Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Petition Letter – Extenuating Circumstances (POLS 111)
Student Name: Adchayan Asokkanth
Student Number: 20540723

To the Faculty of Arts and Science Petitions Committee,

I am writing to formally request permission to withdraw from POLS 111 due to significant extenuating circumstances that were beyond my control and that directly affected my academic performance in this course.

Earlier in the term, I experienced the unexpected passing of one of my closest friends. This event had a profound impact on my mental health and academic functioning. I was required to be away from campus for over a week to attend the funeral and related cultural ceremonies, and when I returned, I was not in a mental or emotional state to immediately resume my academic responsibilities. The effects of this loss continued well beyond the initial absence, significantly impairing my ability to focus, retain information, and keep up with coursework.

I want to note that I have already spoken about MATH 121, and because it is a full-year course, I still have time to manage the situation appropriately within the existing deadlines. However, POLS 111 presents a much more urgent issue, as the deadline to drop the course has already passed.

Due to the ongoing impact of grief and mental health challenges following my friend’s passing, I fell increasingly behind in POLS 111. The cumulative nature of the readings, lectures, and assignments made it extremely difficult to re-engage after missing critical early content. Despite attempts to catch up, the academic gap became too large, and my performance in the course continued to decline.

I am scheduled to write the final exam for POLS 111 at this time. Based on my current academic standing and level of preparedness, I know that writing this exam will almost certainly result in a failing grade. I am extremely concerned about the long-term impact of this outcome on my academic record, particularly given that the circumstances leading to this situation were beyond my control and directly tied to a significant personal loss.

Throughout the term, I attempted to manage the situation by prioritizing my mental health and reducing other obligations, including periods where I was unable to participate fully in varsity athletics. While these steps helped me gradually stabilize, they were not sufficient to reverse the academic consequences already affecting my performance in POLS 111.

Given the severity, timing, and duration of these extenuating circumstances, I respectfully request approval to withdraw from POLS 111 without academic penalty. I believe this request accurately reflects the impact these events had on my ability to perform academically in this course.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am willing to provide any additional information or documentation if required.

Sincerely,
Adchayan Asokkanth
Student Number: 20540723