Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,

My name is Lyle Muscat (20117426).

I am appealing the drop deadline of March 5th so that I may drop two classes. I would like to drop CISC 101 and ECON 391 without any academic penalty. I am not intent on receiving back the fees already paid, so long as I may drop the class without penalization of my record. In the email sent out by solus, I misread the date as being March 9th.

I have been struggling this semester with both mental and physical health issues. I am a very hardworking student, but I have been seriously affected by my impairments this past semester. In addition to these health issues, I also have a learning disability that I have had to cope with since elementary school. My mental health issues are numerous, but most stem from the changes in our new learning format. Due to the forced lockdowns, I feel both isolated and depressed. My physical health has also had an adverse effect. Since the beginning of the semester, I have been experiencing dreadful abdominal pains. These pains are indescribable, putting me on bed rest for days at a time, unable to do any schoolwork. Due to these issues and the changes in our learning format, my concentration, work ethic, and overall understanding have all diminished.

I would have dropped these courses earlier, but I believed I could persevere through my numerous health issues. Now looking back at my grades and all of the content I have missed, it makes sense to drop the courses and retake them at another time.

I would welcome the chance to finish these classes in the 2021-2022 school year. Based on my current situation, the grades do not reflect my dedication to learning. I appeal to you as an educator, please do not force me to complete these courses in a subpar learning environment. From the beginning of this pandemic, my work has suffered, I tried to adjust to the new online classes, but was never able to comprehend the information like I could with in-person class. Please do not tarnish my record because of one disappointing semester. I have scheduled an appointment with a physician to help me with my health issues, hopefully, I can receive some kind of documentation before you make your decision. I plan to come back in the Fall 2021 semester with my health intact and my dedication to learning restored.

Best wishes,
Lyle Muscat