Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am writing to appeal the University??s requirement for me to withdraw from the Faculty
of Arts and Science for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to reflect on my first year at
Queen??s and admittedly have made many wrong choices that resulted in my inability to
prioritize my schoolwork and maintain the minimum GPA required. This self-assessment is summarized below.

Unprepared
Many first-year students are learning to live on their own while attending
university away from home. However, I found the adjustment very challenging to
be on my own for the very first time. I did not know how to make good decisions
or set boundaries for myself.

Peer Pressure
I was easily persuaded to socialize and did not know how to say no. I prioritized
my social life instead of focusing on my studies.

Time Management
When I had free time, I procrastinated and did things last minute.

When I received the letter from the University to withdraw, it was a wake-up call that I
need to step up. My academic goal is to graduate with a Bachelor of Science (Honours)
degree from Queen??s University. Being a minority woman in STEM is so exciting,
especially at a time of female empowerment we are witnessing. I want to be a leader
that inspires young women to pursue science but also be inspired by women who are
leading in STEM.

Here are my plans to step up when I return to the University.

Academic Advice
I have sought academic advice from Queen??s alumni within my network, counsellors
and women in business. From these discussions, they have shared tools and study
techniques that will assist me to stay focused and motivated, such as setting short-term
goals. I??ve set the following goals for myself, including:
- Achieving 70% or higher average on every assignment;
- Submitting assignments at least 3 days prior to the due date;
- Completing all required readings before a lecture;
- Review lecture notes and make study sheets a month prior to exams; and
- Find like-minded students to form study groups and set up weekly study sessions
to assist each other.

Mentoring
Whilst I am undecided on a specialization, I am open to learning and challenging
myself. I plan to tap into the networks available both inside and outside the University to
discover more about the career paths that are available to help me choose the right
courses. For example, I??ve had one-on-one chats with a family friend Queen??s graduate
who is now a practicing physician to help guide me. I hope to find both paid and
volunteering work when back in Kingston that would also assist me in choosing a career
path.

Study Plan
I have prepared a study plan presented in the attached document to follow when I return to Queen??s. This plan will help me manage my time, prioritize important tasks, and have a fruitful university life.

I am currently enrolled in two online courses and working 25-30 hours per week over
the summer. This experience of working and studying is allowing me to learn about
setting priorities, managing my time effectively and fulfilling my tasks and
responsibilities. This gives me the confidence that I can adhere to the plan I have
mapped out above.

Conclusion
I am determined to continue with my studies to achieve my academic goal. I believe my
newly formed habits of setting goals, seeking advice and planning my days have helped me immensely to manage my summer job and online studies. I am now a prepared
university student.

I would appreciate the opportunity to return to the University for the 2022-2023
academic year. Should this not be possible, I would like to request enrolment in
Online Learning for the year to put my study plan into action.

Thank you for taking the time to assess this letter and consider my request.

Yours sincerely,

Lily Nguyen
Student Number 20285005