Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am applying to appeal the grade placed on my transcript for PSYC 321. I took this class in the WINTER of 2020, during which time COVID-19 occurred and students were given the opportunity to P/F classes. At the time of my final essay due date, my grandmother was dying. I had obtained a short extenuation but she died on April 20 the final day it was due. I applied for academic consideration to move essays and extend the date of an exam. With this taken into account, I submitted my grandmother's death certificate to Queen's (which I can provide again). Due to the stress of COVID-19 and the failing health of my grandmother, I recognized I was not in any state to be capable of writing an essay that effectively demonstrates my learning and knowledge nor would it be on par with my grades. With the in mind, although to my recalled knowledge I did submit the P/F request before the deadline, my transcript and a conversation with the transcript office/ people who dealt with the WINTER 2020 P/F classes said it was not submitted. I am appealing and asking for this grade to be marked on my transcript as P/F as I was on academic leave and was quite caught up in grief to be focused on school. I understand the delay for this is unusual- but I had not checked my transcript until late last term as I was under the impression that I had submitted the request for PSYC 321. I participated fully in the course but due to the final paper being weighted at 40, this resulted in such a low grade. I had tried to submit the proposal and begin the research but was unable to focus on the reading and consistently unable to focus or became upset. Overall, I am asking for the house to be marked as a P/F as this was an option that was given this particular semester. Further, the paper was due the day she died, but due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, dealing with the affairs of her death both interns of her burial, and the documents required by the government, this was all a very prolonged process and one that we are still working to deal with due to COVID-19 delays. COVID-19, although we needed the restrictions to stay safe, prolonged my personal as well as my family's grieving process. Finally, the importance of this class becoming a P/F, I cannot stress the importance this change would make to my GPA. As present in my GPA, I have worked diligently to ensure that I had top grades when leaving Queen's. This particular circumstance has left a major blemish on my record and is presenting considerable issues when applying to additional programs. Overall, due to the unprecedented circumstances of deal thing with the death of a close family member as well as COVID-19 I am applying for this appeal for my PSYC 321 grade to be changed to a P/F as I had indeed it to be.