Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Academic Petition to Bypass Academic Regulation 14
Submitted by: Joshua Fischtein
Student number: 20335835
October 8, 2024
joshua.fischtein@queensu.ca

Subject: Academic Petition to Request an Exception to Academic Regulation 14

Dear Academic Committee,

I am writing to respectfully request an exemption from Academic Regulation 14, which limits students to a maximum of 6.0 units on a Letter of Permission (LOP). As of September 1, 2024, this regulation applies to all students, including those submitting Fall term LOP applications. However, the regulation allows for petitions in cases of extenuating circumstances or exceptional learning experiences not available through Queen’s University. I believe my situation falls under the latter category, and I am seeking approval to complete an additional 9.0 units of LOP through a unique academic opportunity that is unavailable at Queen’s.

The program I wish to participate in is called Sea|mester (https://www.seamester.com/), an 80-day, live-aboard sailing program accredited through the University of South Florida (USF). This program offers a distinctive blend of academic rigor, cultural immersion, and experiential learning that aligns directly with my academic and career goals. Courses such as Introduction to Oceanography, Introduction to Marine Biology, and Student Leadership Development, which are part of the program’s curriculum, complement my Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and provide a scientific perspective that is not available in my current course of study at Queen’s.

In addition to its academic offerings, Sea|mester fosters leadership skills and problem-solving abilities through real-world experiences, preparing students for dynamic roles in global contexts. For me, this aligns with my long-term goal of pursuing a postgraduate degree in International Administration, specializing in security management, at the University of Miami (https://maia.as.miami.edu/). My career aspiration is to work in crisis and security management within the public or private sector, and the leadership and hands-on experiences provided by Sea|mester are directly relevant to this career path.

I aim to complete both my Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and the Certificate in Business from the Smith School of Business by the end of the Fall 2025 term. Participating in the Sea|mester program from June to August 2025 will support my timely graduation while enriching my academic journey and enhancing my future career prospects.

I would also like to address the change in policy that occurred after my acceptance into Queen’s University. I was admitted on December 8, 2021, at a time when Academic Regulation 14, as it currently reads, was not in effect. At that time, General degree students were allowed to transfer up to 42.0 units, and this flexibility played a major role in my decision to attend Queen’s. To date, I have transferred 27.0 units. The introduction of this new regulation after my acceptance changes the educational framework under which I enrolled and limits the flexible learning opportunities that were originally promised to me.

Given the exceptional nature of the Sea|mester program and its alignment with both my academic and career goals, I respectfully request that you grant an exception to Academic Regulation 14, allowing me to transfer an additional 9.0 units of LOP credits.

Thank you for considering my petition. I am happy to provide any additional information or documentation that may support my request.


Sincerely,


Joshua Fischtein

Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies Candidate
Smith School of Business, Certificate in Business Candidate
Queen’s University