Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,
My name is Emma Poley, my student number is 20283289, and I am submitting an appeal for a grade removal from my transcript for the course GNDS326, taken in the Winter Semester of 2026. I am submitting this appeal because as a result of extenuating circumstances, I was unable to complete an assessment for said course, which resulted in a near failing grade. I experienced sexual assault over the course of the semester from a third party, this assault (and relationship with the third party) ended in mid-March, as the semester was coming to a close (this in turn was a very emotionally volatile period for me). As this final assessment was due, in early April, I was contending with the gender based violence that I had experienced. This course in particular is reflected poorly on my transcript, while other course marks are successful, due to the fact that the nature of the assessment looked at gendered dynamics and violence through an analytical lens. This was difficult to complete, and face in general, as I was grappling with the realization of what I had been through. I have since been in contact with the Sexual Violence Prevention centre on campus, scheduling a meeting in early June once I had realized the nature of the events - I am also currently taking the next steps required to heal from the event - which include therapeutic services offered through the institution. The reason I am writing this appeal is because I have worked extremely hard over the past two semesters to overcome previous academic failures - and ultimately would like to pursue a graduate degree. I do not want something that is beyond my control impacting my academic future. I have taken the steps required to heal on my own timeline, and am currently undergoing a research internship at the Agnes Etherington, with the larger hope that it will expand my CV and advance my academic career. I have been in contact with the professor as well, and have explained the situation- she has been patient, kind and has offered an incomplete grade and extension for the final assessment; however; due to the nature of the extenuating circumstances, I would prefer to forego this assessment and spend my time outside of my full time job and internship healing from what was a very difficult situation. I know I cannot achieve an excellent mark on this assessment due to my feelings towards the situation. I hope that an appeal can be arranged, as I do not require the course to graduate, and I can be a successful Queen’s alumni. Documentation attached will be a letter of support from Sarah Levigne, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Case Manager and Student Advisor for the university. It is my hope that I can move beyond this situation completely and graduate without issue.
Thank you kindly for considering my appeal. I hope an assessment can be made.

All the best,
Emma Poley