Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Dr. Johanne Bénard,

I am appealing to add FILM 395 after the add date for the Winter 2018 Semester. FILM 395 is an internship credit; I am currently working with the Kingston Canadian Film Festival to complete the credit.

Due to a change in my financial status, I can no longer afford to do my degree over five years. My original plan was to complete my BAH in Stage and Screen Studies in four years, and then take a fifth year to complete the Certificate in Business. Because I can no longer afford to live and study in Kingston for an extra year, I must graduate at the end of this academic year. When I applied to graduate, I was informed that I was short three units, and so, I am appealing to add an extra course to my degree.

In September of 2016, my grandmother was deathly ill; my mother and I flew to Australia to be with her while doctors tried some last-ditch efforts to help her recover. Because we were unsure of her health status, we were in Australia for several weeks. I became a part time student for the Fall 2016 semester because several of my course instructors were ¿¿ rightfully ¿¿ unable to accommodate my absence. Since then, I have been playing catch up with my courses. I was on track to graduate in five years despite having been a part-time student, until the change in my financial status forced me to graduate at the end of this year.

When I realized that I would have to graduate earlier than expected and that I needed to add three more units to my degree, I started looking into my options and realized that the best option for me was to look for an internship. The internship credit would fit well into my schedule without making so many demands on my time that I would be unable to complete my other coursework. I applied for an internship with the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and was offered a position there. However, because I was navigating this situation by myself, I was going from person to person trying to understand how to add the internship credit to my degree. When it was communicated to me how to do the paperwork, I promptly completed it; however, I was very close to the add/drop deadline. I contacted my supervisor at my internship to get his signature on my paperwork and indicated that it was urgent. He responded after the deadline, after which I spoke to Scott Mackenzie, the head of the Film Department, and he directed me towards the appeal process.

I would ask that you consider my appeal because I am already employed with the Kingston Canadian Film Festival and I am already doing the required work. I am well on track to complete the work required by the Film Department for the internship credit, and I have the support of the Film Department as well as the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. I am really invested in graduating this year, and I know that if I were granted permission to add FILM 395 to my course load, I will be able to graduate.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my appeal

All the best,
Vishmayaa Jeyamoorthy