I was asked to outline the following in my letter:
- What factors or extenuating circumstances prevented you from meeting the 2.21 required in-major GPA in Spring 2016?
2.To graduate, you must earn a 2.66 in-major GPA on your remaining required 22c of ECE courses. Given this requirement, what changes will you make to secure the required in-major GPA if you are permitted to return to EE?
3.Your plan for completing your degree. Please include your timeline by semester and your expected GPA for each semester. This must be a reasonable and realistic plan.
Any help or feedback would be helpful.
To Dr. _________
I am writing to appeal my Policy 91 suspension. I admit that my suspension from ECE was a result of the poor choices that I have made. I take full responsibilities for my actions. I would like an opportunity to explain my circumstances and urge you to approve my appeal.
My performance in ______ during the spring semester of 2016 was a result of my poor time management, poor study habits, and inability to seek help. My dad was dealing with heart problems due to having high blood pressure and had to go to the hospital numerous times throughout the semester. I was under a lot of stress and it was difficult for me to stay focused on my studies. However, I did not seek any form of help and that was irresponsible of me. My poor time management led to me staying up late at night and caused me to miss classes. I was unprepared for exams because I would wait until the day before to begin studying. I did not visit my professor when I needed assistance on assignments and projects. I was irresponsible in not seeking help and I’m not proud of my decisions.
Since then, I took time off from school to re-evaluate my life and reflect on the poor decisions that I have made. I found a job over the summer and it helped me become more responsible for my future. I went to the gym regularly to improve my health. I re-read my lecture notes and textbooks on a daily basis.
To earn a 2.66 GPA in my remaining in-major courses, I understand that I have to improve my time management and study skills. I will attend every class period with the intent to learn and schedule office hours with every professor at least once a week. I will go to the CEL, OpEL, and Electronics Lab frequently to ask for help on homework assignments and projects. I will do the online study skills workshops and seek counseling from the Cooks Counseling Center. I have contacted my advisor about meeting every week so I can make sure I stay on track with my remaining coursework. As soon as an exam is announced, I will give myself at least two weeks to study the material that will be covered. I will schedule a time each day where I can review my notes or seek help from my professor. I am committed to raising my GPA above the minimum requirement to graduate. Nothing is more important to me than graduating from Virginia Tech and I will make sure school is my main priority.
If my appeal is granted, my plan to complete my degree would start in the first summer session. I plan on taking ______ for my math elective course. I am targeting a B grade in this class which would give me an expected GPA of 3.0. For the second summer session, I plan on taking _____ and . I will aim for a B in _ and an A in ____ which would give me an expected GPA of 3.25. I am aiming to reduce my coursework for the fall and spring semester which will allow me to have a better to chance to meet the GPA requirement. In the fall, my plan is to take __________. I am targeting a C grade in [Class I failed in Spring 2016] and at least a B grade in the other three courses. This would give me an expected GPA of 2.64 for the semester. Finally, my plan for the spring semester of 2018 is to take_________. My goal is to get at least a B in all my courses for this semester. My expected GPA would be 3.00 after the semester and my total in-major GPA for my entire plan would be 2.88.
I know that I have disappointed my family, peers, and the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech. I want to have a second chance to redeem myself and finish my degree here. I hope you that you look at my appeal and find that I am worthy of another opportunity as an ECE student. Thank you for taking your time to consider my appeal.
Sincerely,