I need you to write a well-structured and polished letter for a Dean Waiver of Appeal based on the attached document. This letter should:
Answer all the questions included in the document.
Include all my details in a logical and coherent order.
Ensure a smooth flow throughout the letter.
Please make sure to include everything from the document. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact me, as this is very important.
DEAN’S WAIVER APPEAL LETTER
INFORMATION SHEET 2023-2024
In your appeal letter, you must address all of the following questions:
What were the extenuating circumstance(s) which contributed most significantly to your poor academic performance? When did the problem(s) arise? Supporting documentation must be submitted with the petition.
It started in my first year of university when my dad moved out and my parents started to get a separation/divorce.
Switched programs and went into BMOS taking a lot of math and business classes that I did not enjoy.
I am not good at math and was not going to the classes because I wasn’t interested in the content.
I do have a learning disability but the paperwork hasn’t been updated with Kings because of how expensive it is to get a psych assessment done. It would be beneficial to get the updated paperwork to possibly get better accommodations for myself but the assessment is really expensive for me to get done on my own as I am getting very minimal help from my parents to help with tuition and rent.
a. During the time you were encountering problems that affected your academic performance,
what attempts did you make to contact your instructors; Academic Advisors; Accessibility,
Counselling & Student Development; and/or Student Health Services?
There were a few times when I went to Kings counselling for some of my issues that I wanted to talk about but I mostly share my emotions and issues with some of my close family that I trust.
I have used the academic advisor’s office quite a few times to help me with my class options and my program. The people were always very helpful as whenever I went to go see someone I was always in a very bad position = stressed out.
b. Did you request academic consideration at the time you were experiencing major problems
that were affecting your academic performance?
There were many times that I’ve needed to ask for an extension on an assignment or ask for extra help with something because of the hard times I was going through. Although all of my professors were very kind and some of them I even told them why I needed an extension.
I do feel comfortable asking for extra help and asking for study tips.
I did use some of my extra time accommodations that I have for exams which i do think the quite room with the extra time did help me focus and I do plan to continue using the accommodations that I have.
c. Did you assume responsibility to take steps to minimize the impact on your academic work
from the difficulties you were encountering?
Yes, I always did what needed to come first to meet all of my deadlines.
I would seek help from professors, TA’s, classmates, family and friends whenever i needed help with something.
If needed I would arrange a new reasonable deadline with my prof.
For my math classes I did get a private tutor that i met up with twice a week, he was kinda helpful.
d. Approximately what percentage of classes did you attend in each course? Please note that
we will be asking your instructors for attendance data.
For my send year in university, my attendance wasn’t so good because I wasn’t going to the classes that I didn’t enjoy. But would still make an effort to do the work and when I was at school I would go to my classes.
In my third year, my attendance was much better I was going to class because I was taking classes that I really enjoyed.
I’m not sure what percentage I went to but I did go to almost all of my classes except if I had an appointment or wasn’t able to make it for a good enough reason.
e. What assignments/tests/labs/quizzes/exams did you complete in each course?
I cannot remember every single assignment, test, lab, quiz and exam I’ve ever done since first year but I do not do well with taking tests or exams i get very nervous and draw blanks when I am in the exam room. I really prefer doing assignments, labs, quizzes or discussion posts so when I have the opportunity to do something that I know I do well in I give it my best work and put a lot of effort into that thing that I know I can do well in.
f. Please record the grades you received for assignments/tests/labs/quizzes/exams, etc. in each
course. If you failed to complete all the course requirements, explain and provide reasons.
I am currently unable to see my marks on the Student Center because my account is on hold due to an issue with my financial account at Kings. The problem arose when it was discovered that another student had been making payments to my account. Neither the school nor I was aware of this until the school brought it to my attention. I had been under the impression that all payments were being handled by my mother, but it turned out this was not the case. As a result, the school informed me that I owe a total of $4,096.68, which they required to be paid within two weeks. Unfortunately, I was unable to provide the full amount in that short timeframe. To address the situation, I proposed a payment plan to the school. However, until the balance is fully paid off, my account remains on hold. This hold restricts my access to various features on the Student Center, including the ability to view my marks.
I can provide some of the marks that I have gotten and kept track of myself but I do not have all of that information at this moment.
For something that I have not completed it was most likely for a bonus mark or something that I didn’t need to do it wasn’t a requirement. I always did all of the required tasks in the course.
g. Please list the final grade earned in each course in which you were registered during the
2023-24 academic year.
