These samples include all of the required elements for a student petition letter (date, a clear statement of the requested action, a description of the conditions that warrant an exception, the reason University policy and/or procedure could not be followed, student’s name and signature, current address, PSU ID number, current phone number, and email address).
Date: June 24, 2023
Student ID: 900000000
Student Name: Anna Student
Student Email: astudent@psu.edu
Student Phone: 814-000-0000
Senate Committee on Education
University Faculty Senate Office
101 Kern Graduate Building
University Park, PA 16802
To Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Education:
I am requesting a Retroactive Withdrawal (for all courses scheduled for a term).
Term(s) Requested (Like Spring 2020): Fall 2022
Describe the extenuating circumstances that affected your academic performance during the term(s) for which you are requesting a retroactive action. Include details about how they affected your academic performance specifically.
I was diagnosed with mono at the University Health Center. Although I was able to keep up with my courses at first, sometimes I was too tired to go to class and I fell behind in my work. Luckily, my instructors were very understanding and allowed me to make up exams and turn in papers late. Although I was behind, I felt I could keep making up the work initially.
Explain why you were not able to complete the retroactive action you are requesting by the established deadline during the term(s) you are requesting.
just as final exams were beginning, I was hospitalized with pneumonia. I realized then that I was not going to be able to make up the work I had missed, turn in all of my final projects, and take my final exams. I decided that I needed to withdraw, but it was already past the withdrawal deadline at that point. I would have requested deferred grades in order to complete the work the next term, but I had surgery on January 4 and am not able to do school work for an extended period of time. Under the circumstances, it will not be possible to complete the work by the deferred grade deadline.
To the best of your ability, please written documentation (submitted separate from this letter) to support all extenuating circumstances mentioned in your student letter, and how it relates to the term(s) being requested specifically. Make a list (1, 2, 3) below of all supporting documentation that you will include with your petition.
1. Letter from University Health Services with my diagnosis of mono
2. Hospital documentation with my diagnosis of pneumonia
3. Supporting letter from my adviser
4. Supporting letters from a couple of my Fall 2022 instructors
Thank you for your consideration.
Date: June 24, 2023
Student ID: 900000002
Student Name: Joe Student
Student Email: jstudent@psu.edu
Student Phone: 814-000-0002
Senate Committee on Education
University Faculty Senate Office
101 Kern Graduate Building
University Park, PA 16802
To Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Education:
I am requesting a Retroactive Late Course Drop (for one or more courses, but not all courses scheduled for a term).
Term(s) and Course(s) Requested (Like ENGL 202D-Fall 2020):
MKTG 437 and MKTG 440-Fall 2022
Describe the extenuating circumstances that affected your academic performance during the term(s) for which you are requesting a retroactive action. Include details about how they affected your academic performance specifically.
On December 4, 2022, I was hit by a pickup truck on Route 322 in Lewistown, PA. I suffered a severe concussion, and my left patella was broken in several places. Since the accident, I underwent two surgeries to have my kneecap rebuilt and another operation to have the hardware removed. I was unable to attend my classes for the rest of the term.
If you are requesting a retroactive late course drop from one or some courses, but not all courses scheduled for a term, explain how your extenuating circumstances affected one or some courses, but not others.
I was able to complete MKTG 426 and MKTG 428 from my home, but I was unable to complete MKTG 437 and MKTG 440 because both courses required a practicum, which I was unable to attend. This is my reason for being selective in asking for a retroactive late drop of these two courses.
Explain why you were not able to complete the retroactive action you are requesting by the established deadline during the term(s) you are requesting.
I was unable to attend my classes for the rest of the term; and because the accident happened after the late drop deadline, I could not late drop the courses via LionPATH.
To the best of your ability, please provide documentation to support all extenuating circumstances mentioned in your student letter, and how it relates to the term(s) being requested specifically. Describe supporting documentation below that will be included with your petition. You will upload the documentation along with this letter when you enter the system.
1. Documentation from the hospital concerning my accident, concussion, broken patella, and kneecap surgeries.
2. Support letters from my family doctor
3. Support letters from some of my Fall 2022 instructors.
4. Supporting letter from my Adviser
Thank you for your consideration.
Withdrawal
Consider the following scenarios for a student who was hospitalized and could not return to school:
- If the hospitalization occurred before the term withdrawal deadline, they should withdraw before the deadline.
- If the hospitalization occurred after the term withdrawal deadline (i.e., such as during the final exam period), a petition requesting a retroactive withdrawal may be appropriate. Documentation such as hospital records and/or a letter from their physician must be provided.
- If the hospitalization occurred before the term withdrawal deadline but the student did not follow the withdrawal procedure, a petition would not be appropriate unless they could document circumstances preventing them from completing the action in a timely manner.
Late Drop
If students are requesting a selective late drop from one or more courses from a current or previous term, a petition may be appropriate. However, they must explain why their circumstances did not affect all courses. (For example, a broken leg might affect a volleyball course but not a calculus course.) In addition, they must establish why the course was not late dropped before the term late drop deadline. Documentation for this rationale must be provided.
Improving Grade-Point Average (GPA)
If students cannot document a reason that University academic policies were not followed and their only justification for a retroactive request is to improve their grade-point average (GPA) (e.g., for entry to major, law/graduate school, scholarships), a petition is not appropriate.
priate.