Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,

I'm writing this letter to appeal the requirement to withdraw decision from the Faculty of Arts and Science due to extenuating medical circumstances. I would like to have the opportunity to explain my circumstances and ask that I be allowed to remain in school and continue to demonstrate that I am able to succeed.

In spite of a difficult start in my academic life, I have retaken all the required and some elective courses that I failed in second year. My GPA has largely increased after this year. However, unfortunately due to some study pressure and family issues which happened last year, I have had a reoccurrence of depression and insomnia which has seriously affected my academic performance. I had to take psychotherapy consistently for several months. This depression episode was not as severe as two years ago, but I would definitely have achieved a higher grade but I have passed all the required ECON courses. I got an average of B for ECON 212 and 222, an average of C of the three hardest ECON courses ECON 310, 320 &331. Even when I suffered from depression last term, I was able to achieve a B+ for ECON 250.

Due to an urgent illness, I had to defer two of my finals, each of them worth 60 and 80 of the final grade. I was doing a great job on these two hard courses, I have put a lot effort into the midterm and assignments. I am enrolled in three summer courses and my recent grades are: Chemistry 113, I got an A for the latest tutorial, and the accumulative assignments grade is about 85; Physics 118 with an average tutorial score of 88, and accumulative assignments score is 95; As for French P16, I got 100 for the first quiz. I think the grades above can prove that without the impact of depression I can meet academic performance standards. My GPA for fall term was 1.8 and for winter term was 1.77 -- both above the 1.6 threshold to continue, however, it is my historical average that continues to hold me back. I am confident that if I continue with my current progress, I can meet the required GPA in order to graduate with a General BA in Economics. I only require one further semester in order to complete the degree.