Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Ms. Blake,

My name is Renee Sands and I am a second year student (soon to be third) who took Chemistry 282 this past winter semester. I am appealing to drop my Winter 2016 CHEM 282 grade.
This outcome is inconsistent with my academic performance in my other courses, including the parallel lab component of this course, and it is overwhelmingly disappointing and distressing to me. However, I have been experiencing extreme extenuating circumstances.

The circumstances involve several different factors, encompassing family emergencies, an extremely toxic house-mate situation, and resultant stress-related health issues. Over the last few months (the last few weeks in particular) I have been progressively unwell this semester, both physically and psychologically (I have medical records, doctors' & psychologist's notes). Attached, please note letters from my psychologist and parents.

I have had chronic anxiety and significant sleep disturbances, both of which the circumstances I have endured recently have exacerbated, beyond a level that has been manageable. One of my roommates with whom I shared a house this past school year was continually abusive: He made repeated verbal threats, violent threats including once with a knife, and locking two of my other roommates in the basement. He was malicious, inconsiderate and erratic. I have not been able to sleep through the night and have been unable to study in my home during the day, due to endless screaming and blasting of music, both during the day and in the middle of the night. This escalated to the point where I had to pay for hotels to sleep sometimes in order to have occasional uninterrupted sleep and escape this untenable environment. In addition, I made increasingly frequent trips back and forth to my parents' homes in Aurora, Ontario.
My father and brother experienced unexpected medical situations which affected my whole family and compounded my pre-existing stress.

On April 13th, 2017, the day of the CHEM 282 exam, I awoke with significant abdominal distress and pain, but I was not able to seek immediate medical attention as I was travelling to Kingston from Aurora to attend my exam. Unfortunately, the pain did not subside, and I had to leave the exam early to get to Kingston General Hospital. I was in the emergency room into the early hours of the morning. I was discharged with the doctor's instruction to follow up with my family doctor and possibly specialists for further investigation and identification of the problem.

As I didn't know that there was a requirement to pass both lecture and lab sections in the course, (and I was very strong in the lab section), I expected that I could push through without reaching out to the department, and just get the passing grade I needed to move on. While I take responsibility for my ultimate performance, I genuinely made every effort to do the best I could in this class, attending every single lecture, completing all homework and assignments, as well as seeing tutors and participating in exam preparation sessions.
In conclusion, I would be indescribably thankful if you would consider granting me allowance to drop the course Chem 282 while retaining my laboratory credit. I hope to be able to take CHEM 285 this upcoming July/August (in order to hopefully use in combination with Chem 282 lab component to fulfill the full course credit.

Thank you so much for your understanding, time, and consideration.

Respectfully,

-Renee Sands
10182252
(289) 879 - 1665