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Petition Letter: Hello,

I am writing to request your consideration in allowing my grade attained in ASTR 101 not to affect my GPA while still counting towards the units required for graduation.

I encountered both an unforeseen academic event and psychological challenges beyond my control that impacted my academic performance in ASTR 101, resulting in a final grade of C, which is lower than my usual grades. Throughout the fall term, my midcourse and final grades consistently ranged from A minuses to one B+, showing a large difference from my usual academic performance.

Unfortunately, I did not receive my necessary accommodations for both midterms in this course, resulting in lower grades on both exams. The class was informed in lecture that students with accommodations would be contacted prior to the midterms by the professor in regards to where we would be writing the examinations, although I did not receive any communication, nor was there any information available on Ventus for these particular examinations. The absence of my usual accommodations, including extra time and a separate space to write, caused a great deal of anxiety and significantly impacted my performance on both midterms.

Concerned about my unexpected grades, I reached out to the professor after the first midterm but received no response. This lack of communication intensified my anxiety, affecting my performance on the following exams and adding to the stress created by family-related issues during midterm and final exam season. I was extremely successful on all of my other assignments in the course, proving my effort, understanding, and ability to apply course material, though these low grades on both midterms were unfortunately impacted by the anxiety I experienced during the examination without the accommodations put in place to ensure my success.

As I struggle from both anxiety and a mood disorder as shown in the supporting documentation, while I did receive accommodations for the final exam, the impact of my midterm grades and ongoing family troubles on my mental health was substantial during this time, resulting in heightened anxiety which hindered my ability to perform as intended on the final examination and the course overall.

I have attached supporting documentation from my psychiatrist, previously provided for residence accommodations, outlining my diagnosed mood disorder and anxiety. Unfortunately, this is the only document available to me at the moment. If additional documentation is required, please let me know.

I regularly visit both a therapist and psychologist in attempts to deal with these circumstances and psychological troubles to ensure they do not further impact my academics, although certain situations and how they impact my mental health and performance are beyond my control.

Despite these struggles, I want to emphasize my commitment to my academics. I excelled in all other courses this term, demonstrating my dedication and capabilities as a student. My final grade in ASTR 101 does not accurately reflect my efforts, and I believe that isolating this particular grade from my GPA would more accurately reflect my capabilities as a student. I am concerned about the potential impact on my GPA, which is crucial for maintaining scholarships and bursaries that ensure my financial struggles do not impact my ability to continue my studies here at Queens. Additionally, maintaining a high GPA is essential for my future academic pursuits as I aim to declare psychology as a major, where my GPA is of particular importance in the acceptance process. I am hoping for your understanding and consideration in ensuring that this one-off final grade in ASTR 101 does not detrimentally affect my overall GPA and, consequently, my future here at Queens.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Lauren O'Brien | 20397214

22MVBX@queensu.ca