Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am appealing to the Associate Dean to obtain a Credit Standing for STAT 263 (Winter, 2021).

My professor recommended that I explore the option for a credit appeal as my marks preceding the final exam were much higher than the grade that I achieved on my exam. Furthermore, there were extenuating circumstances that impacted my capacity to perform to the best of my abilities.

It goes without saying that the impact of COVID-19 made for a difficult year for all students; the isolation and restraints of the pandemic took a toll on our abilities to learn as well as our mental health. That was certainly the case for me all year, but particularly so during exam season. Both my grandmother and grandfather passed while I was preparing for my exam. I found it very difficult to cope with their deaths, especially since they both occurred within the same week and were COVID-19 related deaths. My grandparents live in Serbia but spent a lot of time with our family in Toronto and took care of me for a large portion of my childhood. With all of the restrictions that have been put in place due to COVID-19, I had not been able to see them in 2 years, which only made their sudden passing more difficult.

My parents told me the news of their passing prior to my final exam for STAT 263 and after the completion of my other exams. This is one of the reasons that I am only asking for consideration in appealing for a credit standing for STAT 263. Additionally, my completion of other course content was drastically different than my performance on the final examination and does not reflect the work that I have put into the course throughout the year. I attained a final grade of a D, which is significantly lower than the rest of my marks received in the course. This course required a substantial amount of work and I was successful in completing all course work, until the final exam when I was lacking mental support that I needed due to an unexpected occurrence.

STAT 263 is not a core course required for my degree but rather a course that completes one of my requirements on List B, therefore a credit standing will not impact my degree requirements. To improve my future academic experience, I have chosen to take an elective course for Summer 2021. This course will help me stay on track with my studies and would serve as a replacement mark for the Credit Standing in STAT 263, if granted. Additionally, I am not expecting my extenuating circumstance to further impact my academic abilities as I have had time to grieve and cope with my loss.

Ultimately, I am asking the faculty to grant me a Credit Standing in STAT 263 (Winter, 2021) due to an extenuating circumstance that provided a barrier for me to perform to the best of my abilities on the final examination and impacting my overall experience in the course.

Sincerely,
Ana Djurkovic
201738787