Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing an appeal to have STAT 263, taken in the Winter Term 2015, dropped from my record.

After a great deal of reflection, and therapy to overcome childhood trauma, I made the decision to return to University after nearly two decades away from formal education. I wanted to be able to show my children that it is never too late to reach your goals. In what can only be described as unrealistic optimism gone wild, and because it was one of the few courses still open for online enrollment, I elected to start with a course that would have been a challenge many students.

For a mature student with a weak math background, a small business to run and two young children (18 months and 5 years old) who were not enrolled in childcare, it could be described as insane. The demands of work and family, coupled with a misguided sense of optimism, kept me from dropping the course before the deadline to do so without academic penalty.

Hubris and denial took over from there. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, I continued to believe I could eek out a passing grade, until the night before the final exam when I had a panic attack - my first in over a decade. I didn't seek treatment because doing so would require admitting there was something wrong, and with my lengthy family history of mental illness, I wasn't prepared to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation or the consequences of my inaction.

My circumstances have changed since last winter. First and foremost, my children are older and require less hands-on care. With the additional supports we have put in place (daycare, rebalancing work and household schedules), I'm doing well in the course I am now taking (PSYC 100).

I might even achieve a high enough grade to reach the required GPA of 1.6 to continue as an Interest Student in the Distance Learning Program (another condition I did not give due care and attention). However, it's going to be close, and if this appeal isn't granted, in spite of my hard work and improved academic performance, the dream dies here.

I made a mistake, and then I hoped it would disappear. I did not give Queens' commitment to academic excellence the consideration it deserves. For that, I am truly sorry. I can say that if this appeal is granted, I will be a credit to the Queen's University Distance Learning program.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my plea.

Sincerely,
Julia Warrender