Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I'm hoping to explain the circumstances that had a major impact on my performance in PHYS 116 this term. It’s very important to me that my experience is taken into account.

For about half the term, the TA strike completely changed the way the course was run. Labs and tutorials were a huge part of how I learned and kept up with the material. Due to the strike they were cancelled. I have always really struggled with physics and without that support it felt like I was trying to learn some really difficult concepts on my own and no matter how much I tried to catch up, I kept falling behind. The final exam was not what it was supposed to be as it had to be altered because of the strike.

On top of the academic challenges, the uncertainty about the strike and how it would affect exams and grades caused me a lot of stress. All my classes were affected not just PHYS 116 and knowing that I have to apply for my major in June made everything feel even more overwhelming. The constant anxiety made it hard to focus and it definitely affected how I performed, especially on the exam. My mental health has taken a hard hit since the strike started, and I have even had to consult my doctor and start medication to deal with it.

I tried to manage by studying on my own, but the missing structure and support made it really difficult to stay on track and succeed. I am in my first year and have really struggled with a challenging adjustment to a new chapter of my life. Just as I was starting to adjust, things were thrown into chaos and uncertainty. PHYS 116 was not the only class that I am unhappy with but I know that I could have done better and passed this class given normal circumstances.

I hope you’ll give some consideration when reviewing my academic record. I care deeply about my education, and I’m committed to improving moving forward. Thank you so much for your understanding.