Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to submit my petition for an academic appeal regarding my final grade for GPHY227: Cities: Geography, Planning and Urban Life, which I completed at Queen's University during the fall semester of the 2022??2023 academic year. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your time and consideration in reviewing my appeal.
During the fall semester, I encountered extenuating circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance in the aforementioned course. To provide context, following a deferred exam period in January, Professor Morejon Perez assigned me an alternative assignment to compensate for a missed assessment. Although we did not establish a precise submission deadline, the professor encouraged me to take my time and email him the finished essay. Regrettably, my attempts to contact him regarding the assignment went unanswered. It was later discovered, through my communication with the Undergraduate Program Assistant, Sharon Mohammed, that Professor Morejon Perez had departed Queens and was no longer accessing his Queens email, which is what caused the lack of communication. I want to emphasize that Professor Morejon Perez was incredibly helpful during my time of need. I am deeply appreciative of his support in assisting me in succeeding and realizing my potential.
Unfortunately, I was unaware that my grade status was initially marked as IN and would be converted to an F after April 30th. This lack of awareness, coupled with the ongoing mental health issues I faced this past year, contributed to the challenges I encountered, leading to the current situation. Throughout the fall semester, I faced unforeseen difficulties that placed a tremendous amount of pressure on me both academically and personally. As a result, I was advised by my doctor and family to reduce my course load to three classes, aiming to alleviate the strain on my mental health and enhance my academic performance. Despite my efforts, balancing my courses while managing the negative impacts of high stress and anxiety levels proved challenging.
After making significant progress, I resumed a typical course load of five classes for the winter semester, which proved overwhelming at times. Taking Professor Morejon Perez's advice to take my time literally, I struggled to manage my workload effectively. Furthermore, during this period, in consultation with my therapist, I concluded that I might be experiencing symptoms of ADHD, which had a direct impact on my ability to complete daily tasks, including school work, promptly. Unfortunately, seeking assistance from Queens Student Health Services posed a challenge, as they were booked solid until the end of the semester in May. If I had been able to consult with a healthcare professional, receive an assessment, and obtain treatment for ADHD, it could have alleviated my struggles with procrastination. With that said I had my appointment with Dr. Weiss at Student Health Services on May 14th, and I have a follow-up scheduled in September when I return to Kingston for my fourth year. I hope to receive appropriate treatment that will address this issue moving forward effectively.
Considering these circumstances, I kindly request a review of my credit standing for GPHY 227 instead of a grade. I firmly believe that accepting a failure for this course due to miscommunication regarding deadlines and ongoing extenuating circumstances would not be justifiable. Associate Head, of Geography Undergraduate Programs, Dr. George Bevan is aware of these challenges and has provided his support in recognizing the impact they had on my academic performance throughout the semester and agrees with the decision to grant me a credit standing. Furthermore, if the status of my grade had not been changed to IN without my knowledge, I would have passed the class even if the work hadn't been graded. Lastly, I would like to highlight that I am going into my fourth year and receiving an F will not allow me to graduate on time with the rest of my class as I plan on doing.
Despite the substantial academic challenges I faced over the past year, I have made substantial progress in recognizing the value of my education and prioritizing my academic success. I have actively developed healthy and uplifting daily habits that will contribute to achieving my goals within my undergraduate degree.
Thank you once again for your time and attention to my appeal. I hope you will consider the extenuating circumstances I have presented and grant me the opportunity to review my credit standing. If any additional information or documentation is required to support my case, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am fully committed to demonstrating my academic potential and dedication to my studies.
Sincerely,
Alyssa Payne 20239503
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to submit my petition for an academic appeal regarding my final grade for GPHY227: Cities: Geography, Planning and Urban Life, which I completed at Queen's University during the fall semester of the 2022??2023 academic year. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your time and consideration in reviewing my appeal.
During the fall semester, I encountered extenuating circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance in the aforementioned course. To provide context, following a deferred exam period in January, Professor Morejon Perez assigned me an alternative assignment to compensate for a missed assessment. Although we did not establish a precise submission deadline, the professor encouraged me to take my time and email him the finished essay. Regrettably, my attempts to contact him regarding the assignment went unanswered. It was later discovered, through my communication with the Undergraduate Program Assistant, Sharon Mohammed, that Professor Morejon Perez had departed Queens and was no longer accessing his Queens email, which is what caused the lack of communication. I want to emphasize that Professor Morejon Perez was incredibly helpful during my time of need. I am deeply appreciative of his support in assisting me in succeeding and realizing my potential.
Unfortunately, I was unaware that my grade status was initially marked as IN and would be converted to an F after April 30th. This lack of awareness, coupled with the ongoing mental health issues I faced this past year, contributed to the challenges I encountered, leading to the current situation. Throughout the fall semester, I faced unforeseen difficulties that placed a tremendous amount of pressure on me both academically and personally. As a result, I was advised by my doctor and family to reduce my course load to three classes, aiming to alleviate the strain on my mental health and enhance my academic performance. Despite my efforts, balancing my courses while managing the negative impacts of high stress and anxiety levels proved challenging.
After making significant progress, I resumed a typical course load of five classes for the winter semester, which proved overwhelming at times. Taking Professor Morejon Perez's advice to take my time literally, I struggled to manage my workload effectively. Furthermore, during this period, in consultation with my therapist, I concluded that I might be experiencing symptoms of ADHD, which had a direct impact on my ability to complete daily tasks, including school work, promptly. Unfortunately, seeking assistance from Queens Student Health Services posed a challenge, as they were booked solid until the end of the semester in May. If I had been able to consult with a healthcare professional, receive an assessment, and obtain treatment for ADHD, it could have alleviated my struggles with procrastination. With that said I had my appointment with Dr. Weiss at Student Health Services on May 14th, and I have a follow-up scheduled in September when I return to Kingston for my fourth year. I hope to receive appropriate treatment that will address this issue moving forward effectively.
Considering these circumstances, I kindly request a review of my credit standing for GPHY 227 instead of a grade. I firmly believe that accepting a failure for this course due to miscommunication regarding deadlines and ongoing extenuating circumstances would not be justifiable. Associate Head, of Geography Undergraduate Programs, Dr. George Bevan is aware of these challenges and has provided his support in recognizing the impact they had on my academic performance throughout the semester and agrees with the decision to grant me a credit standing. Furthermore, if the status of my grade had not been changed to IN without my knowledge, I would have passed the class even if the work hadn't been graded. Lastly, I would like to highlight that I am going into my fourth year and receiving an F will not allow me to graduate on time with the rest of my class as I plan on doing.
Despite the substantial academic challenges I faced over the past year, I have made substantial progress in recognizing the value of my education and prioritizing my academic success. I have actively developed healthy and uplifting daily habits that will contribute to achieving my goals within my undergraduate degree.
Thank you once again for your time and attention to my appeal. I hope you will consider the extenuating circumstances I have presented and grant me the opportunity to review my credit standing. If any additional information or documentation is required to support my case, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am fully committed to demonstrating my academic potential and dedication to my studies.
Sincerely,
Alyssa Payne 20239503