Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Jorge Lopez
Rapenburgerstraat 232
Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1011 MN

June 12, 2017

F200 Mackintosh-Corry Hall,
Queen's University,
Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6

Re: Request to Return to Studies

I am writing to appeal a RTW3 decision and to be permitted to resume my studies. Based on the circumstances I am describing in this letter, my academic plan, actions I am taking to set myself up for success and as per Academic Regulation 13.5.3 , Appeal of Decisions on RTW3, (I am within 9 units of graduation.) it is my hope that I am given the opportunity to complete my degree and move ahead.

Circumstances that impacted my studies

I first entered Queen's directly after high school in 1999, but struggled academically due to mental health. After leaving Queen's in 2005, I overcame my mental health challenges, excelled in my career and without mental health impediments, I resumed my studies.

In the Summer Term of 2014, I returned to Queen's to complete my degree. My first term returning to studies was challenging because it required learning to study while working full time. In my next term, (Summer 2016) I adapted by reducing my work hours and consequently achieved a GPA of 3.35. Having found a formula that worked for me, my plan was to continue with reduced hours.

Unfortunately, financial demands arouse in Fall 2016 while I was already enrolled in courses. The nature of these financial demands was that I had to support my common-law spouse, her parents and my parents on a single income. As such, I had to work two jobs - I work as full time Product Owner in Amsterdam, Netherlands for Booking.com and as a part time consultant for LifeSpeak Inc. (telecommute position to the Toronto) Keeping the latter employment was not part of my plan. This negatively impacted my GPA in Fall 2016. While it was above the 1.60 GPA requirement which Queen's views as a minimum standard, (My GPA was 1.85) it would make achieving a 1.60 cumulative GPA difficult. I felt under pressure to take courses in Winter 2017 in the hopes of an improbable effort to hit 1.60 GPA before my GPA was reviewed. I had to quit the courses past the drop date as my focus had to be my work.

Actions I am taking to achieve academic success.

As my common-law spouse will be returning to work, I will be able to reduce my work hours and not have two jobs. Also, I will only take 1 course per term as opposed to multiple courses per term. By retaking courses that I had to abandon and did not pass, I make it mathematically easier to achieve a 1.60 GPA. While I am enrolled in one course now, I will drop it pending a successful appeal so that I can focus on one course per term. (it would overlap with CISC 121)

Proposed Academic Plan:

1. I currently have all required courses for a BA MINOR/BA GENERAL PSYC. However, I do not meet the 1.6 GPA (1.44 current GPA) graduation requirement.

2. My plan is to retake 3 distance courses that interest me with a realistic course load of 1 course per term as per the following schedule:

Summer 2017 - CISC 121 (Taken in Fall 2001, previous grade F) I currently work in technology and programming is a skill set I have.

Fall 2017 - PHYS P20 (Taken in Winter 2017, previous grade F)

Winter 2018 - BIOL 102 (Taken in Winter 2017, previous grade F)

Based on the Queen's GPA calculator, I will require a GPA of 2.24( C+) over these next 3 courses (9 units) in order to achieve my target GPA. It is my understanding that once a GPA of 1.60 is achieved, I am eligible to change my degree program BA MINOR/BA GENERAL PSYC.

As supporting documentation, I am enclosing my two employment contracts as proof that I had to take two jobs.

I am 37 years old and while I do well in my career, completing my degree is important to me despite the long journey that it has been. I hope that I am granted the chance to do so without a RTW3. Should you wish additional information or wish to speak with me, I can be reached at +31 06 1120 0790.

Thank you,

Jorge Lopez
Student 431 1706