this course. I live approx. 5 hours away, so these trips were longer than just the weekend. These trips home, which I do not regret because it was the last time I saw her alive, but these trips made me fall drastically behind in this course. I live approx. 5 hours away, so these trips were longer than just the weekend. This is due to the fact; this course is very hands on in the sense that being there is what most of your mark comes from. There are no online aids to help within this course, which differentiates it from my others. And with my very close relationship to my grandmother, even when I was at school, it was very hard to stay on top of everything. I do have a history of severe depression from high school, so I did see my old therapist and she helped me cope with this loss so I can carry on. Also, my time home (about 1 month) gave me the time to mourn with my family and gather the strength to be able to carry on myself away from home. I will comment though, that this time has also disclosed me from my studies for a little too long and I'm finding it a little difficult to get back into it.

My future plan from this appeal is to hopefully, get into the Life Science program here at Queens. If this course is dropped I will still have enough credits to apply. Also, is this course is dropped I will have more time to study for the courses that are requirements for Life Science--as I am writing differed exams right now and I'm finding it quite difficult. In order to receive these credits in the future to make up for this course if it is dropped, I will look to take a course over the summer.