Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: This year at Queens was very difficult for me due to my undiagnosed mental health concerns. During the first semester I struggled with attending class due to my now diagnosed depression and anxiety disorder. I struggled with motivation and the ability to complete assignments due to my depression. Trying to finish the year off to the best of my abilities, I began to fail in the second semester where I felt unable to attend classes, and unable to complete assignments. I struggled with insomnia and had very little to no appetite during the semester. I was struggling with self harm during the second semester. I reached out to Queens wellness center for therapy and helped organizing my classes. After being evaluated by my therapist in the wellness center, she advised me to seek a formal diagnosis from a psychiatrist because my results ranked me as severe. I struggled to find the time to go home and get a formal diagnosis, so I spent the majority of the second semester struggling with my depression and anxiety without a formal diagnosis. With my therapist, we were able to send out emails to my teachers, along with completing an extenuating circumstances form. My GEOL 106 class provided me with extended time on the assignments and quizzes, as well as the opportunity to write an essay in replacement of the midterm that I was excused from. My other courses requested that I complete a request for academic consideration for further assistance in completing my assignments. When I submitted the academic considerations request with my extenuating circumstances form as the reason for needing the accommodations, I received a response saying that the extenuating circumstances form could not be used as reasoning for accommodations. This made it difficult for me to complete the process because I then needed to go home to speak with my family doctor, who redirected me to the emergency room due to suicidal ideation. At Lakeridge Health Hospital, I was assessed by a crisis team where I received my diagnosis and medication. I returned to school to try to complete the academic accommodation request. This allowed me to try and complete the remaining of my classes however, I had some communication and deadline difficulties. The individual who I was emailing back and forth with for my ANAT 100 class was not very understanding when it came to any accommodations for the class. I struggled to get them to open up any late assignment folders, and they refused to re-mark my assignment after it received a 0 for the audio file being inaccessible. I tried to explain to them my situation, and that even without the academic accommodations, I could get some of the assignments/quizzes completed if they assisted me in doing so, but they refused and responded to most of my emails with ?? we are unable to assist you without accommodations from the school?. When I finally got approved for my accommodations and sent out emails to my remaining teachers, the individual told me that it was too late for me, and that I should reach out to advising about dropping the class. I was pretty upset by this because I had emailed them mid way through the semester about trying to get assistance, but was shut down until it was now too late. After going on a call with an academic advisor they suggested that I submit an academic petition for aegrotat standing because of the difficulties I went through during the semester. The first semester I took the GNDS course available and received a B and enjoyed the class with intentions of taking it throughout the rest of my time at Queens. The difficulties I faced in the second semester made it challenging for me to attend this class and finish the assignments. When I emailed the professor about my academic consideration, I had no response. I mentioned this to the academic advisor who provided me with another email which I again had no luck with. After struggling through the semester and still struggling with my self worth, I was very frustrated and overwhelmed with the amount of work I was putting in, and not being able to make matters better for myself. I would really appreciate being able to stay in Queens. I have been steadily improving my mental health now with medication, receiving counseling and support from my family., I think that it is something that is still achievable for me. I believe I followed all the requirements and recommendations of my academic advisor but still faced barriers to support from some of my professors. I ask you to please consider this request.