Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Arlen Aviles
PO Box 121
Vaughan, ON L0J 1C0

30 November 2017

Appeals - Associate Dean (Studies)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen's University
99 University Ave.
Kingston, ON K7L 3N6

RE: Arlen Aviles, Student NO. 10168932 - Appeal to have appeal deadline and fee waived

Dear Appeal/Academic Advisor,

My name is Arlen Aviles and I am appealing to have the 21-day or one term appeal deadline, and appeal fee waived. On December 14, 2015 I was scheduled to write my final exam for FILM240, for which I heavily prepared and studied, but it was cancelled about 30 minutes after it began due to technical difficulties with Moodle. This was most certainly an unusual academic event.

As a new, first year university student, never having faced such an issue before, I sought the guidance and advice from my academic advisor, David Youssef. I emailed Mr. Youssef, explaining my concerns with the unfair and unusual exam cancellation. I also proposed that I receive credit standing for this course, so that I do not suffer academic penalty. I also specifically asked Mr. Youssef to advise me on how to resolve this issue.

Unfortunately, due to the University's (Mr. Youssef's) administrative error, and an unusual academic event, I was inadequately and erroneously advised on how to address this issue. Instead of advising me of an appeal option, Mr. Youssef dismissed my concerns, incorrectly advising me to think of the outcome as a blessing in disguise. As would most new students, inexperienced with such issues, I accepted the University's (Mr. Youssef's) response and did not pursue things further. I was misled to believe that since the University (Mr. Youssef) did not provide me with a single resolution option, that there were no options for me to resolve this issue. This was especially unfair to me, since I specifically asked how to pursue credit standing for the course - which qualifies as a valid basis to make an appeal request. Not until after the deadline to appeal passed, did I learn of the University's appeal process and that Mr. Youssef had neglected to advise me on this appeal process. I have attached my email communication between myself and Mr. Youssef to corroborate these events.

Therefore, because of incorrect academic advising, and the University's (Mr. Youssef's) administrative (advising) error, I appeal to Queen's University to have both the 21-day or one term appeal deadline, and appeal fee waived.

Sincerely,

Arlen Aviles
Student No. 10168932