Petition Letter
Appeal of Academic Standing and Explanation of missing Appeal Deadline Date
Further to discussions with Sue Blake, Director - Student Services Division, I request that you please consider this as an Appeal of my Academic Standing at Queens University and an explanation of why I am filing it after the deadline date.
I came to know of my academic standing after a conversation with Ms. Blake only this past week when on August 5th, she explained that I could not view my grades or transcript due to a financial hold on my Queens account. I also came to know of the requirement to withdraw at that time.
Upon learning this, I addressed the financial hold immediately. In addition, I searched through my Queens email and personal mail from the date Ms. Blake indicated a letter had been sent, but could not find any communication on this matter. She also advised that I submit this appeal and explain that I did not receive the notification letter and therefore, was unaware of both the requirement to withdraw and the deadline for filing an Appeal.
I hope the above explains why I missed the deadline for filing an Appeal with your office.
With respect to my academic performance, I would like to state emphatically that this year is not an indicator of my capabilities, or my commitment to my studies and chosen career path. I am the eldest son in a South-Asian family where expectations are always at a very high level. Unfortunately, in June 2013, my father lost his job due to a company merger and was unable to find work for a year and a half despite having multiple final interviews.
During this time, our financial circumstances deteriorated dramatically. This resulted in constant stress and affected my ability to focus on my studies as I felt that I should be at home doing whatever I could to help. My parents had expectations that I should do well in school and would have strongly opposed me putting my studies on hold to help at home. Telling them how I felt would have only put greater stress on both of them so I kept silent and acted as if the family situation was not affecting me, though it clearly was.
The financial situation came to a point where bills were paid through borrowings as my father hoped that a job offer would come through. My thoughts and worries would not let me concentrate on anything except what was going on at home and my studies suffered greatly as a result. I tried ignoring the reality at home and tried doing my best to bring some positivity into the household but I was never able to focus properly. Everything just kept going downhill.
Sadly, my father eventually had to sell the house this year and currently we reside in a rental property. The feeling of not being able to do anything to help did not allow me focus on my academics at all. Compounding this situation was the fact that I did not receive enough assistance from OSAP to pay back Queens and I held back telling my parents this because I did not want them to face any more hardships or heavy stress considering the home situation. I tried finding jobs and received interviews with the sole purpose to pay back my outstanding fees to Queens but was turned down by many workplaces while I was at the University. Normally, I would have seen my grades on Solus after exams but with the remaining fees, no money to pay with, and the stress of what was going on at home, I held back telling anyone because I wanted no one to worry about anything.
As of now my father is employed and things are starting to take a go back to normal. My parents are in a better financial situation now and feel confident that with the proceeds on the house sale, things will be stable at home for the next few years.
If given the chance by the Associate Dean (Studies), I plan to strive for success and demonstrate my true capability at one of the most prestigious Universities in North America. I assure you I will be the student I know I am and will achieve the success I set out for myself.
Finally, given my situation this past year I request your office that my academic records be withdrawn so that I could start a new this September either at Queen's or York University.
I sincerely thank you for your time to review my Appeal and explanation for filing it late. I anxiously await your decision. Please contact me at 647-447-7028 or my student email 13ar23@queensu.ca should you have any questions or require additional information.
Respectfully,
Ali Rizwan
Further to discussions with Sue Blake, Director - Student Services Division, I request that you please consider this as an Appeal of my Academic Standing at Queens University and an explanation of why I am filing it after the deadline date.
I came to know of my academic standing after a conversation with Ms. Blake only this past week when on August 5th, she explained that I could not view my grades or transcript due to a financial hold on my Queens account. I also came to know of the requirement to withdraw at that time.
Upon learning this, I addressed the financial hold immediately. In addition, I searched through my Queens email and personal mail from the date Ms. Blake indicated a letter had been sent, but could not find any communication on this matter. She also advised that I submit this appeal and explain that I did not receive the notification letter and therefore, was unaware of both the requirement to withdraw and the deadline for filing an Appeal.
I hope the above explains why I missed the deadline for filing an Appeal with your office.
With respect to my academic performance, I would like to state emphatically that this year is not an indicator of my capabilities, or my commitment to my studies and chosen career path. I am the eldest son in a South-Asian family where expectations are always at a very high level. Unfortunately, in June 2013, my father lost his job due to a company merger and was unable to find work for a year and a half despite having multiple final interviews.
During this time, our financial circumstances deteriorated dramatically. This resulted in constant stress and affected my ability to focus on my studies as I felt that I should be at home doing whatever I could to help. My parents had expectations that I should do well in school and would have strongly opposed me putting my studies on hold to help at home. Telling them how I felt would have only put greater stress on both of them so I kept silent and acted as if the family situation was not affecting me, though it clearly was.
The financial situation came to a point where bills were paid through borrowings as my father hoped that a job offer would come through. My thoughts and worries would not let me concentrate on anything except what was going on at home and my studies suffered greatly as a result. I tried ignoring the reality at home and tried doing my best to bring some positivity into the household but I was never able to focus properly. Everything just kept going downhill.
Sadly, my father eventually had to sell the house this year and currently we reside in a rental property. The feeling of not being able to do anything to help did not allow me focus on my academics at all. Compounding this situation was the fact that I did not receive enough assistance from OSAP to pay back Queens and I held back telling my parents this because I did not want them to face any more hardships or heavy stress considering the home situation. I tried finding jobs and received interviews with the sole purpose to pay back my outstanding fees to Queens but was turned down by many workplaces while I was at the University. Normally, I would have seen my grades on Solus after exams but with the remaining fees, no money to pay with, and the stress of what was going on at home, I held back telling anyone because I wanted no one to worry about anything.
As of now my father is employed and things are starting to take a go back to normal. My parents are in a better financial situation now and feel confident that with the proceeds on the house sale, things will be stable at home for the next few years.
If given the chance by the Associate Dean (Studies), I plan to strive for success and demonstrate my true capability at one of the most prestigious Universities in North America. I assure you I will be the student I know I am and will achieve the success I set out for myself.
Finally, given my situation this past year I request your office that my academic records be withdrawn so that I could start a new this September either at Queen's or York University.
I sincerely thank you for your time to review my Appeal and explanation for filing it late. I anxiously await your decision. Please contact me at 647-447-7028 or my student email 13ar23@queensu.ca should you have any questions or require additional information.
Respectfully,
Ali Rizwan