Making a Formal Appeal Request

Appeals affecting students required to withdraw from the University

Appeals affecting students required to withdraw from the University are normally granted only in exceptional circumstances and it is not the usual practice in the Faculty of Health Sciences to grant more than one such appeal. Normally, the only grounds upon which you can request an appeal are those which involve major problems encountered during the academic year which were outside your control. These problems may have been medical, legal, family, etc., and they MUST be supported by appropriate documentation. In order to request a special concession such as a waiver of the progression or admission requirements, the problems must have been severe enough to have a drastic effect on your performance in your various evaluated assignments.

If you feel that your circumstances warrant consideration for you to be allowed to progress or be admitted into a program, please follow the procedure outlined below. The request MUST be typewritten. Please read through the entire form before you answer any of the questions.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your appeal information is complete and that you have responded to all questions listed below. Include all relevant information (personal information will be held in confidence). Files will not be reviewed until ALL requested information is received. If additional documentary evidence is brought to the attention of the Associate Dean after a final decision has been made, the onus will be on you to explain why the new evidence is significant and relevant, and why it was not included with your original appeal.

All requests for an appeal MUST be accompanied by a signed statement of truth. Requests that are not accompanied by this form will not be reviewed.

All requests should be forwarded to:

PLEASE NOTE: In the event of a postal strike, letters of appeal can be directed to the Dean's Office via fax (519-850-2347), courier or hand delivery.

Margaret F. Cheesman, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, Academic Programs
Faculty of Health Sciences
Room 200,
Arthur & Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building
The University of Western Ontario
LONDON, ON N6A 5B9

The APPLICATION DEADLINE for students requesting a waiver of the progression requirements is JUNE 30. This deadline is strictly enforced.

Note: If you plan to transfer to another Faculty, we will forward your letter and supporting documentation to that Faculty, and they will make the decision.

In your appeal letter you must address all of the following questions:

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES

  • What were the extenuating circumstances which contributed most significantly to your poor academic performance?
  • When did the problem(s) arise? Appropriate supporting documentation (e.g. medical note from a doctor to document problems, or a letter from a family member or close personal friend to support medical and/or compassionate grounds) MUST be submitted with the appeal. If you need more information regarding the submission of appropriate documentation, please contact the Dean’s Office.

2. DESCRIPTION OF HOW YOU DEALT WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES

At the time you were encountering the problems/difficulties that affected your academic performance:

  • What attempts did you make to contact your course instructors, Academic Counsellors, Learning Skills Counsellors (in the Student Development Centre), the Ombudsperson, or Student Health Services?
  • What academic accommodation (e.g. special arrangements or permissions) did you request?
  • What steps did you take to minimize the impact of the problems on your academic work?

3. DESCRIPTION OF YOUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE DURING THE YEAR   

  • Approximately what percentage of classes did you attend in each course?
  • What assignments/tests/labs/quizzes/exams did you complete in each course?
  • Please record the grades you received for assignments/labs/tests/quizzes/exams, etc in each course. If you failed to complete all the course requirements, explain and provide reasons.
  • Please list the final grade earned in each course in which you were registered during the past academic year and the name of each course instructor.

4. DESCRIPTION OF WHAT YOUR FUTURE PLANS ARE IN THE EVENT THAT YOU ARE GRANTED A WAIVER

  • Why do you feel you will be successful in future University-level studies?
  • What are your academic goals?What is your long-term degree/program objective?
  • In what specific program do you wish to register during the coming year?
  • What specific courses do you wish to take during the coming year?
Note: In the last two items above, 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.

Remember to enclose all appropriate supporting documentation with your appeal.

It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that his/her appeal file is complete.

It is strongly recommended that you make copies of all information mailed to the Deans Office. Originals of all documents are required and will be retained by the Dean's Office.

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