Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

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

In August of 2019, I underwent a process in order to appeal a Requirement to Withdraw for One Year, and to my utmost gratitude, was successful in doing so. After 9 Units of Grade Points taken into account from this past semester, I will have nearly boosted my GPA by 0.2 ¿¿ considering the fixing of a technicality in one course (POLS 261). I am extremely happy with my year so far, sporting B level grades which are doing well in taking me to a place of achieving my required GPA to continue studying at Queen¿¿s University. I would like to take this time to express my sincerest thanks in letting me not only attempt to prove to the University, though also myself what I am capable of.

Upon looking into my transcript and doing some calculations to determine what I need to attain in order to meet the required GPA of 1.6 by the 18 unit revisit to my case, I have noticed that the courses failed in my Second Year are making it very hard to determine the likely-hood of my return next year. In having to go through an appeal process once before, I am aware that if I cannot meet the 1.6 GPA by the end of this Semester, I will be met with a Requirement to Withdraw for Three Years, of which is not desirable for myself. The circumstances of which granted my appeal were lengthy, involving very troubling content about my mental health. They were submitted as a letter from myself, with supporting documentation from my Father.

Having become well versed in the appeal regulations and process by which one must follow, I know that if I want to make an appeal in regards to 3.3.2 ¿¿ To Drop a Class after the Last Official Date for Dropping Classes, I must first submit an appeal in regards to 3.2.2.5 ¿¿ Appealing the 21-Day or One-Term Appeal Timeline. That is the purpose of this letter to you; to ask for a helping hand in attaining that 1.6 GPA average. I must first submit this appeal letter, begging for you to waive the One Term Appeal Timeline, in order to proceed to 3.3.2. Upon my earlier appeal, I was discussing with an Academic Advisor that this route of dropping a class due to extenuating circumstances could be possible in order to meet the requirement, and as I am looking into calculations about my GPA, it seems to be a smart idea to offer more security in my next years at Queen¿¿s University. Rather ¿¿ to be blunt ¿¿ ensure my return next year.

I am humbly asking you to waive the One Term Appeal Timeline, so I can build a GPA that better reflects the work that I have done this year; The work that the Faculty of Arts and Science has allowed me to show; The work that I believe reflects the type of student I really am in my proper mental state. Depression and Anxiety have caused much harm to my academics, and I am happy that those items are scarcely seen in my day to day now. The only remembrance is my low GPA that continues to come back to haunt me. The math that I have done in appealing the following courses from my second year: MATH 126, PHIL 111B, and ECON 212, would bring me to a place where a 1.6 GPA is attainable for me ensuring I maintain my B level grades in this semester. These courses were of the biggest detriment to my transcript and were attained during the time of my declining mental health and volatile family situation outlined in my letter to the Associate Dean in August of 2019. Further, the bulk of those credits involved Mathematics, something that I have come to terms with the fact I am unable to do at a University level and will cease to try.

The Academic Plan I have for myself going forward is for something I am very passionate about, Political Science. I have set up a plan in regards to attaining the 18 Units required for 200 level, the 12 Units required for 300 level, and the 12 Units required for 400 level. This is in addition to the 60 Units of electives needed, and the 18 Units of mandatory POLS courses. My third year will be treated as my second; fourth year treated as third; and I will take a fifth year as my fourth.

My previous letter was based off of our Universities Core Values: Honesty, Trust, Fairness, Respect and Personal Responsibility. I again ask for your Trust in me, so I can be Honest in my commitment to Personal Responsibility made earlier this school year.

Yours Truly, Aleksander Magi

PS I will include the letter I sent in August, as well as its supporting documentation to offer a timeline for you to review.

A Course instructor or University Personnel with knowledge for my appeal would be the Associate Dean responsible for the granting of my former appeal: Associate Dean Jenn Stephens, Ph.D.