Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: Dear Board of Studies,

I am writing this appeal with the utmost transparency and concern regarding my academic situation. Specifically, the refusal of this appeal will prevent me from going on exchange this Winter semester. It would be devastating to me to miss out on the chance to experience this hard-earned opportunity I had diligently pursued. After careful calculations, earning this credit standing for the course COMM 200 will significantly improve my GPA, reinstating my acceptance at Manchester University. This CR will additionally widen my future academic desires.

Taking the time to process the Associate Dean’s decision regarding my petition was essential. Coming to terms with the partial refusal and the anxiety growing from the potential impacts on my future was challenging. Reflecting allowed me to gather my thoughts and write a clear and well-composed letter from a healthy mental state.
I recognize that I fell short of meeting the learning outcomes of this course. To avoid repeating my explanations in my petition, I would like to briefly describe the struggle I faced during this period. These circumstances offer a better context for the challenges encountered during this course. My grandfather received a cancer diagnosis at the start of the semester. A few months later in March, he passed away. Since I have a history of significant losses throughout my life, including the passing of my mother, my grandmother, and other loved ones, this instance heavily affected me.

My academic performance struggled during those past hardships, yet I never reached a point where there was a detrimental impact on my final grades. As a result, this most recent experience has taught me the importance of navigating adversity. Despite my negative outcomes in COMM 200, I am immensely grateful to have been given a passing grade.

The added difficulties of being away from my family when I first heard got the news of my grandfather's illness resulted in many struggles. My focus wavered as my thoughts were preoccupied, impacting my time management and organizational skills, typically my strongest qualities. I began commuting between Montreal and Kingston to be with family, coupled with extended days for the funeral and related events that came after. Although I utilized extensions on assignments, balancing the work that piled up during the busiest weeks of the semester was tough.

Looking back, I regret not properly speaking with my professors from earlier on and getting more support. However, under normal circumstances, I am confident in my ability to have succeeded in my courses. Given my strong dedication to my education, I created a plan to remain on track. I am retaking COMM 200 this fall, aiming to meet the learning outcomes and achieve overall success. I am a hard worker and school has always been my top priority, but there is always room for improvement. I made a future plan to avoid last semester's setbacks. I am motivated for this upcoming semester to improve my work ethic and excel in my studies. I am committing to precise, accountable goals and a structured study schedule. To manage time effectively, I am creating a weekly study schedule to stay focused, stay on top of all deadlines, properly grasp the material taught, attend tutorials, and avoid asking for clarification at the last minute.

Entering my third year, I have successfully guided the adjustment process of adapting to university life, positioning myself to now truly devote my efforts to my academics and prioritize my mental health. This aspect is vital, as having good mental health directly impacts academic performance. This semester, I will continue a routine I worked on throughout the summer, notably improving my cognitive abilities and mental well-being. I will continue to get enough hours of sleep, exercise 4-5 times a week, and reduce my time on social media.

I am optimistic about a second opportunity at taking COMM 200. I pledge to never go against the university’s academic integrity and to seek support when needed. I respectfully ask for a reconsideration of my appeal. I am more than willing to provide any other documentation. I sincerely value the decisions and judgments made. I remain hopeful that you will grant me the privilege to showcase my academic abilities and potential. Moreover, the opportunity to pursue the transformative experience of studying abroad.
Thank you,
Charly