Dismissed from school

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hi everyone! I’ll just get into my story. I was dismissed from my school today after being reinstated last semester. but last semester, I just had a bad eczema situation that really prevented me from attending classes. When i went in to appeal to the assistant dean, she said that i seemed like i was attending class regularly ( which is soo not true!!) so I’ve reached out to the dean this time and he rejected to see me because of the assistant dean’s decision. I thought this was very unfair so I contacted his manager and she said to send him an email. any suggestions will be greatly appreciated! this is what i wrote so far:

Hello! My Name is xxx. I hope you’ve had a great first week of the semester. Before I get into anything I’d like to thank you for your valuable time considering my case, despite your busy schedule. When I received the email (manager) earlier today with your decision, I am going to be honest, but my heart sank.

I am writing this letter as a request to appeal the decision that was made in regards to my late appeal from the XXX. When I received the dismissal decision letter, I was deeply saddened. I would like the opportunity to explain my circumstances and plead my case for medical (late) withdrawal for last semester. Knowing that I may not be able to further my education saddens me, but it is my own fault for not taking the responsibility for my coursework and maintaining a low GPA.

When I received the letter stating that I was reinstated last semester, I prepared that whole summer by receiving tutoring for calculus, but when I entered Fall 17, I had a severe eczema break out that restricted me from attending classes regularly. In a fear of failing the term again, I’ve made an effort to attend at least the exams/ quizzes when they were given, with the thought of “better than nothing”, which was not the best idea.

After receiving treatment, my exam scores did improve. In one of my class, my exam score jumped significantly (I believe 30% jump). Also in calculus, my grade of exam #3 was better than exam #1&#2, despite being the hardest exam of the semester (confirmed that it was the hardest by Dr.A). Dr B noticed my situation and actually offered me that I could re-take the tests that I didn’t do well after the break and was willing to submit a grade change for me.

I do value assistant dean C’s decision and time, but I think there was a bit miscommunication as well as a feeling of unfairness. When I met dean C today, she gave me a sense that her decision was made before I gave her an explanation. I had a sense that she was emphasizing the GPA on the transcript, other than my situation. she also brought up that the medical situation was not critical because I was attending class regularly, but nowhere on my professors’ email (Dr A stated that I seemed like I was attending class regularly because I’ve taken all the exams and the quizzes) said that I attended class regularly.

When I asked her where in the email does it say that I’ve been attending class regularly, she answered my question with “the decision has been made” other than pointing out the exact place where it said I was attending class regularly.

to prove that I wasn’t able to attend class regularly, Dr B sent me the email saying:
“xxx– I support your petition for a late withdraw. Your medical condition prevented you from attending class and as a result you fell behind. The course content is not easy to learn just by reading a textbook. Had you been able to attend class, you likely would have passed the exams and passed the class.”

I’d like to prove that; my medical condition had restricted me from being successful last semester and because the problem is resolved, I’d like to ask for another opportunity to be reinstated.
For the first week of this semester, I have been attending classes that I have registered for. So far, I am very confident that if I were to be reinstated, I will achieve a grade no lower than a B as well as prove myself that I belong to the Pitt community.

With all my sincerity, I’d like to ask you to give me an opportunity to meet with you to discuss my case. I feel like there is more information that I need to add to my case as well as other documentation that is soon to be mailed to me.

2

I like your letter.
Good Luck.

3

do you think it might be too lengthy?

4

Too long, too wordy, too all-over-the-place. Keep it short and factual, something like:

Dear xxx

I am writing this letter in hopes of being able to appeal my dismissal and to plead my case for medical (late) withdrawal for last semester.

In the Fall of 2017 a severe eczema break out restricted me from attending classes regularly. Fearing failing again, I tried to self-study and made an effort to at least attend the exams/ quizzes, but my absences negatively affected my grades. In retrospect, I admit that missing classes but taking exams was not a good idea.

I believe there was a bit of a miscommunication between me and Assistant Dean C, who appears to believe my medical condition didn’t stop me from going to class. That is not the case: I was missing lectures and showing up only for exams, a situation Dr. B can confirm, and believes is a valid reason for withdrawal:

“xxx– I support your petition for a late withdraw. Your medical condition prevented you from attending class and as a result you fell behind. The course content is not easy to learn just by reading a textbook. Had you been able to attend class, you likely would have passed the exams and passed the class.”

Now that my medical condition is being treated, I feel confident I can succeed at XXX. I am resolved to work hard, get the help I need, and set a goal of grades no lower than a B.

I would welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss my case, and in the meantime, I thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

5

thanks!! this really means a lot to me. the assistant dean that i’ve met with today just didnt want to listen to me, which really discouraged me

6

I hope you can work it out but here are my comments/questions. Mostly wondering if you worked to proactively document/handle any of this with the school before your grades came out as that would provide the groundwork and documentation to make a stronger case.

–Do you have doctors letters supporting your condition and that you could not attend classes due to it? If so add them as an attachment to the letter or offer to present them at a meeting.
–Do you have anything on file with Health Services about your condition? If so mention that in your letter.
–Do you have anything on file with the Office of Disabilities about your condition? If so mention that in your letter.
–Did you get a dean’s excuse(or whatever procedure your college has) for missing class for medical reason? If so mention that in your letter.
–Did you attempt to or speak to a dean about getting a medical withdrawal during the semester when you saw you couldn’t attend class regularly? If so mention that in your letter.
–And I don’t know the answer but is there a medical reason you couldn’t attend class due to severe eczema? If so perhaps add a sentence explaining that in the letter. I know it can be uncomfortable and somewhat unsightly, but don’t believe it is contagious.

