Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: July 4, 2026

Academic Appeals Committee
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen's University

Re: Petition for Retroactive Withdrawal
Student Number: 05655022

Dear Members of the Academic Appeals Committee,

I am writing to respectfully request a retroactive withdrawal from the following Winter 2025 courses:

ANAT 100-700 – Anatomy of the Human Body
FILM 240-700 – Media and Popular Culture
PSYC 271-700 – Brain and Behaviour I

I am a returning student who has been attempting to complete my Psychology degree after being away from Queen's University for nearly twenty years. Returning to my studies has been challenging, particularly because many of the courses I require have not been available online, and I have had difficulty navigating registration while trying to complete my degree from a distance.

My academic plans were further disrupted by the tragic and unexpected death of my husband's brother in September 2023. This loss had a significant impact on my family and on my ability to continue with my studies, ultimately leading me to withdraw from my courses that semester.

During this same period and in the years that followed, I was also experiencing significant mental health challenges and was actively engaged in treatment, including medical care, therapy, and group support. These circumstances affected my concentration, organization, and executive functioning, making it difficult to manage the administrative aspects of my studies and contributing to my mistaken belief that I had withdrawn from all of my courses.

As I continued trying to determine a path to completing my degree, I registered for various courses while exploring my options. I believed that I had withdrawn from all of my courses and did not realize that these Winter 2025 courses remained on my account. This was an honest misunderstanding and not an intentional decision to remain enrolled.

Importantly, I did not participate in these courses in any way. I did not log into the course sites, access course materials, submit assignments, or write any examinations. My complete lack of participation reflects that I had no intention of taking these courses and genuinely believed that I was no longer enrolled.

I fully understand that students are responsible for monitoring their registration status, and I deeply regret this oversight. However, I respectfully ask the Committee to consider the unique circumstances surrounding my return to studies, my family's bereavement, and my ongoing mental health challenges, all of which contributed to this administrative error and my mistaken belief that I had withdrawn from all courses.

The resulting consequences have been significant. I have received three failing grades, been placed on academic probation, and incurred more than $2,000 in tuition charges for courses that I never intended to take and in which I had no participation whatsoever.

I respectfully request consideration for a retroactive withdrawal from these courses and the removal of the associated failing grades and financial penalties, if permitted under University policy. I would also welcome a review of my course access history, as I believe it will demonstrate my complete lack of engagement with these courses.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration of my petition.

Sincerely,

Kaleigh Anderson
Student Number: 05655022