Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I request a formal review of the instructor’s decision concerning the attendance-related grade component in MATH 337.

This request is not based on a simple disagreement with an attendance or participation mark. Rather, it is based on non-adherence to the course syllabus/course outline and lack of procedural fairness.

Under Queen’s Course Outline Policy, assessments that contribute to the final grade are subject to the requirements of the course outline, and any changes must be communicated to students in writing and as promptly as possible. The Faculty of Arts and Science also states that the grading process must be clear and transparent so that students know how their grades are being calculated.

In this case, the attendance-related component affected the final grade, but it was not included in the course syllabus/course outline. To the best of my knowledge, it was not communicated to all students in writing. Instead, it appears to have been introduced only through an in-class oral announcement.

I also understand that attendance was recorded on a random spot-check basis. In my view, that does not resolve the problem. If anything, it reinforces the lack of notice and transparency, because students were not informed in writing in advance that attendance would count toward the final grade, how it would be counted, or when it might be recorded.

I raised this concern with the instructor and received a written reply stating that the attendance policy was “not an assessment” but rather “a bonus.” However, whether described as a bonus or otherwise, it still affected the final grade.

I am also concerned that this may have benefited some students while disadvantaging others, especially if attendance was counted on the same day it was first announced in class. I therefore respectfully request that this issue be formally addressed and that my final grade be calculated in a fair and equitable manner.