Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean of Studies,
I writing to petition for an extension of an Incomplete Grade for the International Macroeconomics (ECON 426) course from the Winter 2024 term.
Explanation of Remaining Course Requirements:
The assessment that I have not completed in the ECON 426 course is the final examination. This assessment is weighted to determine more than half of my final grade in this course. I have demonstrated an ability to manage the deferral of a final examination of a similar weighting in a different course, Macroeconomic Policy (ECON 223) of the Summer 2020 term. In this course, the final examination was weighted to determine 70% of my final grade, and a petition for an extension of an Incomplete Grade was approved by the Associate Dean of Studies. I completed the final examination with the subsequent offering of the course in the Summer 2021 term, at the request of the instructor. I earned the highest grade in the course, and this supports the feasibility of my petition by providing evidence that an extended period of time between the offering of the course and the final examination did not affect my performance and that the deferral of a significant assessment did not indicate a lack of work or progress during the offering of the course. The application of this evidence to this petition is supported by a consideration of my preparedness and management of the extenuating circumstance.
Plan for Academic Success:
My plan for academic success does not relate strongly to addressing an issue of academic preparation and learning ability. In my communication with Dr. Gregor Smith, it is stated clearly that I prepared for the final examination extensively and developed a strong understanding of the course material. I dedicated both the Winter 2024 and Summer 2024 terms to studying the course material in anticipation of the final examination. This is evident in my frequent communication with Dr. Gregor Smith about the course material and requests for access to specific items during the Summer 2024 term, when access to items expired automatically following the Winter 2024 term. I do not anticipate that my responsibility to prepare for another attempt to complete the final examination will require the study of any new course material. Reasonably, I expect that I will need to continue my practice in order to maintain this understanding. I anticipate that this will require between 5 and 10 hours each week, and I have accounted for this responsibility in the planning of both the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 terms.
I have consulted with Dr. Gregor Smith, and I informed him of my interest in petitioning for an extension of an Incomplete Grade; however, Dr. Gregor Smith was not available to discuss options for completing the course in the event this petition is granted. As such, I will provide evidence of the feasibility of my completion of the final examination in either the Fall 2024 or Winter 2025 term. First, I am available to complete the final examination by the end of the Fall 2024 term. I am enrolled in less than the standard course load of five courses per term to allow for any preparation that may be required to complete the final examination. Further, I have confirmed that two of the four courses do not require the completion of a final examination, representing fewer requirements during the period of final examinations, and the majority of the courses are delivered at the 200-level, which are less sophisticated than courses at the 400-level. Alternatively, I am available to complete the final examination by the end of the Winter 2025 term. It is my understanding that this course is only available during the Winter 2025 term, and it may be the preference of the instructor to facilitate an attempt to complete the final examination during the next offering of the course. During this term, I anticipate that I will be taking one course and do not anticipate any other significant responsibilities that may interfere with any preparation that may be required or my ability to complete the assessment.
My plan for academic success considers the extenuating circumstance and efforts to manage the effects of it on my academic performance. The acute effects of the extenuating circumstance have been managed with the assistance of relevant professionals, principally those who are counsellors, and a continuation of my work with relevant professionals will be maintained in order to prevent any regression of effects.
Chronology of Events:
In April, 2024, I experienced an extenuating circumstance of a personal nature that prevented me from completing the assessment. This circumstance, and the impact of it on my academic performance, was verified by the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University.
Dr. Gregor Smith provided me with the option to complete the examination in May, 2024 or September, 2024, and I confirmed my availability during the first week of September. Then, Dr. Gregor Smith communicated to me that the staff of the Economics Department would be facilitating the final examination, for which a period from September 9th to September 13th, 2024, was designated, scheduling my final examination on September 11th, 2024. Dr. Gregor Smith contacted me again to state that he would host the examination on September 3rd, 2024 instead, offering to adhere to the first expectation that was communicated. In response to this, I communicated to Dr. Gregor Smith that I preferred to maintain the date of my final examination because I had created availability to complete the examination on September 11th, 2024.
On September 8th, 2024, I contacted Dr. Gregor Smith to inform him that I experienced an extenuating circumstance, and I was concerned that it would affect my academic performance. The result of a traumatic event was the experience of significant emotional distress that prevented me from participating in any activities. I inquired about the possibility of completing a take-home examination as an alternative examination that assesses similar learning outcomes. I believed that this format of assessment may have mitigated the potential that my performance would be affected by the extenuating circumstance. In response, Dr. Gregor Smith stated that this was not a feasible option for this course. Then, I contacted the Undergraduate Assistant to inquire about whether the staff of the Economics Department would be willing to host and proctor a final examination in the subsequent week, and Ms. Carley Malone, the Undergraduate Assistant, communicated to me that she was willing to facilitate the hosting and proctoring of a final examination on the morning of Tuesday, September 17th, 2024. However, Dr. Gregor Smith stated that he was not able to approve a subsequent deferral of the final examination in the absence of consent from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences through the approval of a petition. On the morning of Wednesday, September 11th, I informed Dr. Gregor Smith that I did not have the capacity to complete the final examination as it was scheduled.
Thank you for your consideration of the information that I have provided in this letter of petition. I am able to provide further information that may be necessary for your consideration of this petition.
