Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 1245
Submitted: June 16, 2015 at 10:48:51 PM
First Name: Hind
Last Name: Marai
Student Number: 10019083
Email: 0hnm@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
I am appealing the Faculty¿¿s decision that I must withdraw from Queen¿¿s for a minimum of three years. My main goal this year has revolved around raising my GPA and avoiding another requirement to withdraw. Although with my academic history and the need to progress in my major, this has proven to be extremely difficult.
Taking four sociology courses each term proved to be a heavy load, but I felt this was the only way to catch up and move forward. I had trouble in both terms, but I kept in touch with Dr. Hand and went in several times to see him. Together we made plans for how I could submit all of my assignments. In the winter term, after a difficult fall term, I made an excel sheet with all of my deadlines and then took advice from Dr. Hand on how to stick to it. I struggled quite a bit, but Dr. Hand was always able to keep me motivated and encourage me to move forward. I also reached out to a couple of my instructors when I had a hard time balancing everything. I still have one mark pending for SOCY 276 from Stacey Alarie that should be in this week. I know now that it is not important to finish as quickly as possible, rather it is important to finish, and to finish at my best. I do not want to just pass my courses, I want to do well in them. This is something I am determined to accomplish.
I am appealing the Faculty¿¿s decision that I must withdraw from Queen¿¿s for a minimum of three years. My main goal this year has revolved around raising my GPA and avoiding another requirement to withdraw. Although with my academic history and the need to progress in my major, this has proven to be extremely difficult.
Taking four sociology courses each term proved to be a heavy load, but I felt this was the only way to catch up and move forward. I had trouble in both terms, but I kept in touch with Dr. Hand and went in several times to see him. Together we made plans for how I could submit all of my assignments. In the winter term, after a difficult fall term, I made an excel sheet with all of my deadlines and then took advice from Dr. Hand on how to stick to it. I struggled quite a bit, but Dr. Hand was always able to keep me motivated and encourage me to move forward. I also reached out to a couple of my instructors when I had a hard time balancing everything. I still have one mark pending for SOCY 276 from Stacey Alarie that should be in this week. I know now that it is not important to finish as quickly as possible, rather it is important to finish, and to finish at my best. I do not want to just pass my courses, I want to do well in them. This is something I am determined to accomplish.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: I have gone in to see an academic counselor, Katie Phillips, who helped me solidify an academic plan. She has also introduced me to the assignment calculator, which I have bookmarked, since we determined I need to plan ahead better. A major hurdle I have is with the remaining fails on my transcript. I was advised to just retake these courses two years ago, and I have been trying to do so ever since. I was able to retake two last summer and I tried to take the rest during this year except they always conflicted with my sociology courses. So I made a plan to take the two geography courses this summer, as they are usual offered, but it turned out they are not. Katie advised that I take the geography courses during this next year and that way my GPA can improve and I will actually start to make progress when I do well in my sociology courses.
My academic plan that will enable me to be successful, raise my GPA, and not put me back in this position is as follows. If given the chance, in this coming fall term, I will take a lesser course load, only four courses, with one of those courses being a geography course, so that I can finally change that fail into a good mark. If I am successful in all of my courses, which I am determined to be, I will take a full course load in the winter term, with one course being the other geography course. Otherwise I will stick to four courses to ensure that I can stay on track. I will also try to take the politics course if it does not conflict with the others. This way, by the end of next year I will have changed at least two more fails on my transcript and progressed in my major.
I also want to build a report with Katie so that I am comfortable to go to her for help during the year. I will still consult with Dr. Hand on my schedules and see my instructors and TAs regularly for help with my assignments. Furthermore, I will make use of the writing centre and tools such as the assignment calculator. All of this support, with my academic plan in hand, there is no room for failure. I know that working towards my degree takes hard work, and I adamant on putting in that hard work and effort. School is my only focus and my number one priority. I know that if I can change these fails that have been weighing me down and do better on my courses that I can be successful.
My academic plan that will enable me to be successful, raise my GPA, and not put me back in this position is as follows. If given the chance, in this coming fall term, I will take a lesser course load, only four courses, with one of those courses being a geography course, so that I can finally change that fail into a good mark. If I am successful in all of my courses, which I am determined to be, I will take a full course load in the winter term, with one course being the other geography course. Otherwise I will stick to four courses to ensure that I can stay on track. I will also try to take the politics course if it does not conflict with the others. This way, by the end of next year I will have changed at least two more fails on my transcript and progressed in my major.
I also want to build a report with Katie so that I am comfortable to go to her for help during the year. I will still consult with Dr. Hand on my schedules and see my instructors and TAs regularly for help with my assignments. Furthermore, I will make use of the writing centre and tools such as the assignment calculator. All of this support, with my academic plan in hand, there is no room for failure. I know that working towards my degree takes hard work, and I adamant on putting in that hard work and effort. School is my only focus and my number one priority. I know that if I can change these fails that have been weighing me down and do better on my courses that I can be successful.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC