Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to respectfully request a waiver of the requirement to withdraw from the Faculty of Arts and Science for the 2025–2026 academic year. I am also requesting that this late petition be accepted on compassionate grounds due to the circumstances described below.
I only became aware of my withdrawal status recently, as I had limited access to my Queen’s email account and university communications. I am currently outside of Canada, and my Canadian phone number was not functioning, which made it difficult to reset login credentials and receive important notifications. I was only able to regain access today after finding an alternative method. As soon as I was able to access my email and see the decision, I acted immediately to submit this petition.
My academic performance during the 2024–2025 year was deeply impacted by personal and emotional challenges that began the previous academic year. In 2024, I was financially cut off by my mother, which forced me into full independence without any family support. It was the first time I had to care for myself entirely emotionally, financially, and logistically while still being a full-time student.
To manage my living expenses, I worked an average of 25 hours per week throughout the school year. While I recognize that many students balance part-time jobs with school, my circumstances were especially difficult because I had no financial or emotional support from my family and was fully responsible for every aspect of my life. The amount of stress I was under seriously affected my health. I was often sick or exhausted, sometimes had to go to the hospital, which made everything feel even more overwhelming.
In addition, I now realize I was overly ambitious in the first semester. I enrolled in several demanding courses many of which I had no prior background or foundation in because I believed I could handle it. At the time, I underestimated how much my study time would be reduced due to work and life responsibilities. This made it even harder to keep up with coursework, and I quickly fell behind despite my efforts.
On top of this, the workplace itself was emotionally stressful and not supportive. However, I felt unable to leave due to my financial situation. It was incredibly difficult to maintain motivation and energy while managing both academic and emotional stress at once.
Despite these difficulties, I showed growth in the second semester of the year. I reduced my work hours and began finding strategies to improve my academic habits, even though this added financial stress. Since then, my work contract has ended, and I have reconnected with extended family who are now offering support. I am working this summer to regain stability and prepare myself to return to Queen’s with renewed focus and a realistic academic plan.
I understand that a year off might seem like a way to relieve financial pressure, but in my case, it would only delay my goals and add more stress. I have already taken the steps to build financial stability, and I’m ready to continue my education now. If you could give me another chance, I know I can prove that I’m capable of doing better.
I recognize the importance of academic accountability and personal growth. I am fully committed to improving my performance if granted the opportunity to continue my studies. I respectfully ask that the Faculty consider both my extenuating circumstances and my readiness to return stronger. While I do not have documentation available at this time, I will be able to provide the necessary supporting materials once I am back in Canada.
Thank you for your time and consideration.