Petition Letter
I am writing to request consideration for an academic petition to drop ARTH 203 after the academic deadline, and to respectfully ask that this drop be approved without academic or financial penalty due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control. I understand that avoiding financial penalty may not be possible, and I completely respect that decision if so. However, I wanted to request consideration, as I am currently on financial aid and recovering those funds would help support my remaining coursework.
In the weeks leading up to and following the add/drop deadline, I experienced a significant increase in anxiety that affected my ability to concentrate, make timely academic decisions, and clearly assess my course load. During this time, I was also dealing with ongoing stress related to my mother’s illness, which placed additional emotional strain on me as she is not well. The combination of academic pressure and family concerns became overwhelming and made it difficult for me to determine what would be academically manageable.
As the term progressed, it became clear that ARTH 203 was particularly impacted by these circumstances due to its format and demands. In addition to my anxiety, I have a cyst in my hand that makes prolonged handwritten note-taking painful and difficult. This was especially challenging in a three-hour lecture setting where the use of a computer or other technology is not permitted. The combination of anxiety and physical discomfort directly affected my ability to engage fully in lectures, take effective notes, and keep up with the course material, leading to increasing academic difficulty. I suspected within the first few weeks that the course might not be manageable for me, but I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed.
I initially did not withdraw from the course because I require an additional course to graduate on time. I also attempted to explore switching into another course by contacting the Head of the Film Department and another course instructor. Unfortunately, by the time I received responses, I was informed that it was unlikely I could join another class. I have since realized that I am unable to succeed in ARTH 203 under these conditions. These circumstances delayed my ability to recognize that withdrawing was necessary and prevented me from doing so before the deadline. I have also been attempting to obtain medical documentation for my hand condition; however, there were and are currently no available appointments with my doctor or Student Wellness Services.
I am currently taking steps to better manage these challenges and my anxiety related to school and home life so they do not continue to negatively affect my academic progress. I am currently enrolled in 3 summer courses for me to keep up. If a doctors not must be obtained I may also be able to try contacting my home doctor via phone appointment. I understand the importance of academic deadlines and do not make this request lightly. However, I respectfully ask that my situation be considered extenuating and beyond my control, and that permission be granted to drop ARTH 203 without academic or financial penalty.
Sincerely,
Haleigh Gagnon
Student Number: 20418415
Faculty of Arts and Science
In the weeks leading up to and following the add/drop deadline, I experienced a significant increase in anxiety that affected my ability to concentrate, make timely academic decisions, and clearly assess my course load. During this time, I was also dealing with ongoing stress related to my mother’s illness, which placed additional emotional strain on me as she is not well. The combination of academic pressure and family concerns became overwhelming and made it difficult for me to determine what would be academically manageable.
As the term progressed, it became clear that ARTH 203 was particularly impacted by these circumstances due to its format and demands. In addition to my anxiety, I have a cyst in my hand that makes prolonged handwritten note-taking painful and difficult. This was especially challenging in a three-hour lecture setting where the use of a computer or other technology is not permitted. The combination of anxiety and physical discomfort directly affected my ability to engage fully in lectures, take effective notes, and keep up with the course material, leading to increasing academic difficulty. I suspected within the first few weeks that the course might not be manageable for me, but I felt overwhelmed and unsure of how to proceed.
I initially did not withdraw from the course because I require an additional course to graduate on time. I also attempted to explore switching into another course by contacting the Head of the Film Department and another course instructor. Unfortunately, by the time I received responses, I was informed that it was unlikely I could join another class. I have since realized that I am unable to succeed in ARTH 203 under these conditions. These circumstances delayed my ability to recognize that withdrawing was necessary and prevented me from doing so before the deadline. I have also been attempting to obtain medical documentation for my hand condition; however, there were and are currently no available appointments with my doctor or Student Wellness Services.
I am currently taking steps to better manage these challenges and my anxiety related to school and home life so they do not continue to negatively affect my academic progress. I am currently enrolled in 3 summer courses for me to keep up. If a doctors not must be obtained I may also be able to try contacting my home doctor via phone appointment. I understand the importance of academic deadlines and do not make this request lightly. However, I respectfully ask that my situation be considered extenuating and beyond my control, and that permission be granted to drop ARTH 203 without academic or financial penalty.
Sincerely,
Haleigh Gagnon
Student Number: 20418415
Faculty of Arts and Science