Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to express my deep frustration and concern regarding the method by which this course was taught and assessed.

Your approach to teaching created an environment that made it extremely difficult for students to fully understand or engage with the material. The decision to provide virtually no guidance on the final exam — aside from a very general outline of textbook chapters — was unreasonable and left many students confused, underprepared, and unable to adequately demonstrate their knowledge. In fact, many students were forced to submit blank or incomplete exams.

Furthermore, the lack of additional study materials, practice opportunities, or any meaningful engagement outside of the two assignments severely limited our ability to gain comfort with the course content and practice applying the concepts. Without sufficient support, students were set up to struggle rather than succeed.

While I understand that the ongoing TA strike has complicated course delivery and that this course may not be your main teaching priority, the level of instruction provided falls far below acceptable academic standards. It is shocking that a university such as Queen’s would allow a course to be conducted in this manner, especially during a time of disruption that demands more, not less, support for students. This course’s structure and assessment approach unfairly impacts student GPAs and future opportunities, such as QUIP applications.

In addition to these broader concerns, I would like to formally request a regrade of my final exam. I strongly believe my grade does not accurately reflect my understanding or performance. Upon reviewing my exam, it is clear that no partial marks were awarded for the content I did provide, despite demonstrating relevant knowledge and effort. Given this, and considering the lack of clear communication regarding exam expectations, I am confident that my grade is a mistake and warrants re-evaluation.