Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: Dear Members of the Board of Studies,

I am writing to formally appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my request for an extended incomplete in ECON 422. My appeal is based on the grounds of procedural fairness, as the decision did not fully account for the ongoing and severe impact of my extenuating circumstances. Additionally, I believe that the decision was not reasonable in considering the full timeline and depth of my personal situation, which continued well beyond my grandfather’s passing.



While I acknowledge that my grandfather passed away before my deferred exam date, trauma and grief do not simply fade within a few weeks. I was extremely close to my grandfather, and his passing greatly affected my ability to function academically. Due to COVID-19, I had not been able to see him for many years, as he was stuck in Winnipeg. He would always go down to Arizona, where he had a condo to vacation during the Winter time, and would always visit him there. But with COVID, he feared getting sick and stayed isolated. When I was finally able to see him, it was only for an evening before he passed. Seeing him in such severe condition, struggling to move, and completely isolated after years of living alone was devastating. This was a man who had lost his wife, who were high-school sweethearts before I was born, outlived all his close friends, and had no one around him for support. He never told us the full extent of his suffering, as he was very stubborn and independent, always framing it like he was all ok. When I traveled to his home in Winnipeg after his passing with my family, I saw the reality of how he had been living—his home in complete disarray, unable to even take out his own trash. That moment deepened my grief and regret, realizing how much he had suffered alone.

Beyond just grief, there were deeply personal moments that made this loss particularly painful for me. As a child, I used to wake up at 5 AM to watch TSN’s top 100 highlights with him every morning—something I thought I would do again when he visited. But that morning, when I woke up, he wasn’t downstairs watching TSN like he always did. That moment of realization, that he was gone, was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever experienced.

This trauma did not just affect me at the moment—it continued well after. The documentation submitted in my initial request may have confirmed his passing, but it did not capture the ongoing and cumulative impact of these events on my mental health. My grandfather’s funeral was not held until February 11, weeks after my deferred exam (Here is my grandfather's obituary, https://leaderpost.remembering.ca/obituary/melvin-mel-cheyne-1092597751). Until that point, I struggled with grief, guilt, and emotional distress while still attempting to maintain my academic obligations.



In addition to my extenuating circumstances, I feel significantly misled by student services. Before my deferred exam, I spoke with multiple student service representatives, and they strongly advised me not to write the exam due to my extenuating circumstances. They assured me that my petition for an extended incomplete would be approved, given my situation. Had I been given accurate information, I would have still attempted the exam, even if I knew my grief would affect my performance.

Now, because I trusted the advice I received, I am in a worse academic position than if I had simply taken the exam. I am currently enrolled in six courses this term just to stay on track for graduation, but with this denial, I will need to take another fourth-year Economics course next year, delaying my graduation to five years instead of four. Had I been made aware that my petition might not be approved, I would have done my best to complete the exam, ensuring I could graduate on time.



Despite my extenuating circumstances, I performed well in ECON 422 prior to my exam, and I remain committed to my academic success. However, the timing and severity of my grief significantly impacted my ability to perform academically, and I believe that the Associate Dean’s decision does not adequately reflect this. She highlights how there is not enough supporting documentation, so my mother, who knows me the best, has provided a first first-hand account of how severely I was impacted by this situation.

I respectfully request that the Board of Studies reconsider my case and grant an extended incomplete for ECON 422. Now that I have had the opportunity to properly grieve, especially following my grandfather’s funeral, I am fully prepared and mentally ready to complete the course. This would allow me to remain on track for graduation while ensuring that my final grade in the course reflects my true academic ability, rather than the effects of grief and misguidance.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I appreciate the opportunity to appeal this decision and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Ben Perko