Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: During my first year of university, I took a full year intro philosophy course entitled Phil115. My final mark in the course was a D+, which by my calculations and Prof. Fairfield's, is an impossible grade given my previous marks in the course. I went to Prof. Fairfield to discuss this grade, and after showing him original essays with his marking and my first semester grade, Prof. Fairfield agreed to raise my grade to a C+. This letter grade change was stopped in the Arts and Science Office because the 21-day deadline had long elapsed; I only began appealing my mark in 3rd year, approximately 2 years after I received the D+ grade.

The reason why I had not appealed earlier, my extenuating circumstances, is a mental illness that I suffer from. In grade 12, 6 months before I entered university at Queen's, I was diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). My GAD is not severe, it does not prevent me from participating in daily activities like it does to others, but it does occasionally prevent me from confronting sources of extraordinary stress. Appealing this mark after my first year, was not something that I was able to bring myself to do; instead, I ignored it, and hoped that in the long run it wouldn't matter.

Now I know that it does matter, and I'm ready to confront my source of stress. I would truly appreciate the opportunity to appeal this grade, and I'm able and willing to provide any materials that would be required to proceed.