Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: In response to Academic Petition Submission Number 10704, I respectfully disagree with the decision. In the decision letter, the Associate Dean of Studies stated that my appeal was denied on the grounds that I had ample time to withdraw, experienced similar issues in the past and was connected to Queen’s Student Accommodation Services (QSAS) prior to these instances. To start, I did not have ample time as I previously stated I was experiencing both mental and physical illness that did not line up with published academic deadlines. I was not in a position mentally to make logical decisions at the time, hence me coming forth now. I addressed this as I am seeing a mental health specialist and regularly attending therapy sessions provided through Queen’s University. While I had experienced past traumatic events, the new ones faced in the past school year compounded and amplified the impact this had on me. Just because Sexual Violence is experienced in the past, does not mean that the second time it occurs makes it any easier. Healing is not a linear process and this was a rather large set back. This does not negate that work was done in the first place, that was found to be successful at the time. The Queen’s therapist I’ve been meeting with and Barb Lotan both agree that I am making steady progress and feel confident that I will be successful with the Academic plan outlined in my initial submission. I have Accommodations through QSAS for ADHD however, did not have proof at the time from a doctor to submit any new accommodations due to my health. This has since been remedied and I will be submitting updated accommodations to QSAS before September. It was stated that my “petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that will make me successful in future classes” to which I whole heartedly disagree, as do the Queen’s staff and resources I’ve been working alongside to ensure my success for the upcoming academic school year. My academic plan was ran by Barb Lotan, from the Human Rights and Equity Office, before writing a letter to support my claims, Sam Lall, from Arts and Sciences Considerations, recommended I submit this appeal, and Nadia Sawaya-Fehr, a Queen’s therapist has been seeing steady progress in my healing journey. As per the appeal letter, I have already been steadily using Queen’s resources and have seen tremendous levels of growth already. With all of this stated, I see no reason for me to have to withdraw for a year.