Regards,
Elizabeth Panos
I writing to petition for an extension of an Incomplete Grade for the International Macroeconomics (ECON 426) course from the Winter 2024 term.
Explanation of Remaining Course Requirements:
The assessment that I have not completed in the ECON 426 course is the final examination. This assessment is weighted to determine more than half of my final grade in this course. I have demonstrated an ability to manage the deferral of a final examination of a similar weighting in a different course, Macroeconomic Policy (ECON 223) of the Summer 2020 term. In this course, the final examination was weighted to determine 70% of my final grade, and a petition for an extension of an Incomplete Grade was approved by the Associate Dean of Studies. I completed the final examination with the subsequent offering of the course in the Summer 2021 term, at the request of the instructor. I earned the highest grade in the course, and this supports the feasibility of my petition by providing evidence that an extended period of time between the offering of the course and the final examination did not affect my performance and that the deferral of a significant assessment did not indicate a lack of work or progress during the offering of the course. The application of this evidence to this petition is supported by a consideration of my preparedness and management of the extenuating circumstance.
Plan for Academic Success:
My plan for academic success does not relate strongly to addressing an issue of academic preparation and learning ability. In my communication with Dr. Gregor Smith, it is stated clearly that I prepared for the final examination extensively and developed a strong understanding of the course material. I dedicated both the Winter 2024 and Summer 2024 terms to studying the course material in anticipation of the final examination. This is evident in my frequent communication with Dr. Gregor Smith about the course material and requests for access to specific items during the Summer 2024 term, when access to items expired automatically following the Winter 2024 term. I do not anticipate that my responsibility to prepare for another attempt to complete the final examination will require the study of any new course material. Reasonably, I expect that I will need to continue my practice in order to maintain this understanding. I anticipate that this will require between 5 and 10 hours each week, and I have accounted for this responsibility in the planning of both the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 terms.
I have consulted with Dr. Gregor Smith, and I informed him of my interest in petitioning for an extension of an Incomplete Grade; however, Dr. Gregor Smith was not available to discuss options for completing the course in the event this petition is granted. As such, I will provide evidence of the feasibility of my completion of the final examination in either the Fall 2024 or Winter 2025 term. First, I am available to complete the final examination by the end of the Fall 2024 term. I am enrolled in less than the standard course load of five courses per term to allow for any preparation that may be required to complete the final examination. Further, I have confirmed that two of the four courses do not require the completion of a final examination, representing fewer requirements during the period of final examinations, and the majority of the courses are delivered at the 200-level, which are less sophisticated than courses at the 400-level. Alternatively, I am available to complete the final examination by the end of the Winter 2025 term. It is my understanding that this course is only available during the Winter 2025 term, and it may be the preference of the instructor to facilitate an attempt to complete the final examination during the next offering of the course. During this term, I anticipate that I will be taking one course and do not anticipate any other significant responsibilities that may interfere with any preparation that may be required or my ability to complete the assessment.
My plan for academic success considers the extenuating circumstance and efforts to manage the effects of it on my academic performance. The acute effects of the extenuating circumstance have been managed with the assistance of relevant professionals, principally those who are counsellors, and a continuation of my work with relevant professionals will be maintained in order to prevent any regression of effects.
Chronology of Events:
In April, 2024, I experienced an extenuating circumstance of a personal nature that prevented me from completing the assessment. This circumstance, and the impact of it on my academic performance, was verified by the Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University.
Dr. Gregor Smith provided me with the option to complete the examination in May, 2024 or September, 2024, and I confirmed my availability during the first week of September. Then, Dr. Gregor Smith communicated to me that the staff of the Economics Department would be facilitating the final examination, for which a period from September 9th to September 13th, 2024, was designated, scheduling my final examination on September 11th, 2024. Dr. Gregor Smith contacted me again to state that he would host the examination on September 3rd, 2024 instead, offering to adhere to the first expectation that was communicated. In response to this, I communicated to Dr. Gregor Smith that I preferred to maintain the date of my final examination because I had created availability to complete the examination on September 11th, 2024.
On September 8th, 2024, I contacted Dr. Gregor Smith to inform him that I experienced an extenuating circumstance, and I was concerned that it would affect my academic performance. The result of a traumatic event was the experience of significant emotional distress that prevented me from participating in any activities. I inquired about the possibility of completing a take-home examination as an alternative examination that assesses similar learning outcomes. I believed that this format of assessment may have mitigated the potential that my performance would be affected by the extenuating circumstance. In response, Dr. Gregor Smith stated that this was not a feasible option for this course. Then, I contacted the Undergraduate Assistant to inquire about whether the staff of the Economics Department would be willing to host and proctor a final examination in the subsequent week, and Ms. Carley Malone, the Undergraduate Assistant, communicated to me that she was willing to facilitate the hosting and proctoring of a final examination on the morning of Tuesday, September 17th, 2024. However, Dr. Gregor Smith stated that he was not able to approve a subsequent deferral of the final examination in the absence of consent from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences through the approval of a petition. On the morning of Wednesday, September 11th, I informed Dr. Gregor Smith that I did not have the capacity to complete the final examination as it was scheduled.
Thank you for your consideration of the information that I have provided in this letter of petition. I am able to provide further information that may be necessary for your consideration of this petition.
Regards,
Elizabeth Panos