Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard, Associate Dean (studies),

I am writing to you to drop the course POLS310: Principles of the Canadian Constitution, after the drop-deadline.

Several events in this course have caused me to experience severe anxiety, beyond my control:

- The first graded component of our mark (worth 20) was a midterm that was supposed to happen on October 23rd - before the drop deadline. This midterm was postponed a week ahead (October 30th) due to the professor's illness. Marks for this midterm were released on November 8th - after the drop deadline.

- Our professor, Dr. Janet Hiebert, withdrew from teaching our class shortly after our midterm, and was replaced by Dr. Kristin Hulme.

- The class-average for the midterm was 52. I would blame this largely on the disorganization of Dr Hiebert. However, whether this was the case or not, several students came forth presenting alternative answers to the multiple choice section of the midterm - different than the original correct answers. Some of these were deemed to be correct alterations.

- When I presented an alternative answer to a question on the midterm, citing my reasoning and referencing course content in a well thought out email, Dr Hulme responded to me simply with No.. She did not care to help me understand why I was wrong, nor how the course content could be clarified. When I asked her to expand on this, no response was received.

- Professor Hulme has continued to teach the class in lieu of Dr. Hiebert's absence. She swears often in class, and comes across as very difficult to approach.

Due to these aforementioned circumstances, I feel a tremendous amount of anxiety coming to Dr. Hulme after class, or during office hours for clarification on course content.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, and am currently medicated for it, and also receive exam accommodations through QSAS.

Her disdain for student clarification and lack of respect for a student's desire to succeed in her course is appalling, and is the source of my anxiety in this course. I feel that by continuing in this course, my grade will greatly suffer as I am unable to make use of her office hours, or to speak in class.

This all occurred after the drop deadline, and there was no way I could have foreseen any of it. This is why I did not drop the course prior to the deadline.

In the future, I plan to take an alternative 300 level POLS course to fulfil the requirements of my major - either next semester, or in my 4th year.

I appreciate your time in reading this letter.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

Callum Linden