Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean Academics, Queen’s University,

I am writing this letter in support of my application to waive a petition deadline. By sharing my story with you, I am hoping to prove that there were circumstances beyond my control that influenced my academic performance in my second and third years of university at Queen’s (2020/2021 and 2021/2022) and ongoing mental health challenges that forced me to put my university career on hold and prevented me from pursuing this petition until the present. I am now healthy and motivated to return to studies and would love the opportunity to do so at Queen’s. I know that I am capable of great academic success.

I have always been a strong student and a diligent worker. I graduated high school with the Governor General’s Award for my academic achievement and, beyond this distinction, I truly love to learn. I was very excited to be able to attend Queen’s University in 2019. My mother and my grandfather are Queen’s graduates. This was a great legacy.

I had a successful first year at Queen’s University despite the interruption caused by the pandemic. In my second year, I was battling the same obstacles as many other students in trying to adjust to online learning. This proved a difficult challenge for me as someone with a learning disability and ADHD. Yet, I remained engaged in my coursework and academic community. Very shortly after my second year started, I became ill. I fell into a debilitating depression, unlike any hardship I had ever experienced, which became exhaustingly challenging to overcome. I spent the greater part of everyday trying to force myself to simply get out of bed, to eat, and to take care of myself. I reached out for professional medical help, but these psychiatric interventions seemed to worsen my condition. My grades plummeted as I struggled with the efforts of living each day. I sought help through student health services, the local Kingston ER, and eventually a Queen’s psychiatrist. The psychiatrist, Dr. Suzanne Billing provided me with a note in April of 2021 confirming a mental health diagnosis and need for academic consideration. I pursued the appeal avenues available to me at that time, as suggested by an academic counsellor, and received approval from the school to receive an incomplete grade and finish my course work in the summer. I sent emails to each professor at this time but was informed that it was too late in the term to make any allowances. I was too unwell to argue.
In May of 2021, I was fortunate enough to meet a psychiatrist in Toronto, Dr. Patricia Colton, who took on my case and provided me with a diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disease. Bipolar disorder alters brain function, leading to fluctuations in mood, energy, and behaviour. People with bipolar 2 disease go through cycles of depression and hypomania. These states significantly impaired my capacity to concentrate, participate in educational tasks, and perform daily life functions, all of which directly impaired my academic performance. The knowledge of my diagnosis helped me realize why my second year was not reflective of my capabilities and was such a struggle for me.

I tried to return to Queen’s in third year (2021/2022). However, I was still not well. Selecting and managing the correct medication for mental health disorders can be complex, individual, and can take time. This was the case for me. Dr. Colton tried several combinations of medications and dosing to find the right treatment for me. This process lasted throughout my third year and greatly impacted my ability to successfully complete my courses. In spring of 2022, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and I made the decision to move home to help support her through her treatment. I was not allowed to continue my learning remotely, and again my grades suffered.
At this point in time, I decided to take a year off of university. I felt disheartened about the disconnect between my abilities and my achievement and wanted to be around the support of my family. I continued regular visits with my psychiatrist and other mental health professionals and grew stronger. Eventually, I knew I was ready to resume studies.

I decided to return to university in Toronto in fall 2023. I was able to provide a letter of extenuating circumstances upon application to TMU and they completely understood my position. I felt excited to return to learning and had a very successful year. I appreciated the chance to go back to learning while living at home with parental support and encouragement. I now have the courage and capability to continue on- and would love the opportunity to return to Queen’s and finish where I started. This has always been my dream.

To answer the question of why it has taken me so long to file this petition, I guess I would say that I felt like I did make this request back in 2021, with what I would consider appropriate corroborating information, and while being approved by administration, my request was denied by my professors. It made me feel like this was a roadblock. Upon reflection, I now realize this is not the case. As I think ahead to my dream of completing an Honours Bachelor of Science degree, and then pursuing graduate work, I realize that my GPA is very important. Leaving grades on my transcript that are not reflective of my abilities and were received during a time I was not physically or mentally well, does not seem right. I would appeal to your department to review my case further. I can provide all of the supporting documentation you may require.

I am very much hoping for another chance to prove to the world, and mostly to myself, that I am very much Queen’s material.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Ellie Price