Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Petitions Office,

I am writing to submit a formal petition regarding my current enrollment in PHGY 215. After discussions with both my academic advisor, Robert, and my QSAS advisor, Angel, I have been directed to follow this route to address my academic challenges. During this summer semester, I have faced a series of unforeseen circumstances that have significantly impacted my ability to keep up with the coursework and meet the necessary deadlines. As per the guidance of my advisors, I am seeking to drop the course.

The circumstances include:

Delayed Start: Due to administrative issues related to my previous education and course at Queens, I was unable to enroll in PHGY 215 until approximately one month into the summer semester. I have been diligently working on obtaining necessary documentation and pursuing an appeal process to resolve this matter.

Surgery and Recovery: Shortly after my enrollment in PHGY 215, I underwent surgery, which required an extended recovery period. This forced me to miss nearly a month of school, leading to academic challenges.

Financial Strain and OSAP Issue: Unfortunately, OSAP did not provide funding for the summer semester which meant heavily relying on my credit card. My residential status was flagged and put in question. As such, the ministry erroneously demanded the repayment of bursaries received since 2015 which demanded a $16,000 immediate repayment on top of current student debt, or I would not be able to continue in the fall. I have devoted an abundance of time to resolving this issue, including fighting claims with the Ministry and seeking additional support/documentation.

Family Grievance: I experienced the loss of two very close family members. The responsibility of organizing and participating in the memorial for my maternal grandfather, for whom I was the primary caregiver, was followed by my paternal grandfather's sudden passing. He seemed to be in good health but was abruptly diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and passed away 24hrs after receiving this diagnosis, leaving no time to process it. My paternal grandfather and I had a complicated relationship as my father abandoned me when I was young. It has only been in the last 3 years that I have developed a real relationship with them. Accordingly, we developed a very strong bond and losing him feels like a profound loss of not only someone I loved dearly but loss of my identity and a man I needed time to learn more about, understand, and heal with. Losing him has left an emotional void as I had hoped to continue building a deeper connection with him. Moreover, due to financial issues and timing, I was unable to fly to attend his funeral and say goodbye. Having experienced these losses has left me emotionally devastated and struggling to process my grief. The weight of these events has compounded my difficulties in maintaining academic progress and fulfilling my responsibilities as a student.

The selling of my current residence and preparation of a new home has necessitated a hasty move which has amplified the financial strain I am currently experiencing. Additionally, unexpected car issues and necessary repairs became unaffordable and a stressor.

Since the discussions with my advisors, I have made significant progress in addressing my financial situation. I have been actively engaged in an extensive interview process and have made some progress with the ministry and other funding avenues. I anticipate having the support necessary to enroll in courses this coming fall. Therefore, I humbly request your assistance in granting a late course drop for PHGY 215 and support as my intention will be submitting the