Petition Letter
Shania Sookdeo
Student ID: 20352547
Bachelor of Science Program
2025-05-08
To the Petitions Committee,
I am writing to respectfully request a waiver of the requirement to withdraw for three years due to my GPA falling below the minimum requirement for continuation in my program, and to request retroactive course drops for BIOL 200 and CHEM 112 for the Winter 2025 term. The ongoing PSAC 901 Unit 1 strike significantly disrupted my academic progress and prevented me from having a fair opportunity to improve my standing after returning from academic probation.
I began this academic year determined to turn things around. Having been previously placed on academic probation, I was committed to making Winter 2025 the semester that would restore my academic record and allow me to continue in my degree. Unfortunately, the onset of the strike removed essential components of my courses and severely limited my ability to succeed.
In both BIOL 200 and CHEM 112, important academic supports such as lab sessions, tutorials, and timely feedback from TAs were cancelled or not delivered. Marks that I had earned were never returned, and opportunities to improve previous assessments or make up for missed work were taken away. This was devastating, as I had planned to use these opportunities to strengthen my grades and pass both courses.
Additionally, during my GEOL 200 final exam, which was held in the basement of Dunning Auditorium, there were loud disruptions from individuals involved in protest activity outside the exam room. The resulting noise and tension made it very difficult to focus, which negatively affected my ability to perform under exam conditions.
Despite these challenges, I remained dedicated and made every effort to do well. However, the strike created an environment that was beyond my control and ultimately made it impossible for me to demonstrate my academic potential. I believe that without these disruptions, I would have met the GPA requirement and passed both courses.
For these reasons, I respectfully request:
A waiver of the requirement to withdraw for three years based on these extenuating circumstances; and
Permission to retroactively drop CHEM 112 and BIOL 200, so that these courses do not further impact my GPA or record unfairly.
Thank you for your time and understanding in considering this petition. I am fully committed to continuing my studies and proving that I can succeed when given a fair academic environment.
Sincerely,
Shania Sookdeo
21srs24@Queensu.ca
Student ID: 20352547
Bachelor of Science Program
2025-05-08
To the Petitions Committee,
I am writing to respectfully request a waiver of the requirement to withdraw for three years due to my GPA falling below the minimum requirement for continuation in my program, and to request retroactive course drops for BIOL 200 and CHEM 112 for the Winter 2025 term. The ongoing PSAC 901 Unit 1 strike significantly disrupted my academic progress and prevented me from having a fair opportunity to improve my standing after returning from academic probation.
I began this academic year determined to turn things around. Having been previously placed on academic probation, I was committed to making Winter 2025 the semester that would restore my academic record and allow me to continue in my degree. Unfortunately, the onset of the strike removed essential components of my courses and severely limited my ability to succeed.
In both BIOL 200 and CHEM 112, important academic supports such as lab sessions, tutorials, and timely feedback from TAs were cancelled or not delivered. Marks that I had earned were never returned, and opportunities to improve previous assessments or make up for missed work were taken away. This was devastating, as I had planned to use these opportunities to strengthen my grades and pass both courses.
Additionally, during my GEOL 200 final exam, which was held in the basement of Dunning Auditorium, there were loud disruptions from individuals involved in protest activity outside the exam room. The resulting noise and tension made it very difficult to focus, which negatively affected my ability to perform under exam conditions.
Despite these challenges, I remained dedicated and made every effort to do well. However, the strike created an environment that was beyond my control and ultimately made it impossible for me to demonstrate my academic potential. I believe that without these disruptions, I would have met the GPA requirement and passed both courses.
For these reasons, I respectfully request:
A waiver of the requirement to withdraw for three years based on these extenuating circumstances; and
Permission to retroactively drop CHEM 112 and BIOL 200, so that these courses do not further impact my GPA or record unfairly.
Thank you for your time and understanding in considering this petition. I am fully committed to continuing my studies and proving that I can succeed when given a fair academic environment.
Sincerely,
Shania Sookdeo
21srs24@Queensu.ca