7

@happy1 Hi! I’ll just answer your questions in sequence

  • yes, I do have the doctor's note from both student health center and the university hospital. they are both moderate ( not biasing)

– i dont know what the dean’s excuse is but I am trying to reach out to the dean

– no, i didnt talk to the dean before the semester ended

– yes eczema is not contagious but i had it around my face and joint area which affected my vision and mobility ( the skins will cling(?) to each other) as well as inability to sleep at night due to discomfort

8

I would definitely say that there is documentation/doctor’s notes on file at the University hospital and health services. I would also include a sentence describing why the excema prevented you from attending class (as it was not obvious to me).

A Dean’s excuse is something you would have had to get during the semester so you can’t pursue it now.

9

@happy1 @katliamom here is the revision of the letter:

Dear xxx

I am writing this letter in hopes of being able to appeal my dismissal and to plead my case for medical (late) withdrawal for last semester.

In the Fall of 2017 a severe eczema break out restricted me from attending classes regularly. Fearing failing again, I tried to self-study and made an effort to at least attend the exams/ quizzes, but my absences negatively affected my grades. In retrospect, I admit that missing classes but taking exams was not a good idea.

Some of the symptoms that I’ve suffered are blurriness of vision due to flaring around my eye, a flaring around the joint area which ultimately led to discharge which hardened and caused immobility, and discomfort during the night time that resulted in lack of sleep.

I believe there was a bit of a miscommunication between me and Assistant Dean C, who appears to believe my medical condition didn’t stop me from going to class. That is not the case: I was missing lectures and showing up only for exams, a situation Dr. B can confirm, and believes is a valid reason for withdrawal:

“xxx– I support your petition for a late withdraw. Your medical condition prevented you from attending class and as a result you fell behind. The course content is not easy to learn just by reading a textbook. Had you been able to attend class, you likely would have passed the exams and passed the class.”

Now that my medical condition is being treated, I feel confident I can succeed at XXX. I am resolved to work hard, get the help I need, and set a goal of grades no lower than a B.

I would welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss my case, and in the meantime, I thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

10

If I understand your situation correctly, you are being dismissed from your college due to poor academic performance in the previous term. In response, you are trying to withdraw retroactively from courses in that term on the grounds that your illness caused the poor performance. Correct?

If so, I imagine the school’s position is that you should have withdrawn from those courses (or made other arrangements with professors) before the end of the term. Can you document any attempts to do that? If so, include that information along with a statement from your doctor/hospital in the appeal.

11

@tk21769 yes, i am trying to withdraw from my courses from last semester due to a health issue. I’m not sure what you mean by documents, but i did meet up with one of my professors that offered me to re take some of the tests as she saw that i did significantly better on the tests that i did after the treatment. also, i do have the doctor’s note, but it doesnt discuss severity, but the symptoms, reason for visit and treatment

12

I don’t think you will get a medical withdrawal for eczema.

13

@Proudpatriot that’s why i didnt take any actions last semester because people just think eczema as rash. but its not true; if you look at the symptoms that i’ve mentioned above, it really did prevented me. the professor who is agreeing with me saw it with her own eyes how severe it was.

14

You may have better luck asking if you can return on academic probation.

15

@jk201820 how should i add in that information to the email??

16

I would say, if withdrawing for the semester is not an option, is it possible for me to be placed on academic probation. I know that I will be able to be successful at X and would like a chance to prove it next semester.

Or something like that.

17

It sounds like you had a good justification for withdrawing at some point during the last term.
Instead, you apparently tried to wing it on the exams, failed, and now want your college to wipe the slate clean (after already reinstating you once before). I can understand their unwillingness to do that.

Take another shot at an appeal, but you may need to accept the decision and move on.
That may entail one of several alternatives (such as community college … or possibly re-enrolling at Pitt with “continuing education” status). See if there isn’t a path back to regular student status after 1 or more terms of successful coursework in a CC or continuing ed.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/514965-second-chances-for-college-students.html

18

I doubt they will reconsider. The fact is that your eczema was bad and you should have withdrawn at that time. You sought treatment, got a bit better and decided that you would suck it up and finish the semester. You essentially decided to roll the dice and see if you could save your grades, only it was too late to do so and now that grades gave come out and you were not were you needed to be to get off of probation, you are scrambling to “cover your butt”. Pitt has already given you a second chance when they put you on probation the first time. What was your reason for failing classes the first go around? How many of your classes will you need to retake because the grade was below the minimum necessary for your major? (Most schools require a C for classes related to major) Are you a freshman?

At this point I think your best course of action is to attend a community college and take a lighter load until you are better able to manage you medical condition and your time.

19

@labegg that’s why they have something called late withdrawal. please read my thread carefully before saying anything. I said that my medical condition is now under control.

20

@tk21769 thank you for the advice. I just emailed him and just sitting for the reply. If you read the thread that i posted, i said something along the line of not wanting to jeopardize my reinstatement which prevented me from withdrawaling. also, I was in campus housing which was only granted if i am a full time student, therefore, if i were to withdrawal, i would jeopardize myself in losing my dorm also