Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Johanne Benard,

In this letter I intend to appeal to drop my failing mark in HIST 122 (2015) and for credit in PSYC 100, and POLS 110. The main timeline of the issues I faced regarding these marks was for the first term. (September-January, 2014/15) There is also a brief period during second term (Exam period, 2015) where I had more issues, and those will be addressed as well.
I have a rather serious learning disability. I have Attention Deficit Disorder (Inattentive) for which I am taking medication. I was diagnosed with this disorder, along with my other learning disability many years ago, and I have documentation to support that on file with the Disability Services Office. However, this disability has prevented me from starting on assignments, as well as gauging how long I need in order to complete assignments on time. I also have Executive Function Disorder, which only further prevents me from working effectively. I did pull myself together for the second term, getting an A- on my POLS term paper, and a C+ on my HIST term paper. However, as the term progressed, I encountered some issues with my family, regarding my younger brother, and his schooling and trouble with authority. This affected my ability to focus on my weekly assignments, my ability to attend class regularly, as well as my ability to study for exams. In high school, I was able to coast by all four years without doing much, and I realized after first term that this was not the way Queen¿¿s was going to work. However, I think that at that point, I was too far-gone to bring my grades back up to a good standing. For example, my POLS term paper, which I got an A- on, was not enough to bring my mark up from a failing mark. The same occurred with my HIST term paper, except I didn¿¿t do quite as well on that. These circumstances are what I believe led to my downfall at the end of the term.
However, I do have strategies to improve my standing next year. I am working with my parents to develop systems to help me get started on work, as well as getting my work done on time. I¿¿m also considering increasing the dosage on my medication (Ritalin) in order to provide me with more focus, and energy. Over the course of the summer, I will be working with both my parents, and potentially a counselor to create systems to help me improve the way I perform at school. There will be a lot of difficulties ahead for me not only this summer but also next year, however, I am willing to work as hard as I can to stay at Queen¿¿s, which has been my dream school for years. Through working with my parents, the Disability Services Office, and potentially a counselor here in Toronto, I truly believe that I can develop many strategies that will allow me to succeed next year at Queen¿¿s. Thank you for your consideration of my appeal, and I hope to remain at Queen¿¿s for the next year, and in the future past that.