Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Associate Dean Benard,
Queens University
Feb 19, 2017

Dear Dr. Benard,

Thank you for allowing me to proceed with this appeal.

Request: I am appealing the final grades I received in 5 classes based on the extenuating circumstances of anxiety and depression related to my father¿¿s mental health problems and death. I am hoping that these grades can be changed so that they won¿¿t affect my GPA.

Extenuating Circumstances: In the Winter of 2013 my father lost his job and became an alcoholic and severely depressed. I was afraid that he was suicidal, and went to the Counseling Services Center for counseling, but they said I was only eligible for two sessions. My father died in the summer of 2014. I have attached a copy of the death certificate.

After my father went into his depression, I had anxiety and difficulty concentrating, and did poorly, failing GNDS 125 that semester. I also did very poorly in two 6 credit classes that ended in the Winter of 2014, getting a D- in PSYCH 231, and a D in PSYCH 235B, two classes that made my anxiety unbearable. I had difficulty getting out of bed to attend morning classes, and my academic performance fell.

I felt that I would have a better adjustment away from home, and took the semester of Fall 2014 at Herstmonceux. When I came back to the States, I got very depressed. The fact that he was gone hit me like a ton of bricks. I saw a psychiatrist for my depression, and started therapy. Letters from my psychiatrist, Dr. Nowillo, and my psychotherapist, Ms. Graham are also attached.

I did my best to keep my grades up in the Winter semester of 2015, taking a lighter load than ordinary, and taking Business classes that I found meaningful. However, when I returned to New York that summer, his death was even harder to take and my depression got worse. I should have dropped my summer class, but kept thinking I could turn it around. I couldn¿¿t, and failed GNDS 125 Gender Race and Popular Culture.

The most important grade I want to appeal is the F that I was given for Comm. 326, International Finance from the Fall semester of 2014. I worked hard and attended every class, and did very well in my class presentations. When I saw my incomplete and then failing final grade I was shocked and immediately wrote to my professor and found out that he hadn¿¿t received my final paper. He never wrote me to tell me that he hadn¿¿t received it, so I had no way of knowing. Apparently the email with the attached exam hadn¿¿t gone through, so I sent it to him again. My professor, Abdul Kader, said he couldn¿¿t change the grade, and wrote to the BISC principal, Dr. Christian Lloyd to have this situation remedied. As you can see from the attached email chain, the events that should have been followed were not. By the time this was getting resolved I was back home, and slipping into the depression, so I just gave up. I probably should have received a B in that class, but at this point in time I am simply asking to have the F removed. I plan to major in Business and Finance, and this failing grade will be the most damaging to my chances to move forward. If you are not able to give me a CR for this class, then I am requesting that it be removed entirely from my transcript.

Future Plan
I was ashamed of my performance, and felt like a total failure. I decided to get a job and take time away from university to clear my head, and think about what I really wanted to do. Returning to Queens was not an option for me, and it never occurred to me to appeal my grades. I started therapy in New York, and as my depression lifted, I started taking courses at a local College (and have a 4.0). My job as a legal assistant gave me more confidence and the incentive to finish my degree at a good University in the USA and rebuild my life. Unless these poor and failing grades are changed to NG or removed, I have little chance of being accepted by any university I want to attend. These Universities will not transfer credit for any class with less than a B grade, so the CR will raise my GPA to meet the standard these universities require, but not give me credit where credit is not deserved. If you are unable to give a CR for a class that an instructor has given a failing grade, then I am asking if it is possible to remove the course and grade from my transcript.

I know I am capable of finishing my Bachelor degree at a good University in the States, and believe that the failing grades do not represent what I am capable of. I also think that Queen¿¿s policy of only allowing two counseling sessions for students in crisis worked against me. Without OHIP I could not afford to see a psychiatrist, and I believe that medication and therapy would have made a huge difference in helping me fight my anxiety and depression.

Application for most of the schools I am planning to apply for have a deadline of March 1. I am hoping that you will help me get past a difficult time in my life and support my appeal.