Petition Letter
Academic Withdraw Appeal-Robert Bogle
June 11, 2014
To the Associate Dean (Studies):
I am writing to appeal the faculty's decision that I must withdraw from my studies in the Bachelor of Science Honours (Geology) program at Queen's University for one year.
The timeline of the events below will demonstrate the extenuating circumstances which I am basing my appeal. During the time the academic standing emails were being sent to me; my focus was critically devoted elsewhere. The areas I was focusing on included: my full time summer employment, training several hours per week in preparation for Queen's football training camp and most importantly being actively involved in supporting my family through a very stressful health crisis. These factors caused me to miss the critical email detailing my true academic standing. The ignorance of the facts contained within the email led me to make uninformed course selection choices, which unfortunately has placed me in my current academic situation. Had I been aware of the aforementioned email I would have taken appropriate actions to ensure my good standing at the university. The informed steps I would have taken a year ago are essentially the same steps I have listed in my academic plan that I am submitting as part of this appeal.
The following provides the time frame of events that led to my current situation:
On May 22, 2013 I received an email stating that I was in good academic standing with the university. I had reviewed all my course grades and was waiting to be contacted by my student employer to begin full time employment to earn money for my next year's tuition.
In early June 2013, I began my full time employment.
July 14, 2013, a close family member experienced an emergency health crisis that impacted both me and my parents.
July 15, 2013 an email was sent to me advising a grade change was made to my Math 110-Linear Algebra course. Unbeknownst to me this change resulted in a correction to my academic standing. Later that day an email was sent to me advising me my good academic standing had changed to academic probation. I read the initial email advising of the grade change; however, due to the extenuating family circumstance I did not notice the later email advising me of the change to academic probation nor thought to check as my focus was on my family member.
Around the end of July early August 2013, I proceeded to select challenging courses for the 2013/14 academic year. While the turmoil of my family situation continued and without a support system to advise me that I should be considering an alternative course selection and to reach out to various support networks that are available to assist with any challenges that one may encounter during the upcoming year.
During the academic year I continued to work through my course plan which resulted in me receiving a failed grade in an elective course and successfully completing 6 courses (Physics 216 -Introduction to Astrophysics, Computer Programming 121- Introduction to Computing Science I, Math 221- Vector Calculus, Geography 102 - Earth System Science, Geology 107- History of Life, Geology 249-Geophysical Characterization of the Earth) in the 2013/14 academic year.
May 27, 2014, I became aware through checking my Queen's email account that I was being requested to withdraw from my studies at Queen's University, Bachelor of Science Honours (Geology).
May 28th,, 2014, I scheduled an appointment to meet with an academic adviser to seek advice and identify options available to me in order to continue my studies in the upcoming academic year.
In order to improve my academic standing, I have developed the following plan in consultation with an academic advisor and student athlete advisor. I am requesting the opportunity to take the following steps during this academic year in order to overcome the challenges I encountered and be successful in continuing my studies commencing September 2014 within the Bachelor of Science Honours (Geology) program.
In closing, I can assure you I am committed to my plan and meeting any other expectation that you require of me.
Thank you for considering my request. Should you wish to meet, at your convenience, and discuss my situation I can be contacted at 613-876-8371.
Sincerely,
Robert Edmund Bogle
Student : 10050737
June 11, 2014
To the Associate Dean (Studies):
I am writing to appeal the faculty's decision that I must withdraw from my studies in the Bachelor of Science Honours (Geology) program at Queen's University for one year.
The timeline of the events below will demonstrate the extenuating circumstances which I am basing my appeal. During the time the academic standing emails were being sent to me; my focus was critically devoted elsewhere. The areas I was focusing on included: my full time summer employment, training several hours per week in preparation for Queen's football training camp and most importantly being actively involved in supporting my family through a very stressful health crisis. These factors caused me to miss the critical email detailing my true academic standing. The ignorance of the facts contained within the email led me to make uninformed course selection choices, which unfortunately has placed me in my current academic situation. Had I been aware of the aforementioned email I would have taken appropriate actions to ensure my good standing at the university. The informed steps I would have taken a year ago are essentially the same steps I have listed in my academic plan that I am submitting as part of this appeal.
The following provides the time frame of events that led to my current situation:
On May 22, 2013 I received an email stating that I was in good academic standing with the university. I had reviewed all my course grades and was waiting to be contacted by my student employer to begin full time employment to earn money for my next year's tuition.
In early June 2013, I began my full time employment.
July 14, 2013, a close family member experienced an emergency health crisis that impacted both me and my parents.
July 15, 2013 an email was sent to me advising a grade change was made to my Math 110-Linear Algebra course. Unbeknownst to me this change resulted in a correction to my academic standing. Later that day an email was sent to me advising me my good academic standing had changed to academic probation. I read the initial email advising of the grade change; however, due to the extenuating family circumstance I did not notice the later email advising me of the change to academic probation nor thought to check as my focus was on my family member.
Around the end of July early August 2013, I proceeded to select challenging courses for the 2013/14 academic year. While the turmoil of my family situation continued and without a support system to advise me that I should be considering an alternative course selection and to reach out to various support networks that are available to assist with any challenges that one may encounter during the upcoming year.
During the academic year I continued to work through my course plan which resulted in me receiving a failed grade in an elective course and successfully completing 6 courses (Physics 216 -Introduction to Astrophysics, Computer Programming 121- Introduction to Computing Science I, Math 221- Vector Calculus, Geography 102 - Earth System Science, Geology 107- History of Life, Geology 249-Geophysical Characterization of the Earth) in the 2013/14 academic year.
May 27, 2014, I became aware through checking my Queen's email account that I was being requested to withdraw from my studies at Queen's University, Bachelor of Science Honours (Geology).
May 28th,, 2014, I scheduled an appointment to meet with an academic adviser to seek advice and identify options available to me in order to continue my studies in the upcoming academic year.
In order to improve my academic standing, I have developed the following plan in consultation with an academic advisor and student athlete advisor. I am requesting the opportunity to take the following steps during this academic year in order to overcome the challenges I encountered and be successful in continuing my studies commencing September 2014 within the Bachelor of Science Honours (Geology) program.
In closing, I can assure you I am committed to my plan and meeting any other expectation that you require of me.
Thank you for considering my request. Should you wish to meet, at your convenience, and discuss my situation I can be contacted at 613-876-8371.
Sincerely,
Robert Edmund Bogle
Student : 10050737