Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Associate Dean (Academic)
Department of Arts and Science
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
K7L 3N6

Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,

I am writing to appeal my grade of F in WRIT 125 in Summer 2021. I am respectfully requesting that this grade be removed from my transcript or for a withdrawal from the course. This was an unfortunate situation where I was unaware that I was enrolled in this course for the duration of the semester. To my shock, I only found out when I later logged on to get a transcript for an application.

To explain how this happened, I have been out of school for some time. I graduated in 2014 and soon after began a master's program at Western University. I began experiencing significant health issues and was forced to withdraw from the program. I spent the next 8 years working with doctors trying to find the root cause of my debilitating and severely incapacitating health issues, which saw me bed bound and unable to function. I was not enrolled in school nor work during this time and was solely focusing on my health issues and trying to get well. During this time I ended up working with doctors in the United States. My entire world revolved around my day-to-day battles and nothing else. Despite my significant health issues, I maintained a strong desire to return to school. Being able to one day be well enough to go back to school was everything I was working towards and the light at the end of the tunnel. With every upcoming semester, I would hope and wonder if this would be the right time to enroll back in school. As the semester of Summer 2021 approached, I again remained hopeful and took the steps to sign up and see what courses were available should it be the right time to take a class. At some point in the spring, I had logged on and added WRIT 125 to my shopping cart in hopes I might be well enough to take it. I was unaware I proceeded to add the course to my schedule, however I now know that at some point this did happen. Unfortunately, my health did not end up improving enough at that point and Summer 2021 was ultimately not the time I was able to go back to school. I thought nothing of this after, since I did not know I was enrolled in the course. My Summer 2021 consisted again of putting all my resources, time, and energy towards my health, as I was still under care of physicians in the United States. I did not log into the course website the entire semester, as I truly had no idea I was enrolled in the course. I understand this is ultimately my error and I take full responsibility for not taking the necessary steps to ensure I was not enrolled in any class.

Despite all that I have been through, I remain ambitious and have hopes and dreams for my future. I worry that this F on my transcript may affect my future endeavours, which hopefully include one day applying to professional schools in order to help others who find themselves in the same situation I found myself in. As someone who holds myself to high standards, this would be upsetting to me as I do not believe this grade accurately reflects my abilities or intellect. I am someone who has fought so hard to get to where I am, and it is my sincere hope that this mistake I have made will not impact me in my future. I would please ask for your grace and consideration in this matter and I thank you very much for your time.

Natalie Jankowski
06061916