Petition Letter
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
Subject: Urgent Request for Late Enrollment in COMM 201 Summer Course
I am writing to you with an urgent matter that requires your attention and assistance. The purpose of this letter is to request a late enrollment in the COMM 201 course for the summer term, owing to an unexpected situation that has impacted my academic planning.
My summer academic plan initially included enrolling in the FREN 106 course. This course is designed for students with little or no knowledge of French beyond ninth grade, a category I comfortably fit into given my academic history. However, on May 10th, the course instructor, Dr. Frédérique Offredi, indicated that my proficiency in French was beyond the level catered to by this course. This judgment was based on my performance in the Open Conversation 1, where my French speaking skills seemed to surpass the course's target level.
It is important to clarify that, in line with the course prerequisites, I have not taken any French courses beyond the ninth grade. The perceived advanced proficiency may be attributed to several factors. In preparation for the Open Conversation 1, my partner and I made several attempts at the conversation, used planned talking points, to ensure we understood each other to the best of our abilities and had material to fit the time limit. Furthermore, I used an app on my phone to review ninth-grade French content and practice simple conversation phrases and pronunciation, which further supplemented my readiness for the assignment.
Despite these efforts, I fully respect Dr. Offredi's professional judgment. Taking into account the potential academic integrity implications and the core objectives of the course, which is tailored to beginner-level students, I concurred with his advice to withdraw from the course. This decision was not taken lightly, considering the implications it has on my academic plan and financial aid eligibility.
Unfortunately, this development has presented a problem as it leaves me one course short of the full course load required for my summer work-study eligibility, full-time OSAP, and the summer bursary. The timing of this development, after the deadline to add a May start summer course, compounded by the full class enrollment and full waitlists of July-August courses that I am eligible for, has limited my options significantly. Dr. Offredi recommended I should potentially take a more advanced french language course, FREN 107, which unfortunately will only be offered in the Fall, and is not an option for the summer semester.
In light of these circumstances, I am requesting your approval to late enroll in the COMM 201 course. This course is part of the Certificate of Business program in which I am currently enrolled. It is not only relevant to my academic objectives but will also ensure that I can maintain the necessary course load for the summer term and stay on track with my degree requirements.
I understand the importance of academic deadlines and sincerely regret any inconvenience that this late request might cause. My intent is not to disregard these procedures but to seek an exception based on circumstances that were beyond my control. I am committed to my academic progress and wish to maintain my eligibility for financial aid.
I kindly ask for your understanding and consideration in this matter. If you need any further information or clarification, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience. I also contacted the course instructor for their approval (which I have not heard back yet) and emailed the ArtSci petition page for documentation I may need for this petition, however they emailed me back and said to not worry about it and instead submit the petition as soon as possible. I hope that this petition is considered complete due to the circumstances regarding timing.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.
Best Regards,
Uroosa Imtiaz
20216964
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
Subject: Urgent Request for Late Enrollment in COMM 201 Summer Course
I am writing to you with an urgent matter that requires your attention and assistance. The purpose of this letter is to request a late enrollment in the COMM 201 course for the summer term, owing to an unexpected situation that has impacted my academic planning.
My summer academic plan initially included enrolling in the FREN 106 course. This course is designed for students with little or no knowledge of French beyond ninth grade, a category I comfortably fit into given my academic history. However, on May 10th, the course instructor, Dr. Frédérique Offredi, indicated that my proficiency in French was beyond the level catered to by this course. This judgment was based on my performance in the Open Conversation 1, where my French speaking skills seemed to surpass the course's target level.
It is important to clarify that, in line with the course prerequisites, I have not taken any French courses beyond the ninth grade. The perceived advanced proficiency may be attributed to several factors. In preparation for the Open Conversation 1, my partner and I made several attempts at the conversation, used planned talking points, to ensure we understood each other to the best of our abilities and had material to fit the time limit. Furthermore, I used an app on my phone to review ninth-grade French content and practice simple conversation phrases and pronunciation, which further supplemented my readiness for the assignment.
Despite these efforts, I fully respect Dr. Offredi's professional judgment. Taking into account the potential academic integrity implications and the core objectives of the course, which is tailored to beginner-level students, I concurred with his advice to withdraw from the course. This decision was not taken lightly, considering the implications it has on my academic plan and financial aid eligibility.
Unfortunately, this development has presented a problem as it leaves me one course short of the full course load required for my summer work-study eligibility, full-time OSAP, and the summer bursary. The timing of this development, after the deadline to add a May start summer course, compounded by the full class enrollment and full waitlists of July-August courses that I am eligible for, has limited my options significantly. Dr. Offredi recommended I should potentially take a more advanced french language course, FREN 107, which unfortunately will only be offered in the Fall, and is not an option for the summer semester.
In light of these circumstances, I am requesting your approval to late enroll in the COMM 201 course. This course is part of the Certificate of Business program in which I am currently enrolled. It is not only relevant to my academic objectives but will also ensure that I can maintain the necessary course load for the summer term and stay on track with my degree requirements.
I understand the importance of academic deadlines and sincerely regret any inconvenience that this late request might cause. My intent is not to disregard these procedures but to seek an exception based on circumstances that were beyond my control. I am committed to my academic progress and wish to maintain my eligibility for financial aid.
I kindly ask for your understanding and consideration in this matter. If you need any further information or clarification, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience. I also contacted the course instructor for their approval (which I have not heard back yet) and emailed the ArtSci petition page for documentation I may need for this petition, however they emailed me back and said to not worry about it and instead submit the petition as soon as possible. I hope that this petition is considered complete due to the circumstances regarding timing.
Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.
Best Regards,
Uroosa Imtiaz
20216964