Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
My name is Simran Powar, a fourth year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in the Life Sciences program. I am writing to respectfully request a late course drop for BCHM 370 (Genetics and Genomics), which I was enrolled in during the Winter 2024 term. This petition is being submitted due to serious and unforeseen extenuating circumstances that significantly impacted my ability to succeed academically in this course.
During the Winter 2024 term, I experienced a combination of personal, financial, and mental health challenges that were entirely beyond my control. These difficulties stemmed largely from a sudden shift in my family situation. In December 2023, my parents unexpectedly left for India to care for my extremely ill grandmother, leaving me alone in Canada with no timeline for their return. My mother resigned from her job as a receptionist, and my father took an indefinite unpaid leave from his work as a security guard. As an only child, their absence left me isolated both emotionally and financially at a time when I needed support the most. This transition was especially difficult due to my already precarious financial situation. Coming from a lower middle class immigrant family, I have always depended on OSAP loans to fund my education. With no financial backing from my parents during this time, I had to manage rent, tuition, utilities, and groceries completely on my own. Despite actively searching for part-time work, I was unable to secure a job at the time. On December 21, 2023, the balance was $21,387.00, as confirmed in the attached NSLSC loan statement. The growing debt and financial instability added significant emotional distress and affected my ability to focus on my studies.
The emotional weight of being isolated in Canada, coupled with the ongoing decline in my grandmother’s health, left me deeply affected during the final weeks of the Winter 2024 term. My parents were still in India caring for her, and I had no family support around me. The only communication I received during that period was about her worsening condition, which created constant worry and emotional strain as I tried to manage my studies alone. She eventually passed away in May 2024, shortly after the semester ended. The cumulative impact of this grief, isolation, and uncertainty severely affected my ability to focus on final assignments and prepare for exams.
Despite attempting to continue my coursework, this overwhelming stress had the greatest impact on BCHM 370, which I ultimately failed. I was unable to complete several major assignments due to the mental and emotional toll of the circumstances, and my professor was aware of my situation. In our communications, she expressed understanding and compassion and advised me to seek help from an academic advisor and a mental health therapist. I followed through on this advice and spoke with both, and they too empathized with my circumstances and recommended that I submit a formal petition. I also submitted an academic consideration request during the term; however, it was not processed or approved. I want to clarify that this grade does not reflect my academic potential or effort. In the same term, I successfully completed my other courses, earning an A+ in ENIN 340 and passing grades in GLPH 385 and PHAR 370, which I believe demonstrate my resilience and continued effort despite the severity of the challenges I was facing.
Since that difficult time, I’ve taken actionable steps to regain control over my academic and personal life. In June 2024, I secured part-time employment and have remained employed since then. I currently hold two positions: I work as a barista at a local café, and I also serve full-time as a Food Insecurity & Food Skills Programming Assistant, helping other students who face similar challenges. This latter role was deeply inspired by my own experiences accessing food support services at Queen’s, such as the Peach Market and Grocery Game Plan. These programs not only helped me during times of hardship but also introduced me to a supportive community that had a positive impact on my well being.
Additionally, my parents have since returned to our home in Hamilton. While I continue to be financially independent, their return has provided me with emotional reassurance and stability; support I had been sorely missing during their absence. I now feel significantly more grounded and capable of managing academic pressures and responsibilities.I am also grateful to Mrs. Wendy Morrison, a Mental Health Therapist at Student Wellness Services, who I met with in September 2024, and again in April of this year. Her support was instrumental in helping me understand the importance of seeking help and advocating for myself. I have attached her letter of support, which outlines the extenuating circumstances I faced throughout my third year and affirms the steps I’ve taken since then to recover academically and emotionally.
Given these circumstances, I am respectfully requesting a retroactive late drop for BCHM 370. I believe this would accurately reflect the disproportionate impact that one term of overlapping challenges had on my otherwise strong academic trajectory. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I have attached the following documents to support my petition: Letter of Support by Wendy Morrison, NSLSC Loan Statement.
Sincerely,
Simran Powar
Student ID: 20289780
BSc (Hons), Life Sciences
Queen’s University