Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I would like to appeal my failed courses from the Winter 2017 term due to Extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control... concerning a family member...(has) been ill over a lengthy period of time making it impossible to continue your studies.
My dad passed away from cancer on March 3rd, 2017. He was diagnosed in August 2014 with small cell lung cancer and had been undergoing treatment until his death. While at times he was hospitalized, the bulk of his care and treatment was carried out at home or through medical appointments, my mother being his primary caregiver and driver. The initial diagnosis was unexpected and was difficult to come to terms with for myself as well as our family. Given the seriousness of his prognosis and intensity of treatment I had contemplated putting my studies on hold to return to Ottawa. It was ultimately my dad's wish for me to complete my degree that pushed me to remain at school.
It may have been warranted to submit an academic appeal for poor academic performance at various points since September 2014. I struggled at times to keep focus in my studies while my dad was undergoing treatment. As someone who tends to avoid conflict and stress, it was a trying ordeal managing the ups and downs of school life in tandem with status reports from home. Too often, I would attempt to separate myself from the reality at home by deliberately missing calls and limiting my availability to family and friends. Unfortunately, this had no positive effects and my focus at school began to fade as well.
It is important to note that I intend to appeal only the most recent failures on my academic record and that I have included the previous paragraph to illustrate the ongoing concerns. The last academic calendar year coincided with a more noticeable decline in my father's health and abilities. In the summer of 2016, certainty of fate was established when his doctors discovered cancerous tumors in his brain. As he became unable to perform the duties associated with his business, my mother and I took on more of his responsibilities. I took time off work during the summer to perform his supervisory role during the completion of a large commercial kitchen cleaning contract in downtown Ottawa. I decided that I would take a leave from my studies for the Fall 2016 term as it seemed necessary to assist in family and business matters.
While maintaining my residence in Kingston, and incurring considerable debt in the process, I was also pressed with the obligation to visit Ottawa frequently. As my family home is located on the outer city boundaries of Ottawa, it became necessary that I rent cars for the purpose of visiting and attending to my parents' needs. This progressed to the point where I would frequently drive from Kingston in order to commute my mother and I to and from the Renfrew Hospice where my father had been admitted for end of life care. I had decided to attempt classes in Winter 2016 despite these obligations and my father's poor health due to the realization that I could not keep up with the mounting expenses as well as the reality that I might lose a full year from my studies. If I had been more able to reach out at the time I do not doubt that a better course of action could have been taken; it is unfortunate that I was not able to find a better solution and that an appeal is now necessary.
Upon my father's passing in early March, funeral proceedings were scheduled, more time was spent in Ottawa, and more classes were left unattended. To my surprise, I achieved a passing grade in one of my four classes that term. I will therefore be appealing to have the remaining three fails from Winter 2017 dropped past the academic deadline. These classes include: COMM 313, POLS 101 and ECON 310. I intend on resuming my studies in September but must carry out this appeal before I will be eligible to receive future OSAP assistance. I appreciate your time in reviewing my appeal and I will patiently await your decision. Please make note of the enclosed death certificate. I have visited with the Queen's University Student Wellness Services, but due to time constraints I will not be seeking to have correspondence sent from my doctor at this time.
Thank you,
Matthew Beggs