Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean (Studies):

I am writing to appeal the Faculty¿¿s decision that I must withdraw from Queen¿¿s for a minimum of three years. The reason for issuing this order is my failure to reach the 1.6 GPA requirement after being reinstated this past school year. I would like to request for you to reinstate me for the upcoming semester.

I would like to explain the circumstances for my failure to improve my poor academic performance. Due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control, along with depression, I started to have panic attacks this year. I have had regular contact with my psychiatrist ever since the first panic attack I had this year. My panic attack frequencies increased as exam time came and the first panic attack I had, I was extremely scared because I had no idea what to do. After coming home for the summer, I have been making a lot of progress with my psychiatrist to learn how to deal with my panic attacks in different ways. My psychiatrist and I are in the midst of creating a system of what to do when I start to have panic attacks, so that it will have minimal effect on my daily life and academics. I will be implementing strategies on coping with my panic attacks so that it will have minimal effect towards schoolwork.

Without say, I am extremely disappointed in myself for not being able to reach my personal goal and I sincerely apologize for my unsatisfactory performance. I am aware that I must raise my grade to a 1.6 before assessment and I realize that the responsibility of my academic performance is solely my responsibility and which I have proved myself a failure. However, despite the disappointing outcome, I am now very much determined and motivated to succeed. During the school year I have been in contact with my some of my professors to discuss how I can further succeeded in my future computer science courses. I have met people this year that I consider as mentors that I look up to in the Queen¿¿s community and I continue to seek their guidance to strive towards majoring in computer science at Queen¿¿s. Through the people I¿¿ve met this year, I have been inspired and motivated to do and strive for better and greater goals. I have a new found passion for web development. I know my efforts this year do not live up to the potential I have towards my passion for computer science and I wish to state that my low grades were certainly not due to procrastination of studying or lack of interest in the material.

I realize the seriousness of this situation and that I may lose this chance to continue to be a student at Queen¿¿s. I apologize for my unsatisfactory academic performance this semester and I am committed to working harder than ever for the upcoming school term. If given this opportunity to continue my studies, I have planned to implement strategies that I developed with my psychiatrist to overcome any obstacles that may come my way to continue to do my best to improve academically and strive towards the goals I have set for myself. If I am granted another chance, I know this upcoming school term will be academically successful for me. Nothing is more important to me than striving towards graduating and prioritizing my schoolwork.I will continue to make sure my mental health will be better to best ensure my success to keep going forward and I strongly believe that I truly deserve the lifting of the withdrawal for three years. I sincerely hope that this appeal shows that I am dedicated to being a successful student here at Queen¿¿s University. Please understand that I have learned my lesson and will be extremely grateful for another chance to continue my studies at Queen¿¿s. Thank you for taking your time to consider my readmission to Queen¿¿s University.


Yours sincerely,

Joanna Tzuu-Yun Chien