Petition Letter
June 11, 2019
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Queen¿¿s University
99 University Ave.
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 3N6
Re: Letter of Appeal
Emily Romano (20068808)
Please accept this letter as my formal appeal to Queen¿¿s University¿¿s decision in asking me to withdraw from the faculty of Arts and Science for three years.
I understand that I did not make the 1.6 GPA required to be removed from Academic Probation and continue my studies at Queen¿¿s, I believe, however, that if allowed to continue, I will be successful in my studies as I have without a doubt significantly improved my study skills and success from my first year. The decision made by the faculty of Arts and Science to ask me to withdraw for a second time has devastated me and has left me in a state of deep depression and has me questioning my identity after all the efforts I have made this year to improve as a Queen¿¿s student. I am hopeful and not grasping at straws that my appeal will be granted in order for me to return to my studies in September.
I am appealing based on the premises that I improved my grades and study skills in my classes. I re-took Philosophy 111 and Politics 110. I decided to retake these courses to improve my grade in each class. In my philosophy class, I improved my grades exceptionally on my assignments by receiving a B average on all my essays. Which is a huge improvement from the grades I received in my first year on my philosophy essays. In Politics 110 I have also had a significant improvement on assignments. I received an 81 on my midterm in the first semester, 72 on my outline for an essay in the first semester, and 82 on another outline in the second semester. I have devoted myself this year to my classes, and I believe that if I am to return to my studies at Queen¿¿s I can bring my GPA to its requirement. Using all the resources available to me and experience I have gained I am confident that I can craft a strategic academic plan that will ensure that I make the 1.6 GPA or higher. I have a learning disorder. I struggle with comprehension and understanding of the material in my courses. Even though I have this struggle I am still able to perform at the university level, but it requires a lot more time for me to absorb and digest the material being taught. Once I understand the course material, I have proven to create exceptional work.
At the end of my first year at Queen¿¿s my GPA was a 0.07 and after being allowed to continue my studies at Queen¿¿s my GPA has risen to a 1.2 with the help of my accommodations and dedication to my studies. My Professors and TA¿¿s have also noticed my improvement as well and have expressed my progress to me on my assignments. I truly believe that if given the chance to come back and continue my studies my GPA will continue to increase, and I will be successful in my studies.
During the fall semester of 2018, I was only enrolled in three courses and I was very successful in these courses at the time, with the help of my accommodations. When the winter semester of 2019 started, I decided to enroll in a fourth course. I added Spanish 111. Adding this course proved to be too much for me. Now looking back, I should have dropped or late dropped the course for it had really negatively affected my GPA. The combination of being enrolled in too many courses and the extra course work caused a lack of structure for me, and I need structure to be able to succeed in my studies. I am not a strong exam writer. I have trouble understanding how to prepare for exams, I become overwhelmed easily. I can only focus on studying for one exam at a time. Further, I used a recording pen during the first semester which was a part of my accommodations. The recording pen was extremely helpful in my studies. In the winter semester, however, I had run out of paper and ink, and I had difficulty re-ordering them online. The combination of all these issues resulted in poorer than expected marks, but I still managed to raise my GPA significantly from my first year. Also, I had extreme difficulty receiving the results of my exam marks for the winter semester. I was only able to see one exam mark for one of my courses on OnQ, but I could not see any of my other grades because the courses had closed on OnQ. I had to chase-down my professors pleading that I did not receive any exam marks back, and only one of my professors emailed me back informing me on my final exam grade. I would have preferred to have better access to my professors and have been able to meet with each of them to discuss the weaknesses I had in writing the exams and what I need to improve on for the future.
My academic career plan is to major in Philosophy and then once my GPA is higher, I would do a medial with Global Development Studies. In the meantime, before this, however, I will take courses that are conducive to my academic strength to ensure my success at Queen¿¿s. I will continue to work closely with QSAS and my departmental Academic Advisors to better navigate my academic options, as well as continue to engage in learning strategy sessions with both the QSAS Learning Strategist and SASS¿¿s offerings including the Writing Centre.
I am more than willing to present my case in person to the Dean or panel to argue my case. My life has been penalized, I have always had difficulty in school, and it has always gotten in the way of my life and my ambitions.
I believe that if I should be allowed to continue at Queen¿¿s University, I will be successful. I love being a part of the community at school and I will dedicate myself completely to my studies to succeed and bring my GPA to where it needs to be. I truly believe I am capable of achieving this and I hope that my argument made in this appeal is successful and the decision for withdrawal will be revoked and I am allowed to identify myself as a proud Queen¿¿s student.
