Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: I am writing to formally appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my request for CR in PSYC 100 (FW22/23). I respectfully request reconsideration on the grounds that my extenuating circumstances were ongoing, well-documented, and significantly impeded my ability to act within the original petition timeline.

The Associate Dean’s response states that my petition was denied because I did not provide sufficient documentation confirming the timeline or academic impact of my extenuating circumstances. However, I had already submitted documentation supporting my claims, including the impact of the harassment incident, my subsequent disownment by my family, and my grandfather’s terminal illness and passing. These events directly impacted my ability to submit my petition within the expected timeframe. In March 2023, a YouTube video featuring unauthorized photos of me and other women was posted with a harmful title, receiving over 66,000 views. This caused severe emotional distress and fear for my safety, preventing me from attending lectures or writing exams. While most of my professors accommodated my situation, the PSYC 100 department required that I write the exam within the standard period or in May. Due to my home environment and cultural pressures, writing the exam in May was not an option. My family discovered the incident in June, leading to my disownment and further instability.

Following this, my grandfather was diagnosed with stage 4 lung and liver cancer in November 2023. As my only source of support, his illness placed additional emotional and logistical burdens on me. I obtained a doctor’s note to care for him, which was accepted for petitions in other courses. Given the overwhelming personal challenges I was facing, I was unaware that I could have petitioned for PSYC 100 at the same time. In my second year, as I regained stability, I attempted to rectify this by submitting a petition for Credit Standing in PSYC 100.I was unable to afford a therapist due to being financially independent after my disownment. Recently, I was awarded the TELUS bursary, which included free mental health counseling as part of the award. This allowed me to finally seek professional support, which I had previously been unable to access. While I do not currently have a permanent therapist, I can provide proof of my consultations with a counselor regarding the psychological toll of these events. The lack of prior mental health support further contributed to my delay in petitioning for PSYC 100, as I was unable to process my trauma effectively until recently. The Associate Dean also cited my successful petition for Credit Standing in another course in February 2024 as reasoning for denying my PSYC 100 petition, suggesting that I should have acted within the original deadline. However, this does not account for the fact that I was unaware of the specific petitioning process at the time, nor does it acknowledge the cumulative impact of my circumstances. The denial of my petition seems to be based on procedural rigidity rather than a holistic consideration of the severe challenges I faced.

I request that my appeal be granted on the grounds of procedural fairness, as the Associate Dean’s decision did not fully consider the timeline of my extenuating circumstances or the ongoing impact they had on my academic performance. Given that similar documentation was sufficient for other courses, it is inconsistent to deny my request for PSYC 100 on the basis of insufficient evidence. Additionally, the requirement for students to be aware of and act on all available petition options while experiencing ongoing trauma creates an unreasonable burden.
I appreciate the Appeals Board’s time and consideration in reviewing my case, and I hope for a fair resolution that acknowledges the documented challenges I faced. Please let me know if any further information is required.