Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

My name is Angela Cumming and I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in the Biology-Mathematics specialization at Queen¿¿s. I am appealing to complete more than 6.0 units at another institution on a letter of permission in my fourth year. I am interested in enrolling in the University of New Brunswick¿¿s Marine Biology Block Program in Fall 2015. The specialized program consists of 4 courses as well as relevant field and lab work. The information about the program can be found here: http://www2.unb.ca/www2cemar/saunders/mBlock.htmlApp. I have contacted the University of New Brunswick and I am able to apply to this program as a visiting student. I have also been granted the support from the Biology and Mathematics departments at Queen¿¿s.

The reason that I would like to participate in the Marine Biology Block Program is to gain a better understanding of marine biology and to have hands-on experience in the field through the various field trips and lab work that the program offers. I hope to move to New Brunswick and also wish to complete a Master¿¿s degree at the University of New Brunswick studying ecology in a marine setting. Throughout my whole life I have found myself drawn to the ocean, and desire to pursue a career in the conservation of our world¿¿s oceans. The Marine Biology Block Program will give me the necessary exposure to decide in exactly which discipline of ocean conservation I wish to pursue and will provide relevant background knowledge for my future studies. This block program will also grant me valuable face-time with important professors who may be critical in aiding me in my future studies. Specialized programs with field work, such as the Marine Biology Block Program, provide valuable experience that cannot be taught in lectures at Queen¿¿s University (being located at an inland location in Kingston, ON).With its proximity to the Bay of Fundy, the University of New Brunswick can provide students with education opportunities that are unique to very few universities around the world, and I feel this unique chance can drastically enhance my knowledge and understanding of the field that interests me most. To this point, Queen¿¿s University has provided me with one of the best educations that I can fathom (being one of the top educational institutes in the entire world), and I feel that with conjunction of this UNB block program I could be granted one of the best educations anywhere in the world which will give me an important edge in my future.

While attending the University of New Brunswick, I would be enrolled in the 4 courses offered in the Block Program as well as MATH 3373. The courses in the Block Program would transfer over as 15.0 units at Queen¿¿s where I would receive 12.0 units of 400-level unspecified courses and 3.0 units of BIOL 302, as recommended by the Queen¿¿s Biology department. The Math department has also supported my plan, and has decided that MATH 3373 at UNB is a suitable equivalent for MATH 339 at Queen¿¿s. I would have taken MATH 339 this year, however, it is not offered in each year and thus I have not been able to fit it into my schedule while at Queen¿¿s. A letter of support from the Biology department is included in this appeal, and the Mathematics department has chosen to send the letter of support to you independently of this appeal.

As for my plan, the courses at the University of New Brunswick will fulfill the remainder of my degree requirements for next year. After Winter 2015, I will have completed all the courses required for my plan except for MATH 339 and BIOL 302/303. I wish to only have 6.0 units transferred over for my degree plan, and 18.0 units in total. I would also need to complete a further 3.0 units excluding the courses I have taken thus far, the Winter 2015 semester, and the courses at the University of New Brunswick. I intend to take BIOL 321 or a field course offered by Queen¿¿s in the Summer 2015 term. As outlined in my degree plan (included with this appeal), these courses would fulfil my degree requirements for a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in a Biology-Mathematics Specialization.

Please inform me if you require any further explanation or documentation. Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Angela Cumming