Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Alexandra Atayde
Student Number:20344365
647-618-0207
21ALA5@queensu.ca

January 31, 2022

Academic Associate Dean
Queen's University
99 University Ave, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6

Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am greatly honoured to be admitted at Queen's University as a Non-Degree Continuing student in the Arts & Science Online Program. I am appealing to refund the remaining tuition fees of 309.16 on my account balance following my withdrawal from studies.

Unfortunately, due to my financial situation and stress with being unemployed, I am not able to receive external fund sources to aid with payment of my tuition for STAM200 before the January 31 deadline. Initially, I believed I would receive financial aid from OSAP only to find out that I am ineligible as a non-degree student. Thus, I requested and was approved for the Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) Program at the beginning of the term to provide myself time to seek financial support from other sources. However, most of the scholarships and loans I found were ineligible for non-degree students. As well, I am not receiving any financial assistance from my family as they had already supported me during my undergrad. Additionally, I originally planned to have a secure job this month as my source of income to help pay for tuition but I received no responses after submitting my job applications which increased my stress and financial pressure. I decided I was still going to remain in the course for longer until I could find a way to pay it for it myself but right after the course drop deadline of January 24, I did some personal reflection about my academic and career goals. I realized that I am not mentally and financially stable to succeed in this course. I had graduated from undergrad in spring 2021 with the post-graduate expectation of being in graduate school or gaining work experience but for 6 months it was all rejections. I remember hearing about Queen's Online Program from close individuals and I strongly believed returning to school to improve my GPA would be the best option for me. This was not case as I rushed myself to return to school and should have thought about the financial aspect. As a result, I continued experiencing financial and personal distress. Hence, I have not paid the course tuition. Thus, I dropped the course sometime after January 24. I understand that after this date there is the 50% tuition refund, however, I saw on the Fee Refund Section on the website (attached document) that if you withdraw by February 28 or 29 for the Winter 2022 term, then, you get 100% tuition refund. In light of my extenuating circumstances, I am requesting an adjustment to my remaining account balance.

Thank you for taking your time and consideration with this matter. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Respectfully,

Alexandra Atayde