Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Petition to the Academic Appeals Committee
Re: Request for Late Drop of Courses (2022–2023) and GPA Consideration

To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Marcus Zain Sorrell, and I am writing to formally petition for the late drop of three failed courses from the 2022–2023 academic year, with the goal of replacing them in GPA calculation with the three summer 2025 courses I am currently completing. This request is based on documented medical and psychological circumstances that severely impaired my academic performance at the time and which I have worked diligently to overcome through treatment, reflection, and sustained academic progress.

Background and Request:
In Fall 2022 and Winter 2023, I was enrolled in a full course load and ultimately received failing grades in all 10 courses. This led to my required withdrawal from Queen’s. I now recognize that this outcome was largely driven by the lingering cognitive and emotional impacts of a severe concussion I sustained in 2021 while attending Queen’s on the Kingston campus. Though I attempted to push forward in 2022–2023, my symptoms persisted in ways I did not fully understand at the time. It is only through continued psychological care and medical documentation that I now have a clearer picture of the ongoing nature of my condition during that period.
Following my withdrawal, I returned home to Toronto and disengaged from Queen’s until I was re-admitted in May 2024. Since then, I have taken measurable steps toward recovery and academic success: I completed summer 2024 courses, and have recently concluded two winter term courses (ANAT 100 and ECON 111), both of which reflect my improved academic habits. I am now enrolled in three summer 2025 courses: CLST 214 (Ancient Humour), COGS 100 (Introduction to Cognitive Science), and HIST125 (The Evolution of Modern Europe), which I am on track to complete with strong results.
I am requesting the late drop of the following 2022–2023 courses:

ARTH 383 – The City (3.0 units)


HIST 275 – African American Experience (3.0 units)


HIST 365 – History Outside the Book (4.5 units)


These courses were chosen strategically. In addition to being among the courses I struggled with most, HIST 365 is weighted at 4.5 units, and dropping it would provide greater relief to my GPA standing. Replacing these three courses with the three electives I am now taking would not only allow me to fulfill remaining degree requirements but would give me a realistic path to meet the GPA threshold necessary for graduation. If there is a limit to how many units may be dropped, I welcome any partial accommodation and would prioritize based on GPA impact.

Explanation of Delay:
I understand that late petitions must explain why the request was not made within a year of the term in question. At the time, I had been required to withdraw and was no longer enrolled or actively connected with Queen’s. I had moved back to Toronto, where I focused on healing and regaining stability. The idea of returning to Queen’s or petitioning for academic consideration did not feel possible until I had made significant progress with my health and reconnected with academic advising in 2024.
More recently, I touched base with Kerri Andrews, who provided guidance on how to structure this petition. I have followed her instructions carefully, ensuring that I addressed the delay in filing, explained the relevance and impact of the courses in question, and included proper documentation from medical professionals confirming the timeline and severity of my extenuating circumstances.

Supporting Documentation:

Included with this petition are letters from both my family doctor, who confirms the long-term cognitive effects of my concussion, and my psychologist, who outlines the behavioural and emotional difficulties I’ve faced. This includes setbacks such as the burn injury I experienced in early 2023, which significantly disrupted my progress and compounded the underlying issues stemming from the original concussion.

Closing Statement:
This petition is not an attempt to disregard my academic history but to chart a way forward. The requested course removals reflect a focused and proportionate solution, aligned with the progress I have made and the degree requirements I am close to fulfilling. I am committed to graduating from Queen’s and believe that this adjustment would make that outcome possible.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with an advisor to review my academic standing and confirm whether this proposed substitution would allow for the completion of my undergraduate degree.
Sincerely,
Marcus Zain Sorrell
Student ID: 20172330
18mzs1@queensu.ca