Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: Dear Board of Studies,

I am sending a second level appeal to the Associate Dean's decision regarding my appeal to add the following courses: BIOL103, ANAT100 and LAW207 (Fall 2022) after the academic deadline. My first appeal was denied; however, below, I included my answer to the specific reasons behind the Associate Dean's decision.

1. Why I cannot complete any of my 2022 Winter term classes?

The Associate Dean's decision indicated that my submitted documentation does not provide related information. In this appeal, I included a statement written by my mother which describes the time that COVID had affected me after got COVID on March 13th and the following months of suffering. The letter also indicates why COVID had to take so much time and energy and how my studies were impacted by my illness. Also, after my accident, what have we developed to help my physical and mental recovery. I have included this document in my first appeal. Under the fragile body and broken mind at that time, I told my mother about my pain and suffering.

An extenuating circumstance, the sequelae of COVID-19 included an unexpected significant physical and mental break beyond my control, debilitated my overall academic performance. I did not have energy to study as I had to fight with the sequelae of the COVID, it brought unexpected harm on my brain and body on various levels, the effect of brain fog made me unable to concentrate, and my academic ability was severely and badly influenced. Due to the specificity of my brain fog of sequelae of the COVID, the recovery is unknown as for me. After suffering from the slowly brain response and being easily fatigue from daily life, I still tried to follow up the schoolwork, also, I would not give up any chance of catching up with my undergraduate degree plan. Because I have fighting for a long time with late drop of courses on 2021 Summer, waiting for a semester for decision of my last academic appeal, keeping away from my undergraduate studies for a whole year, and lastly taking the possibility to taking class on 2022 Winter. After fixing up one accident, I had to deal with the next one immediately after. Therefore, I hardly had energy to give for my studies on 2022 Winter. Starting from March 13th, the physical and mental blows lasted five months. And I had tried my best after struggling my illness at the last of the energy, but I did not have enough ability to handle and I was extremely tired from taking care of myself. I do not believe anyone could stay focused and work efficiently under such circumstances. Taking care of myself took up nearly all my energy, as well as mental and emotional capacity. My academic ability and daily life were badly influenced, finally lead me unfinished six courses.

2. The specific enrollment date of my courses began on July 18, 2022, why did I not attempt to enroll in Fall term classes during the Summer months?

Firstly, my specific enrollment date of the course shows the day of the online courses I apply for late registration now rather than represents the day of the in-person courses I originally want to enroll in this semester. At that point, I didn't expect I would need to take online classes and narrowed my choice at online courses until I found out my study permit had expired.

Secondly, during Summer, my ability to add a course within the deadline was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond my control. The only way for me with a bad academic performance of 2022 winter to survive is to remain in self-doubt and mental pressured for a long period of time. The statement of my mother on the attached document that I included mentioned that I cannot even deal with normal life.

Thirdly, I did not have time and energy to manage my studies or find the time to add my courses as I was extremely concerned for my expired student visa. My 16 days and nights included completing all procedures of quarantine on a full-time basis as well as preparing for my study permit and recovering my high fever. At that moment, I did not have any energy to spare for my locked account and enrollment, unless I would have had to sacrifice my sleep. Once my quarantine ended, I paid the tuition fee and appeal for Registration with Debts to unlock the account and register for my courses. Throughout the period, I contacted Records and Services Office of the Registrar and Student Receivables asking them for help about enroll in courses. At last, I was unable to add courses before deadline.

I am an international student with excellent academic ability and a positive attitude, but because of the sequelae of COVID-19, resulting me in difficulties of academic and life. In result, I wear mental pressure and depression during whole summer, which led my student visa expired, then, it took me 16 days to return home, and lastly missed the deadline for registration courses.

Now that my extenuating circumstances are solved, I have been recovering my learning ability and mental health to do some counseling and self-learning with psychological therapist and physical training in preparation for the lighter course load I will take on 2022 Fall. I am hoping to prepare myself so that I can adapt to the academic workload as a full-time student. My academic goals for 2022 is taking the necessary prerequisite courses during the Fall and Winter semesters, and the three courses I am appealing to enroll have perfectly matched my academic interests and plan. In addition, I have attached the support from Professor Christopher Waters of LAW207 in the attachment.

In the fall 2022 semester, I am paying a huge price for the loss of time since I failing to take enough courses to progress in my degree because of I cannot continue enrolling in core courses according to the degree plan. Once I cannot catch up application for new study permit, I would not to get study permit related to my studies on next semester as well as back to Canada for degree. I would like to avoid my disaster both academically and lively so that I can timely save the extremely loss throughout my degree.

I hope I have addressed some of the concerns raised by the Associate dean's decision to deny my appeal. I strongly urge the Associate dean to reconsider my appeal as my accident was unpredictable and I was put in an extenuating circumstance that was beyond my control. My inability to control sequela of my COVID do not reflect my actual academic ability. And the route time for my expired study permit lead the fail to my enrollment would extremely delay my actual academic plan. Also, I believe that it is unfair to severely affect my application of study permit for future semesters due to my unfortunate circumstances, which will impact my future studies and career. I would like to apply for a study permit after obtaining an approval of my academic appeal.

Sincerely,
Nanjia You