Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to respectfully request the removal of the failing grade I received in SPAN 111 (Introductory Spanish I) during my first year at Queen’s University. I am seeking this consideration due to a combination of extenuating academic and medical circumstances that were beyond my control and that significantly impaired my ability to manage and address the situation at the time.

During my first year, I enrolled in SPAN 111 with the intention of continuing my Spanish studies from high school, where I had completed a Spanish course as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. I was unaware that my prior experience disqualified me from registering for the beginner-level course. Shortly after classes began, students were required to sign a declaration confirming that they had no previous experience with Spanish to maintain academic fairness. Recognizing that this declaration did not apply to me, I immediately sought academic advice to ensure I did not violate academic integrity.

I visited the Student Academic Services office and explained my situation. I was advised that the best course of action would be to transfer my IB Spanish credit to replace SPAN 111, which, I was told, would effectively drop the course from my record. I followed the guidance I was given and was under the impression that the matter had been properly handled. However, towards the end of January, I discovered that the transfer had not been processed, and as a result, a failing grade for SPAN 111 appeared on my transcript.

At the same time, I began experiencing severe and unfamiliar health issues that further disrupted my ability to follow up on this administrative error. One month into my first semester, I experienced my first seizure, which marked the onset of a series of intense and unpredictable episodes that continued throughout the term. These seizures caused significant cognitive impairment, confusion, and memory loss, and were often followed by days of extreme exhaustion. The episodes were exacerbated by anxiety, sleep deprivation, and severe eczema, which created a cycle of physical and psychological distress that I struggled to understand or manage.

After several months of medical consultations, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. At the time, I was dealing with a health issue I had never encountered before, and the fear of having another seizure became constant. I spent much of this period traveling between home and school for medical appointments and to recover under my family’s care. As a result, I was unable to maintain consistent communication with academic staff or complete necessary administrative steps. My condition made it extremely difficult to focus, remember tasks, or make informed academic decisions, and my ability to take timely action was compromised.

I now recognize that I made a serious mistake by not addressing the SPAN 111 issue earlier. However, my health challenges during that period created an overwhelming situation in which my primary focus had to be on stabilizing my condition and understanding what was happening to me. My first-year grades, including the failing grade in SPAN 111, are not reflective of my academic abilities or potential. In the years since, I have made significant adjustments to my lifestyle and academic habits to accommodate my condition. I have worked closely with healthcare professionals, developed effective management strategies, and consistently improved my academic performance. My transcript from the following years demonstrates this progress and shows my capability when I am not facing acute medical crises.

I am submitting this petition now, in my fourth year, because I have recently become aware of the long-term consequences that this fail has on my academic record as I apply to law schools. For a long time, I was under the impression that this grade was simply a defining feature of my academic history, something I would have to live with and accept as unchangeable. However, I have come to recognize that this failing grade does not accurately reflect my academic potential or dedication. Rather, it marks a very difficult period in my life — a time when I had little control over my health, and when I was deeply affected by a medical condition that limited my ability to act.

My medical circumstances persisted well beyond my first year, which delayed my ability to address administrative matters like this. But over the years, with the guidance of medical professionals and significant adjustments to my lifestyle, I have stabilized my health and regained control over my academics and personal life. Now, as I work toward pursuing law, I have come to understand that this mark is not an immovable part of my record, but something that I can rightfully seek to correct through this petition. I am taking this step because I believe my transcript should reflect the student I have become — one who has learned resilience through adversity and who continues to strive toward excellence despite the challenges I have faced.

In light of these extenuating circumstances, I respectfully request that the failing grade for SPAN 111 be removed from my transcript. I believe this adjustment would accurately reflect both my integrity and the significant effort I have made to overcome the challenges I faced. Thank you for taking the time to review my petition and for your consideration of my situation. I deeply appreciate your understanding and fairness.

Sincerely,

Mina Saban