Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Isabella M. Hua
Student 10103220
513 Albert Street 2
Kingston, Ontario K7K 4M4
13imh1@queensu.ca

September 22, 2014
Associate Dean (Studies)
94 University Avenue¿¿Queen's University¿¿Kingston, ON Canada¿¿K7L 3N6

Re: Permission to drop STATS 263

Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
I am writing this letter to ask for special permission to drop the course STATS 263 ¿¿Introduction to Statistics,¿ held within the winter semester of the 2014 academic year, even though the September 11, 2014 exam deadline has passed.
Due to very special circumstances, I have been unable to focus on my studies and pass the exam. On April 16, 2013 I was notified of my Grandma¿¿s death, which is just short of four months after my father¿¿s death. I have, for a long time, had problems with my anxiety disorder and depression. The following months after my family and I found out that my father was diagnosed with liver cancer, the symptoms worsened.
Attached you will find a letter from my guidance counsellor, who I have spoken with since the beginning of Grade 12 about my family issues. I had never had to deal with a family¿¿s death before, so it was a shock when I had to experience two within a year¿¿s span. My mother is a single mother supporting my little sister and I, with a minimum wage job. As a result, I am constantly going home in order to help my mother take care of the house and my nine-years-old sister. My mother¿¿s side is all gone now, with my aunt passing away two months after my father¿¿s death. Keep in mind that they are in Vietnam, so the living environments and medical availability is different there.
These circumstances have made me realized that I have let the emotions get out of hand, which is reflected on my first-year grades. I plan to redeem myself and focus on my studies in order to get into an Economics Major instead of my General Economics now.
It is because of circumstances that were out of my control that I have failed my exam. I am a second-year student and can not afford to get an incomplete or failure on my transcript, for I am planning to further my education by applying for a Master¿¿s Degree. An incomplete or failure would greatly affect my chances of being accepted. I have worked hard during my studies at the University and plan to take a summer course to replace the one I am hoping you will let me drop.
I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. Thank you for taking time to review my request.
Sincerely,
Isabella M. Hua

I submitted this appeals letter in September but it did not go through online so i am re-submitting it now.
Encl:
Letter from Guidance Counsellor
Supporting statement from Professor Molson