Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Petition Letter – Extenuating Circumstances
To the Associate Dean,
I am writing to petition the late drop of PHIL151 (summer 2024), RELS367, RELS354, RELS314, RELS163, IDIS199 (fall 2024), RELS345, RELS328, RELS266, RELS234, CLST203 (winter 2025), CLST205 (summer 2025), RELS398, HIST200, GNDS120, CLST203, ARTH121, (fall 2025), HIST207, GNDS215, ENGL273, ASTR101, (winter2026) to personal circumstances that significantly affected my ability to succeed academically.
Over this period May 2024 – April 2026, I was in a relationship that became increasingly unhealthy and abusive. At the beginning, it did not feel that way. I was struggling financially, and he encouraged me to move in with him, presenting it as something that would help both of us and allow me to focus on school. At the time, I believed it was a stable and supportive situation.
However, it quickly became overwhelming and controlling. I was expected to take care of the entire household, including cleaning daily, cooking every meal, and doing laundry. I accepted this because he was covering bills, and I thought that was a fair trade. But if anything was not done exactly how he expected, it would turn into a serious issue. I was often yelled at, called names, and made to feel like I was failing in every area. There were times he would threaten to kick me out or tell me I needed to leave for the night, which made me feel like I had no stability or security.
Because of this, I started prioritizing keeping the peace at home over everything else. I missed classes trying to make sure everything was done so I wouldn’t upset him. I was constantly anxious and on edge, and I felt like I couldn’t relax or focus on anything else. I eventually got a part-time job to help pay for groceries, but instead of helping, it led to even more expectations at home. There were days where I didn’t leave the house at all because I felt so overwhelmed trying to keep everything under control.
At times, I felt very isolated. There were situations where I did not have full access to my car, and my hometown is two hours away, so I felt stuck. This made it even harder to step back and realize how much the situation was affecting me.
Winter 2025:
This is when I first started noticing my academics slipping. I missed classes and began falling behind on assignments across multiple courses. I would try to sit down and do my work, but I couldn’t concentrate or stay focused long enough to complete tasks. Even then, I kept telling myself I would catch up, so I did not withdraw from my courses.
Summer 2025:
My ability to keep up with coursework declined further. I struggled to complete assignments and meet deadlines, even when I set aside time to work. I felt overwhelmed and unable to keep up with academic expectations, but I still believed I could recover if I pushed through.
Fall 2025:
By this point, everything felt unmanageable. I was constantly stressed and emotionally drained. I missed multiple deadlines and avoided checking course platforms because I felt so far behind. My academic performance during this term was significantly impacted by my inability to focus, attend consistently, and complete required coursework.
Winter 2026:
I reached a point where I knew I had to leave the situation. Leaving was necessary, but it was also emotionally and mentally overwhelming. During this time, I was focused on regaining stability and processing what I had experienced. As a result, I was unable to focus on my courses, attend to deadlines, or complete coursework during this term.
It was not until I removed myself from the situation that I fully realized how much it had affected me. Looking back, I can see how lost I felt and how much I had been trying to manage just to get through each day. I genuinely did not understand how much my academics had suffered until it was too late to fix it.
I want to be clear that I am not trying to avoid responsibility. I regret not asking for help sooner or withdrawing from my courses before the deadlines. At the time, I truly believed I would be able to catch up, but I was not in a position where I could make clear or healthy decisions.
Since leaving the relationship, I have moved back home and am now in a stable and supportive environment. I am seeking support through friends, family and finding a suitable therapist to ensure I have the tools and structure in place to succeed moving forward.
My plan is to return to my studies once I am in a position to fully commit, with a focus on maintaining balance, seeking support when needed, and prioritizing my academic responsibilities.
I am respectfully asking for consideration to drop the affected courses from these terms due to these circumstances. This would allow me to move forward with a fresh start and fully focus on my education and future.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely, Klyne McDonald- 20258327