Petition Letter
27 November, 2015
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
RE: Academic Appeal
Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,
This is my formal letter of appeal seeking permission to drop FILM 240 past the drop deadline. I have contacted the course instructor, Sidneyeve Matrix, asking if she would make an exception to accommodate my case. Since she did not, I am writing to you to outline the reasons for my appeal of her decision.
I took FILM 240 as an online elective in hopes of it working around my busy schedule in the Fall semester of 2015. My heavy workload aside from FILM 240 online, consists of a one semester long honours project worth 6.0 credits (ENSC 430), a fourth year environmental science seminar (ENSC 480), and PSYC 100. Both the honours project and seminar are required for my degree plan, and I chose to take PSYC 100 out of interest. In week 9, I had to deliver a presentation in my seminar, complete a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) assignment due the following Tuesday, and finish substantial parts of my honours project report by the following Monday. I prioritized these deadlines, and unfortunately in doing so, FILM 240 was unattended to during week 9.
Before week 9 of FILM 240, I felt confident in my ability to perform in the course. I had done moderately well on the previous assignment and midterm, receiving grades of B+ and B, respectively. Furthermore, I believed I had placed all of the deadlines of each of my courses into my calendar, and in week 9, saw nothing for FILM 240. The Tuesday of week 10, however, I decided to get caught up on week 9 material of FILM 240 and noticed that a substantial number of people had recently submitted an assignment that I did not realize was due at that time. Upon checking the syllabus to verify this deadline, I also noticed that no late work was to be accepted, and that students that did not submit the assignment on time would receive an F/0. I had missed the deadline, and consequently received a 0 on the assignment worth 20. Furthermore, the syllabus outlines that 10 online forum posts must be completed by December 3rd, however, paragraphs later in this section of the syllabus, it states that 70 of these posts must be completed by November 1st. This was, unfortunately, another deadline I missed. Therefore, if I were to achieve an A+ on the final exam, the maximum grade I can receive in this course is 56, as a result of these missed deadlines. Assuming I receive an A- or A in each of my other courses, this will reduce my term GPA by a whole letter grade. This is important to me because I am hoping to pursue medical school as a post-graduate degree, which requires a high GPA.
I am a fourth year student in Environmental Science (Hons.), and I plan on graduating this Spring 2016. I have looked into options of retaking FILM 240. The next time it is offered is in Fall 2016. This would mean returning as a part-time student for a single credit. Even if I were to retake this course, however, medical schools would take the average of both grades received. FILM 240 served as an elective to fulfill my degree requirements. If I could drop FILM 240, I plan on taking an extra course next semester in order to complete my degree requirements and graduate on time. I am certain I would be able to handle six courses next semester as I have completed all of my degree requirements and am therefore only taking courses of interest. However, if I find it difficult to manage six courses, I am prepared to remove myself from an elective and instead take it during the Summer 2016 term.
Thank you for considering my appeal to drop FILM 240 beyond the drop deadline.
Sincerely,
Madeline Ewing
10062462
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Queen's University
Kingston, ON
RE: Academic Appeal
Dear Dr. Johanne Bénard,
This is my formal letter of appeal seeking permission to drop FILM 240 past the drop deadline. I have contacted the course instructor, Sidneyeve Matrix, asking if she would make an exception to accommodate my case. Since she did not, I am writing to you to outline the reasons for my appeal of her decision.
I took FILM 240 as an online elective in hopes of it working around my busy schedule in the Fall semester of 2015. My heavy workload aside from FILM 240 online, consists of a one semester long honours project worth 6.0 credits (ENSC 430), a fourth year environmental science seminar (ENSC 480), and PSYC 100. Both the honours project and seminar are required for my degree plan, and I chose to take PSYC 100 out of interest. In week 9, I had to deliver a presentation in my seminar, complete a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) assignment due the following Tuesday, and finish substantial parts of my honours project report by the following Monday. I prioritized these deadlines, and unfortunately in doing so, FILM 240 was unattended to during week 9.
Before week 9 of FILM 240, I felt confident in my ability to perform in the course. I had done moderately well on the previous assignment and midterm, receiving grades of B+ and B, respectively. Furthermore, I believed I had placed all of the deadlines of each of my courses into my calendar, and in week 9, saw nothing for FILM 240. The Tuesday of week 10, however, I decided to get caught up on week 9 material of FILM 240 and noticed that a substantial number of people had recently submitted an assignment that I did not realize was due at that time. Upon checking the syllabus to verify this deadline, I also noticed that no late work was to be accepted, and that students that did not submit the assignment on time would receive an F/0. I had missed the deadline, and consequently received a 0 on the assignment worth 20. Furthermore, the syllabus outlines that 10 online forum posts must be completed by December 3rd, however, paragraphs later in this section of the syllabus, it states that 70 of these posts must be completed by November 1st. This was, unfortunately, another deadline I missed. Therefore, if I were to achieve an A+ on the final exam, the maximum grade I can receive in this course is 56, as a result of these missed deadlines. Assuming I receive an A- or A in each of my other courses, this will reduce my term GPA by a whole letter grade. This is important to me because I am hoping to pursue medical school as a post-graduate degree, which requires a high GPA.
I am a fourth year student in Environmental Science (Hons.), and I plan on graduating this Spring 2016. I have looked into options of retaking FILM 240. The next time it is offered is in Fall 2016. This would mean returning as a part-time student for a single credit. Even if I were to retake this course, however, medical schools would take the average of both grades received. FILM 240 served as an elective to fulfill my degree requirements. If I could drop FILM 240, I plan on taking an extra course next semester in order to complete my degree requirements and graduate on time. I am certain I would be able to handle six courses next semester as I have completed all of my degree requirements and am therefore only taking courses of interest. However, if I find it difficult to manage six courses, I am prepared to remove myself from an elective and instead take it during the Summer 2016 term.
Thank you for considering my appeal to drop FILM 240 beyond the drop deadline.
Sincerely,
Madeline Ewing
10062462