Still am not able to get all of my final marks because my account is on hold but I did email some of my professors and I did get some of my final marks.
CYS 2214G 570 – 74%
CYS 2212G 570 – 38%
CYS 2231B 570 – 61.8%
PSYCH 2076B 570 – I think I got a 51%
2. Please explain how the issues/problems that contributed to your academic difficulties last
year have been resolved so as to ensure academic success during the forthcoming academic
year. If your problems were medical, please provide a letter from your physician
confirming that your medical condition is unlikely to affect your academic work next year.
3. What are your academic goals?
Would love to see my grades improve.
Find new study strategies that work best for my way of learning
Participate in class
Develop better research skills
Study more for exams
Prepare for what life will look like after my undergrad.
Have a growth mindset
a. What is your long-term degree/program objective?
I am dedicated to finishing my undergraduate studies and graduating with a strong academic record. After completing my degree, I aspire to continue my education by pursuing further studies in a field that I am passionate about. Specifically, I am considering either attending college for a subject that deeply interests me or enrolling in a teacher’s college to pursue a career in education. Continuing my education in these areas will not only allow me to follow my interests but also provide me with the skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact in my future career.
b. In what specific program do you wish to register during the coming year?
Childhood and Social Institutions with possibly a minor in Psychology.
c. What specific courses do you wish to take during the coming year?
Still need to speak to academic counselling about my classes next year because I need to make sure I am on the right track and want to make sure I am meeting all of the requirements to stay in this program and to take more classes in this program.
d. NOTE: In (b) and (c), do not list courses or programs for which you are not currently Eligible. You must check the prerequisites for the program and courses you wish to
take.
This is why I need to make an appointment with academic counselling to make sure I have all of the prerequisites for the program.
Extra Points to Include Notes:
Switching from program to program was messing with my classes and I was taking classes I did not enjoy.
Went through a tough breakup last summer.
Financially things were tough and I was working while being in school and that was also a distraction while trying to be a full-time student.
Now that I am in a program I enjoy I want to put all of my hard work and effort into something that I enjoy learning about.
But it was mainly the divorce with my parents and the program I was in second year which was business. I was taking math classes that I did not enjoy and wasnt doing well in them because I am not good at math. That was dragging me down. Now that I have been taking classes that I enjoy I have been getting better marks and doing much better overall.
Learning Disability
I also wrote this a few weeks ago to someone at the school for my reasons and I want to also include these reasons as well in this letter talking about mental health and how I think being in school is the best thing for me right now.
LETTER:
I hope this email finds you well. I am reaching out to discuss my academic progress at King’s University and the possibility that I might have to withdraw from school for a year. Although I have not yet received any official notice, this concern has been on my mind, and I feel it is important to discuss it with you.
I would like to explain some of the reasons why I might not have performed well academically during my second year and the first semester of my third year. Initially, I was enrolled in a business program, which I did not enjoy. I then switched to the psychology program, but it still required math courses, in which I struggled. Currently, I am in the Childhood and Social Institutions program, which I find much more engaging. The courses align with my interests and strengths, allowing me to put more effort into my studies.
During my first two years and part of my third year, I was also dealing with significant personal stress. My parents were going through a very difficult divorce, which affected me greatly. The stress and worry about my family back in Mississauga distracted me from focusing on my life and studies in London.
Financial difficulties further compounded my challenges, as I had to balance work and school. However, my financial situation has since improved, allowing me to concentrate more on my academics.
One of my major concerns is the potential stigma of being placed on academic probation. I am deeply worried about how others might perceive this, and it has been weighing heavily on my mind. Although I know it is not healthy to be overly concerned with others’ opinions, it is something I struggle with.
Being away from home in Mississauga and living in a rented house in London also adds to my worries. I have a lease for another year or two, and it would be impractical to pay for a place I am not living in. I genuinely want to continue my studies because I feel I am now in a much better headspace and overall good position to succeed.
I believe that taking a year off would only add more stress and disrupt the routine I have established. I am keen to continue my studies with a reduced course load, which has helped manage my workload.
If necessary, I am more than willing to write a formal letter detailing my reasons and circumstances in greater detail. I appreciate your understanding and consideration of my situation. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTACH THE PDF OF MY DOCUMENT SO I HAD TO COPY AND PASTE IT HERE
