Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dean Bénard,

I am writing to request a waiver of the requirement to withdraw, GPHY243, PHIL276, ARTH228, ARTH260, CLST203 be late dropped, and aegrotat standing for PHIL275, and PHIL153. This appeal letter I will outline both extenuating circumstances, provide documentation and explanations for my actions, and establish an academic plan to finish my degree.

In fall semester of fifth year I ran into an issue with my request to extend my study permit, as I am a US citizen and have no citizen status in Canada. I had submitted all my documents to extend my study permit, but the government had incorrectly processed my application, leaving me with no official status in the country for the first few weeks of my academic year. In September, I was instructed by an immigration attorney that I was not legally allowed to be in classes until the government re-processed my application and granted me my valid study permit. I was never told that I could simply drive to the border and request an expedited permit. I only found out this information in late September. On October 2nd I took a taxi to the border and secured a new permit extension. However, because I was under the impression that I had to wait for the government to re-process my case, I was not keeping up with drop deadlines as I thought I would not have to drop courses. Ultimately, missing a few weeks caused me to fail 2 courses: GPHY243 and PHIL276. I am requesting that these 2 courses be late dropped from my transcript. Navigating the study permit system was very emotionally difficult and time-consuming. I was able to complete 3 out of 5 classes that semester but finishing all 5 was impossible given my late start. I was enjoying the work I was doing and was looking forward to working hard in second semester and finishing my degree. I successfully wrote term papers and exams and could not foresee that I would be mired in extenuating circumstances again in the winter. Leaving fall semester proud of my work was a feeling that I had not had since the winter of third year, and I truly was mentally and emotionally dedicated to maintaining a similar work ethic for the winter.

I had met with academic advisors in fall semester and had been told that I needed to take a winter semester and 3 summer courses to finish my degree. I was excited to have a plan and I was taking courses I enjoyed in philosophy, which, if given the opportunity to continue my studies at Queen¿¿s in the fall, I will keep doing. On February 1st I was involved in a situation that dramatically affected both my ability to complete coursework and my mental health. I had to report the incident to the Kingston Police, and again was faced with a system and choices I didn¿¿t fully understand all while I was undergoing one of the most mentally and emotionally difficult periods in my life. I promptly filed all my reports with the police and the Queen¿¿s sexual assault office. I was granted an extension until April 26th that was sent to my professors saying I would be able to submit work late. This extension was enormously helpful, but the impact from the initial incident was more long-lasting than I originally anticipated. Ultimately, I was able to complete readings and attend class infrequently, but major assignments were very difficult for me to work on and the amount of work eventually became so much that I felt extremely powerless to accomplish all of it. I was very hesitant to request for more time to complete my work because I did not want to have to explain my situation to all of my professors and go back through the event. I didn¿¿t understand that I wouldn¿¿t have to explain what had happened to me, and I felt embarrassed that I was letting one event affect me as much as it was. At the end of winter term I wrote all of my exams, but had completed none of my term papers.

My academic plan moving forward is to finish the credits required for my BA. I have finished my Geography requirements and hope to take electives in philosophy and writing. The second is to continue with counseling that I began this summer by using LaSalle and a private therapist. I will be sending a letter from my therapist to accompany this appeal. The third aspect will be utilizing all the resources that Queen¿¿s provides me with. This includes the International Centre, the Writing Centre, the Peer Support Centre and academic advising- among others. I believe that I have learned my lesson in withdrawing into myself during times of emotional and mental difficulty and will now more effectively reach out to my professors and university services. Through this plan I am certain that I can produce academic work at a high standard and raise my GPA to the level required to graduate.

Thank you very much for your consideration and I hope to be able to prove how dedicated I am to finishing my degree this year.