Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Petitions Administrator,

My name is Kaitlen Elizabeth Anderson.

I am going into my third year at Queen's University in a BMH, though I intend to switch out of the major by the end of the semester and into a GNDS based major. This semester, I am currently enrolled in three courses, due to a clerical error with two holds being placed on my SOLUS account for an extended period of time. These holds and clerical error did not allow me to register for two classes I had in my shopping cart - IDIS 173 and GNDS 280. I am requesting admittance to these classes despite the deadline to join classes having passed.

Unfortunately, when the semester began, two financial holds were placed on my account- barring me from joining any new classes. Both of the classes I am currently attempting to join had been filled up while I was applying for my winter courses, and while I was on the waiting list, these holds meant that I was unable to enrol in them, even when they became available. The balance was paid by the end of the first week of classes, but sent as a whole, rather than two separate parts. I believe that due to this discrepancy, it took the registrar extra time to process the holds, removing them on separate dates. The first hold was promptly removed by the next week, but the second hold stayed for an extended period of time, effectively barring me from applying to classes despite the balance being paid weeks prior. When the hold was removed, the deadline to apply to courses was fast approaching, and I was not made aware despite reaching out to the financial office to understand how long it would be on my account; they insisted the hold may take some time to remove, effectively discouraging me from checking my account until the course enrolment period was up. This all resulted in me being late to finally have access to apply to join these classes.

These two classes in particular are very important to my degree as they are requirements for my gradation, both directly and indirectly. As indicated by my transcript, I have already taken IDIS 173, but did not pass due to a brain injury I sustained during the summer term (this was documented by the university), limiting my ability to apply myself to the course. The professor and I had correspondence about my potential options with this grade, and she encouraged me to retake the course in the winter term. It is very important I take this course in particular as this F is impacting my GPA greatly, and will continue to do so until I am able to retake the course. Additionally, GNDS 280 is important to my final graduation plan with my GNDS minor, and will aid in providing more courses to bring up my final GPA.

I am able to provide financial records upon request indicating that the payment had been made well prior to the deadline having passed, and additionally, being on the waiting list for both of the classes I am currently petitioning for, indicating my commitment and intentions of joining them prior to the deadline. Additionally, I have been in correspondence with the GNDS 280 instructor Nilima Rai, and have written support from her that she is willing and able to take me on as student in her lectures despite the deadline having passed. IDIS 173's instructor Dr. Butler politely declines emails regarding being added to courses, but according to SOLUS, the course currently has seats available and is open.