Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies);

I am appealing to drop CISC 204 (Winter 2001) due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control. I understand that this request is long past due, but I was unaware that this option was available to me until very recently when another Associate Dean recommended that I explore this option. I thank you for taking the time to consider my request.
In early 2000, I put my two young children in my car with whatever personal belongings would fit in the trunk, and I left our home and my abusive, alcoholic husband for the last time. I was working full-time, attending Queen¿¿s part-time, and was suddenly homeless with 2 small children, one of whom had special needs. I worked very hard to try to keep some semblance of stability in my new life, and in the fall of 2000 I decided to resume my studies after a brief hiatus. While I managed to make it through that semester, the fall-out from my domestic situation became unbearable, and I succumbed to a deep and debilitating depression.
This affected every aspect of my life, but for the purposes of this request, I became unable to focus on my studies sufficiently enough to successfully complete this course. Having struggled through and failed the mid-term exam, the instructor suggested that if I wished to drop the course, he would support my request. Feeling like a failure and struggling with even the simplest of daily tasks, I was under the misguided impression that a drop on my transcript was just as bad as a fail and I didn¿¿t have the strength to complete the paperwork that was required in 2001 to drop a course after the drop date. I walked away and didn¿¿t look back for several years.
I was not able to resume my studies until 2007. I switched programs to something more manageable, I was more conscious of my capabilities with respect to work/school/life balance and recognized times when it was best to put my studies on the back-burner to deal with other things by simply not taking courses during times of difficulty. While this request should have been made in 2001 with a future plan for success included, in 2001 I honestly did not see myself having a future. Instead I would like my academic record since resuming my studies to stand as evidence that I am committed to successfully completing my education and it is my hope that this is better than a promise to do better in the future. Since 2007, I have been committed to my department, focused in my studies and my marks have been steadily climbing. Last year I was awarded a scholarship for top marks in a part-time program. I didn¿¿t even know I was eligible.
Even now this is a difficult thing for me to discuss. I have had supporting documentation from my doctor for three months while I have wrestled with the decision to write this letter and bare my soul to strangers. As I approach completion of my degree, and with each new success, I contemplate next steps and the looming fail on my transcript is a constant reminder of worse times. It is my sincerest hope that you are able to consider this request, in spite of the ridiculous amount of time that has passed.

Thank you for your consideration


Tracy Vyse