Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to formally petition for a reconsideration of my final grade as well as my assignment grade in HLTH200, which is currently an F. This grade is the result of receiving a 0 for my final assignment, which was submitted late due to personal and emotional challenges I faced in December. I would like to provide context for these extenuating circumstances and respectfully request that my final assignment be considered for grading, even with any applicable late penalties.

On December 19th, I submitted my final assignment by email as OnQ was closed for HLTH 200 at 9:06 PM Vancouver time (12:06 AM Toronto time), missing the deadline by a few minutes. I immediately emailed Professor Price to explain the situation and expressed my understanding of the importance of deadlines, acknowledging that I would accept any late penalties. I requested that, despite the delay, my work be considered for grading. However, after this initial communication, I did not receive a response.

Following this, I sent a follow-up email as she asked me to explain further, explaining the personal challenges I had been facing. December was an emotionally overwhelming time for me, as I had family visiting and was coping with the anniversary of my grandmother’s passing. At the same time, I had been managing significant stress and working closely with my doctor to address heightened anxiety. This period of emotional and mental strain made it especially difficult to meet the final deadline.

While I understand that accommodations typically do not apply to final assignments, I wanted to provide this context to explain how these circumstances affected my ability to submit the assignment on time. I took full responsibility for the late submission and was willing to accept any late penalties, as well as that I would greatly appreciate it if it could still be considered for grading.

I would also like to emphasize that throughout the semester, I had been working diligently and striving to meet deadlines and fulfill all course requirements to the best of my ability. I was proactive in managing my academic responsibilities, and despite the challenges of anxiety, I consistently submitted assignments on time, participated in the course, and engage with the material. This final assignment was the only instance where I was unable to meet the deadline.

Given my consistent effort throughout the semester and my commitment to the course, I feel that receiving an F and a 0 for the final assignment does not accurately reflect my abilities or my work in this class. I have always sought to meet academic expectations, and I am proud of the effort I put into all assignments, even under challenging circumstances. I believe that the failing grade, based solely on the final assignment, does not accurately reflect my performance in the course as a whole.

I also wish to clarify that I have accommodations for anxiety, which have allowed me to request extensions on earlier assignments throughout the semester. However, I was under the understanding that accommodations did not apply to final assignments, which is why I did not formally request an extension for the final submission. In hindsight, I realize that my personal and emotional circumstances should have prompted me to communicate more proactively about the need for support. I hope this context helps explain why I did not seek accommodation for the final assignment.

This brings me to why I am raising this issue now, after seeing that my grade has been updated in SOLUS. Upon seeing the F for the course today, I realized that the grade reflects the 0 for my final assignment. This grade update has prompted me to explain my situation formally, as I feel that my efforts throughout the semester, as well as the personal challenges I faced, are not being fully reflected in my final grade.

In light of the extenuating circumstances I have outlined, I respectfully request that my final assignment be reviewed for grading, even with any applicable late penalties. I believe that my assignment demonstrates my understanding of the course material and my commitment to the subject, despite the personal challenges I was facing at the time.

I understand the importance of deadlines and time management, and I am taking steps to improve in these areas for future coursework. I am already working closely with my doctor and utilizing additional resources on campus to ensure that I am better equipped to handle academic demands in the future.

I am committed to my academic success and am seeking a fair resolution to this situation. I appreciate your time and understanding in considering my petition.  I hope that the challenges I faced during the final exam period and my overall efforts throughout the semester will be taken into account in your review of my grade.