Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Academic Dean Who It May Concern:
I am writing to formally request an extension of an exam deferral for the three courses
from the winter term just passed.
The reason for applying for extension of exam deferrals for the three courses is
because my physical health has been severely affected since May 15th with developing
and unstable symptoms appearing that had been diagnosed as bacterial gastroenteritis
by a doctor from CDK walk-in clinic on the 19th night. This bad health condition made it
impossible for me to complete the scheduled examinations as planned during the
deferred exam period.
I started to have abdominal pain and diarrhea since early morning of the 15th after
eating something wrong while catching a cold wind, so I immediately sent an email to
the DBMS exam team to explain the situation. But symptoms seemed to just begin that
day so I felt better after taking some regular medicine for diarrhea that morning and I
still went to school for an exam on the 15th. But on the way back home, I started to feel
dizzy and wanted to throw up. I held it until getting back home. After this, my symptoms
remained unstable when I was preparing for the other exams.
In the early morning of the 18th, it got worse than before because the serious period
pain I had due to irregular and heavy period happened because my period came and
this would happen almost every month since the winter term. Abdominal pain and
period pain combined together to cause more serious diarrhea that caused me to go to
the bathroom more than three times. Thus, I immediately sent an email to 334's course
email to explain the situation because I don’t want to leave it to the last minute. Then, I
took some regular medication just like before to see if medication and rest can help me
recover a little so that I can go to the exam. But sadly the good thing didn’t happen
again because I was woken up by abdominal pain early morning of 19th and found
myself had a 38 degree fever so I thought that I have to reschedule for 334 as the time
scheduled for 334’s exam is less than two hours more from the time I woke up by
increasing body temperature. I took some medicine for fever and immediately called the
clinic in the later morning when I woke up again for a meeting with the doctor because I
know I need to go to the clinic under this kind of situation. Because I really didn’t know
what my condition will be on the 20th as I am still getting fever that time so I sent an
email to Prof. Wayne (341 instructor) to explain the situation as well later morning for
the same reason later in the morning.
Then I went to the clinic on the 19th night and told my doctor the situation. She said it
might be caused by bacteria because I ate something wrong. After came back home, I
sent an email to 310 and the DBMS team for the same reason like before again before
sleeping because it’s the latest exam that happened on the 20th. Then, I rested and
took medicine just like she suggested and expected that I could get better to attend the
exams just like before again because it seemed to feel better after back home from the
clinic that night. But the dizziness, headache and abdominal pain happened later broke
it again as my period would be extremely painful especially during the first three days so
the pain lasted and became even worse than yesterday. It tortured me because it came
together with abdominal pain again (I think it might because I didn't eat well these days
to a little extent as well because I couldn’t eat most things during the illness period).
More worse, serious headache and dizziness came back as well because of bleeding
and many other reasons I didn't know (again and again...) The result is I have to
reschedule 341 again because I couldn’t get up during dizziness prior and during the
examination period. I tried again to get up and go for the 310 exam prior to exam time.
But what I got yesterday the whole day until late at night was all dizziness and throw up.
Like I immediately throwed up after my trying…. To prove what I said and my health
condition, I will attach some email records and valid medical documentation from the
clinic..
I have been trying to email and negotiate for exam rescheduling to later this week as
long as I could see emails previously during these days because I misremembered the
end date of this deferral period to 22th. But finally we failed to reach a feasible
arrangement due to time constraints and rescheduling rules. I felt really upset about this
unexpected situation yesterday and cried because I feel terribly sorry for all these as I
already promised the support team to try my best before the deferral period…. But I
really don't expect this to happen and I know I have to actively take steps to face it while
resolving this issue. So right now I sincerely promise that this will be my final request for
exam deferral. If approved, I will attend the rearranged exams punctually and take my
study and assessment seriously. If I can't do that, please just refuse any kind of further
petition for deferring again and I promise I won't do that.
I will stay in Kingston until mid-June at least and I have much space to reset my
schedule, so my schedule is fully flexible. I can take the exams anytime this late May
until middle to late June whatever. Although I enrolled in four courses this summer, but
actually one of the course won't start until July and one of the other three courses don't
have exams to finish so I am totally okay if these exams needed to be scheduled during
midterm period of summer because I am ahead of my summer classes now and have
been prepared well for the three exams:)
Also, one more thing I want to explain is I have finished all assignments and learning
requirements for the three courses completely, so finals would be the only unfinished
part. Besides I didn't do very well in the Path 310's midterm ( Have realized it and spent
much time catching up). I think I have done well in most of the parts in these courses (
will also attach some grade records to prove).
To be honest, my academic progress stayed in a bad situation before this winter term
came but I really have been awakened from those nightmares and know what I want
right now. These three courses are vital to my academic progress because I really want
to prove myself from this term. I really felt terribly sorry for all these that might cause
inconvenience and truly apologize for them. But I earnestly hope you can grant me this
last chance to complete my exams and I promise again this is the last time. I am in the
way of dealing with my irregular period and some other small health problems. I promise
I will try my best to make them no longer affect my exams in the future.
Thank you for your patience and time for reading this long letter. I promise I will fully
recover and prepare adequately for the makeup tests and my summer classes. Thank
you very much for your kind consideration.
Sincerely
Lingjie Kong