Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3702
Submitted: July 27, 2017 at 9:02:54 PM
First Name: Quinton
Last Name: Zerafa
Student Number: 10155314
Email: 14qz1@queensu.ca
Degree Program: B.A
Plan: B.A in History
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: July 27, 2017
Dear Arts & Science Faculty,
My Name is Quinton Zerafa. I am a student at Queen's going for a B.A in History. I was also ignorant to Academic Regulations until today. As I was finishing up the summer course I took, I noticed I could not enroll in classes for the fall/winter semesters. As soon as I learned this, I came up to Kingston and had an appointment with Professor Barrington Walker, the Undergraduate Chair for the History Department. I did not understand the situation I was in before but now I do. I received a message on SOLUS that I did not see explaining that I will be unable to enroll in courses until fall 2018. I have seen the message now and I am no longer unaware of the Academic Regulations pertaining to my situation. I understand that the time to appeal should have been before enrollment, but I just found out today, and I will do anything I can to be able to take courses in the upcoming semester.
Throughout my life, my parents have always said that I am smart, but unmotivated. It is only now I realize they are right. I never had anything to motivate me until now. In my time here, Queen's has become my life. I have made many connections here and I just moved into a new house, and now that I know what is at stake, I will do anything to not lose it. I will not magically somehow understand how to get higher marks. I have had good marks in my time here, but it was my lack of motivation that was my downfall. Here, at the possibility of suspension, I have found a new motivation in staying. I will raise my GPA because I know how to do it and I have the motivation to do it, but all I need is the chance.
I discussed a plan with Professor Walker (which I will write below) and he seems confident that I understand what is going on and that I will do whatever it takes to fix it. Knowing this appeal might not come back to him, he sent me a letter that I have attached to my Appeal.
Again, I completely understand the gravity of what I am asking, but I have discovered staying at Queen's this year and completing my degree are the most important things in my life right now, and I will truly do anything I can to achieve both. I understand that enrolment will be closed by the time this is considered so I look forward to hearing a response in time for the enrolment period later in August.
Thank you,
-Quinton Zerafa (10155314)
Dear Arts & Science Faculty,
My Name is Quinton Zerafa. I am a student at Queen's going for a B.A in History. I was also ignorant to Academic Regulations until today. As I was finishing up the summer course I took, I noticed I could not enroll in classes for the fall/winter semesters. As soon as I learned this, I came up to Kingston and had an appointment with Professor Barrington Walker, the Undergraduate Chair for the History Department. I did not understand the situation I was in before but now I do. I received a message on SOLUS that I did not see explaining that I will be unable to enroll in courses until fall 2018. I have seen the message now and I am no longer unaware of the Academic Regulations pertaining to my situation. I understand that the time to appeal should have been before enrollment, but I just found out today, and I will do anything I can to be able to take courses in the upcoming semester.
Throughout my life, my parents have always said that I am smart, but unmotivated. It is only now I realize they are right. I never had anything to motivate me until now. In my time here, Queen's has become my life. I have made many connections here and I just moved into a new house, and now that I know what is at stake, I will do anything to not lose it. I will not magically somehow understand how to get higher marks. I have had good marks in my time here, but it was my lack of motivation that was my downfall. Here, at the possibility of suspension, I have found a new motivation in staying. I will raise my GPA because I know how to do it and I have the motivation to do it, but all I need is the chance.
I discussed a plan with Professor Walker (which I will write below) and he seems confident that I understand what is going on and that I will do whatever it takes to fix it. Knowing this appeal might not come back to him, he sent me a letter that I have attached to my Appeal.
Again, I completely understand the gravity of what I am asking, but I have discovered staying at Queen's this year and completing my degree are the most important things in my life right now, and I will truly do anything I can to achieve both. I understand that enrolment will be closed by the time this is considered so I look forward to hearing a response in time for the enrolment period later in August.
Thank you,
-Quinton Zerafa (10155314)
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: If I were to be given a chance to raise my GPA I would obviously need a plan in achieving that goal. I have discussed my plan with Professor Walker today and he seemed to agree with it. The plan is simply to retake as many courses I have failed throughout the fall, winter, AND summer in order to change Fs into As and Bs. This strategy will do a much better job than taking new courses as it replaces bad marks as oppose to just adding new ones. After that, if there is anything I need left to graduate, I will do it in the following year. This should have been my plan last year, but I did not understand my situation last year as I do now. I am confident that this plan will allow me to raise my GPA significantly so that it will be at the appropriate level.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Quinton Zerafa Letter.doc
Professional Letter Detail: Letter from the Undergraduate Chair of the Department of History