Sincerely,
Emily Romano
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Queen¿¿s University
99 University Ave.
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 3N6
Re: Letter of Appeal
Emily Romano (20068808)
Please accept this letter as my formal appeal to Queen¿¿s University¿¿s decision in asking me to withdraw from the faculty of Arts and Science for three years.
I understand that I did not make the 1.6 GPA required to be removed from Academic Probation and continue my studies at Queen¿¿s, I believe, however, that if allowed to continue, I will be successful in my studies as I have without a doubt significantly improved my study skills and success from my first year. The decision made by the faculty of Arts and Science to ask me to withdraw for a second time has devastated me and has left me in a state of deep depression and has me questioning my identity after all the efforts I have made this year to improve as a Queen¿¿s student. I am hopeful and not grasping at straws that my appeal will be granted in order for me to return to my studies in September.
I am appealing based on the premises that I improved my grades and study skills in my classes. I re-took Philosophy 111 and Politics 110. I decided to retake these courses to improve my grade in each class. In my philosophy class, I improved my grades exceptionally on my assignments by receiving a B average on all my essays. Which is a huge improvement from the grades I received in my first year on my philosophy essays. In Politics 110 I have also had a significant improvement on assignments. I received an 81 on my midterm in the first semester, 72 on my outline for an essay in the first semester, and 82 on another outline in the second semester. I have devoted myself this year to my classes, and I believe that if I am to return to my studies at Queen¿¿s I can bring my GPA to its requirement. Using all the resources available to me and experience I have gained I am confident that I can craft a strategic academic plan that will ensure that I make the 1.6 GPA or higher. I have a learning disorder. I struggle with comprehension and understanding of the material in my courses. Even though I have this struggle I am still able to perform at the university level, but it requires a lot more time for me to absorb and digest the material being taught. Once I understand the course material, I have proven to create exceptional work.
At the end of my first year at Queen¿¿s my GPA was a 0.07 and after being allowed to continue my studies at Queen¿¿s my GPA has risen to a 1.2 with the help of my accommodations and dedication to my studies. My Professors and TA¿¿s have also noticed my improvement as well and have expressed my progress to me on my assignments. I truly believe that if given the chance to come back and continue my studies my GPA will continue to increase, and I will be successful in my studies.
During the fall semester of 2018, I was only enrolled in three courses and I was very successful in these courses at the time, with the help of my accommodations. When the winter semester of 2019 started, I decided to enroll in a fourth course. I added Spanish 111. Adding this course proved to be too much for me. Now looking back, I should have dropped or late dropped the course for it had really negatively affected my GPA. The combination of being enrolled in too many courses and the extra course work caused a lack of structure for me, and I need structure to be able to succeed in my studies. I am not a strong exam writer. I have trouble understanding how to prepare for exams, I become overwhelmed easily. I can only focus on studying for one exam at a time. Further, I used a recording pen during the first semester which was a part of my accommodations. The recording pen was extremely helpful in my studies. In the winter semester, however, I had run out of paper and ink, and I had difficulty re-ordering them online. The combination of all these issues resulted in poorer than expected marks, but I still managed to raise my GPA significantly from my first year. Also, I had extreme difficulty receiving the results of my exam marks for the winter semester. I was only able to see one exam mark for one of my courses on OnQ, but I could not see any of my other grades because the courses had closed on OnQ. I had to chase-down my professors pleading that I did not receive any exam marks back, and only one of my professors emailed me back informing me on my final exam grade. I would have preferred to have better access to my professors and have been able to meet with each of them to discuss the weaknesses I had in writing the exams and what I need to improve on for the future.
My academic career plan is to major in Philosophy and then once my GPA is higher, I would do a medial with Global Development Studies. In the meantime, before this, however, I will take courses that are conducive to my academic strength to ensure my success at Queen¿¿s. I will continue to work closely with QSAS and my departmental Academic Advisors to better navigate my academic options, as well as continue to engage in learning strategy sessions with both the QSAS Learning Strategist and SASS¿¿s offerings including the Writing Centre.
I am more than willing to present my case in person to the Dean or panel to argue my case. My life has been penalized, I have always had difficulty in school, and it has always gotten in the way of my life and my ambitions.
I believe that if I should be allowed to continue at Queen¿¿s University, I will be successful. I love being a part of the community at school and I will dedicate myself completely to my studies to succeed and bring my GPA to where it needs to be. I truly believe I am capable of achieving this and I hope that my argument made in this appeal is successful and the decision for withdrawal will be revoked and I am allowed to identify myself as a proud Queen¿¿s student.
Sincerely,
Emily Romano