Petition Letter
I am writing to formally request CR (credit) grades in place of letter grades for PSYC 331 and PHGY 216 due to extenuating circumstances that significantly affected my academic performance during the Winter 2025 term.
The university strike created a highly disruptive and unstable learning environment. One of the most impactful challenges was the lack of access to TA support, which I rely on for clarification, feedback, and academic guidance. The sudden loss of this support, combined with frequent changes to course formats and unclear communication, made it extremely difficult to navigate both courses effectively.
In PSYC 331, the disruptions caused by the strike led to major changes in the grading scheme, and my midterm, which I did not perform well on due to the circumstances, was reweighted to count for 90% of my final grade. This significantly affected my overall mark and does not reflect my typical academic performance or understanding of the course material.
In PHGY 216, the format of the final exam was unexpectedly changed to entirely multiple choice, which was not in line with the original syllabus. The syllabus had indicated that the final would include both multiple choice and written answer components, which I had prepared for. This last-minute change, combined with ongoing communication issues, left me at a disadvantage.
Despite doing my best to keep up, the combination of reduced academic support, unclear and shifting course expectations, and increased stress significantly hindered my ability to succeed. I do not believe that my final grades in PSYC 331 and PHGY 216 accurately reflect my academic abilities.
I appreciate your time and consideration on the matter. Thank you for considering my request.
The university strike created a highly disruptive and unstable learning environment. One of the most impactful challenges was the lack of access to TA support, which I rely on for clarification, feedback, and academic guidance. The sudden loss of this support, combined with frequent changes to course formats and unclear communication, made it extremely difficult to navigate both courses effectively.
In PSYC 331, the disruptions caused by the strike led to major changes in the grading scheme, and my midterm, which I did not perform well on due to the circumstances, was reweighted to count for 90% of my final grade. This significantly affected my overall mark and does not reflect my typical academic performance or understanding of the course material.
In PHGY 216, the format of the final exam was unexpectedly changed to entirely multiple choice, which was not in line with the original syllabus. The syllabus had indicated that the final would include both multiple choice and written answer components, which I had prepared for. This last-minute change, combined with ongoing communication issues, left me at a disadvantage.
Despite doing my best to keep up, the combination of reduced academic support, unclear and shifting course expectations, and increased stress significantly hindered my ability to succeed. I do not believe that my final grades in PSYC 331 and PHGY 216 accurately reflect my academic abilities.
I appreciate your time and consideration on the matter. Thank you for considering my request.