Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to request a late drop appeal for the following courses: HLTH 101, PHIL 157, STAT 263, and POLS 241. I have been facing extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control and directly impacted my academic performance.

During the fall semester, I encountered several challenging situations that significantly affected my attendance and overall performance in my courses. Firstly, during my grief of the loss of a close friend, I found myself in an unsafe living environment, which had a profound impact on my well-being and ability to focus on my studies. Additionally, financial constraints caused me to work extensively, consuming a significant portion of my time and energy. The cumulative effect of these circumstances resulted in an overwhelming amount of stress, and this emotional turmoil further added to the difficulties I face every day with preexisting, ongoing mental health issues.

While reflecting on my academic performance in other courses, it is evident that the nature of each course's evaluation influenced my ability to perform better in some than others. For instance, in POLS 250, we were assigned a book to read at the beginning of the term. I completed the book well before these circumstances arose and performed adequately on the midterm in October, although I believe I could have achieved even better results. However, my attendance and subsequent performance in the course declined due to the challenges, resulting in a lower overall grade. Therefore, I kindly request credit standing for POLS 250.

In the case of PSYC 100A, my attendance and performance suffered as well. The course's evaluation structure, particularly the impact of missed Labs on grading and the fall Mega lab, contributed to a significant reduction in my grade, leading to an IN notation. To address this issue, I have reached out to my professor to explore the possibility of utilizing the accommodations I have in place, the option for alternative evaluation in lieu of participation/attendance marks. If approved by my professor, this adjustment would positively impact my final standing in the course.

During the winter semester, I took proactive steps to address the extenuating circumstances I faced. These measures included seeking support from a mental health professional and maintaining regular communication with an academic and accessibility advisor. Despite my best efforts, the ongoing challenges in the home continued to impact my academic performance. In particular, POLS 241 was severely affected due to the evaluation structure, making it more challenging for me to complete the course material compared to others. I would like to emphasize that my parents became increasingly concerned about my situation, with my mother visiting multiple times during both the fall and winter terms following the incident on October 2nd, 2022, which required police intervention. I kept my mother informed of the situation at home, and her involvement further highlights the gravity of the circumstances I faced.

I am aware of the importance of providing documentation to support such situations, and I regret that it took longer than anticipated to obtain the necessary documents. However, I finally managed to acquire them last week. Understanding the significance of transparency, I am reaching out to you to provide a comprehensive account of what I have endured throughout the academic year.

Furthermore, I want to highlight that I am actively taking steps to improve my overall well-being and academic performance. While I was following my prescribed medication regimen, I am recently in the process of switching my antidepressants. The previous medication did not provide the intended relief and, in fact, exacerbated my symptoms. However, I am in contact with my healthcare provider and will transition to a new medication that aligns better with my needs. Additionally, I have actively sought healthy outlets and engaging in therapeutic activities, to ensure that I am better equipped to handle any future extenuating circumstances that may arise, as they are an inevitable part of life.

I acknowledge that appeals of this nature are not commonly granted, but I sincerely hope you will consider my unique circumstances and the extenuating factors that have significantly impacted my academic performance. I humbly request that an evaluation of my performance on these courses be conducted, considering the challenges. I genuinely appreciate your understanding and willingness to review my situation.