Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter:
Dr. Dorit Naaman
Associate Dean (Academic)

Faculty of Arts and Science


Dear Dr. Naaman,


I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally petition to waive the deadline for a late course drop concerning ENGL 100, a course I failed during my first year. This petition is made with the understanding that extenuating circumstances have hindered my ability to resolve this matter sooner, and I aim to outline my situation in the hope that you will consider my request favourably.

In the first semester of my first year, I was genuinely engaged in ENGL 100 and performed well in the course. However, due to unforeseen family circumstances, I found myself unable to meet academic expectations, particularly toward the end of the school year in 2023. My aunt, who played a significant role in my life by providing me with a safe and loving environment when I needed it most, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2024. She lived in Timmins, Ontario, and I took the responsibility of caring for her during her illness. This included driving up regularly to clean her house, cook meals, accompany her to appointments, and to spend valuable time with her. As a result, I fell behind in my all of my studies, as my trips to Timmins interfered with my ability to attend lectures and tutorials, review course material, and to participate in course work.

This situation took a significant role on my mental health, as the emotional stress of watching my aunt’s health deteriorate worsened the stress of trying to keep up with my academic responsibilities. In early April 2023, my aunt passed away, and I travelled for her funeral soon after, returning to Kingston just in time for final exams. Unfortunately, I was absent from the final tutorial for ENGL 100, during which my TA provided important instructions regarding the specific focus for the final exam essay. These instructions were not available on OnQ or anywhere else, and I was unaware of the requirement until after I received a grade of zero for my essay. I subsequently reached out to my TA and learned that I had missed the crucial information about the exam. This miscommunication resulted in my failure of the course, which was compounded by the overwhelming circumstances I had been facing.

After my first year ended, I had to move back in with my immediate family due to financial reasons, which added to the difficulty of the following summer. However, in my second year, I was able to rebuild my confidence and regain focus with the support of my friends, classmates, and even instructors. The challenges I faced in my first year ultimately became a catalyst for my decision to pursue a career in teaching English. As I apply to Bachelor of Education (BeD) programs this fall, I have realized that removing ENGL 100 from my transcript is important not only for raising my cumulative GPA, but also for presenting myself as a capable and competent candidate to future admissions committees. The grade I received in ENGL 100 does not accurately reflect my English skills and my passion for literature, abilities which I have successfully demonstrated in other English courses I have taken.

I understand that I am petitioning after two years have passed since the course ended, and I sincerely hope that you will consider the extenuating circumstances that led to my failure. As a future educator, I am committed to my academic and professional development, and I strongly believe that this opportunity will allow me to better position myself for success in my chosen field. Additionally, I would like to note that I cannot provide my aunt’s death certificate as I was not her next of kin, but I can offer an email I sent to student services on June 26th, 2025, detailing my concerns about ENGL 100. I also have friends who can speak to the challenges I faced during that time, though I understand that their testimony may not serve as formal proof.

I would greatly appreciate your understanding and consideration of my petition. Thank you for your time and for your support as I continue to pursue my academic and professional goals.


Sincerely,
Charlotte Mysko