Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I am writing to petition the Faculty’s decision of withdrawal from Queen’s for a minimum of one year. Over the course of my academic career I have experienced major extenuating circumstances which were beyond my control.
Originally, I had dealt with severe mental health illness, which became prevalent during my second year of university. Over the course of that year I sought out professional mental health counselling through Queen’s student wellness with Roger Davidson. These conditions began to improve in spring 2022, however, by summer 2022 (July into August) my mother experienced sudden and extreme illness, resulting in hospitalization. As this occurred in British Columbia, I was being responsible for medical decision making as next of kin. This occurred while I was in spring/summer courses, which I enrolled in to help my academic standing, and derailed my progress. Upon returning to Kingston, my mental health continued to deteriorate due to stress, as well as abuse experienced while remedying the health situation at home, which prevented me from continuing my courses. I had reached out for IN standing in an environmental studies as I had shown understanding of material during the course.
During the following academic year, 2022-23, I began experiencing persistent severe mental health symptoms which prevented attendance, resulted in fatigue, and presented difficulties in interacting with peers and teaching staff in courses. This persisted throughout the year and I was suggested for new diagnosis and treatment. After seeking treatment over the course of that year, including joining group therapy, and receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in July 2023, I constructed a plan for academic achievement. During the fall of 2023, I struggled with my courses with large enrolment numbers due to ASD, however, I was able to work well in a smaller course, ENSC 480. This realization came after the course drop date. I also registered for QSAS and received accommodations.
For the winter semester, I set out to practice coping with large enrolments, utilizing QSAS, and felt that I was semi successful. I began experiencing further severe mental health symptoms due to trauma (PTSD), as well as persistent physical illness in January of 2024. I sought care through Queen’s Student Wellness for both and I continue to receive care for both at this time. The physical illness, specifically the pain associated with it and stress related to illness, resulted in a steep drop in attendance, as well. Due to medical wait times, I have been referred to a specialist at student wellness for July to remedy the issue. The combination of these extenuating circumstances deeply impacted my academic performance and also further impacted my mental health. It has been extremely disappointing as I know I am a capable student in terms of knowledge and passion for my studies in environmental science, however I have had extreme difficulty when engaging in my courses due to these events. As these issues had occurred consecutively, once I had remedied the previous issue, a new circumstance would provide disruption.
For the future, I hope to work towards a change in studies from a Joint Honours plan (ECON-ENSC) to BSCH in just ENSC. I am more passionate about environmental science, which will help contribute to my success as a goal. On top of this, engaging in a Joint Honours degree has added additional stress due to requirements for courses and selection of courses. Focusing on one program will allow for stability, as well as opportunity to reduce my course load without worries of timetabling.
I also plan to drop spring/summer courses for this year and engage in 3 courses per term, as opposed to 5. I have encountered challenges due to overstimulation and symptoms of PTSD, as well as pain related to physical condition. This reduced course load will allow a deeper focus on my coursework, as well as time in my schedule to calm down if I am overstimulated or triggered due to my ASD and PTSD. This will also allow for greater availability for physical and mental health appointments, aid in reducing pain levels and provide recovery time when experiencing pain. Being able to continuously engage in coping skills, both for physical and mental health, will be of utmost importance as academic and life skills. I will also need to improve my time management to accommodate this circumstances and ensure they do not interfere with my academic success. In the future, I plan on giving myself strict deadlines for figuring out if a course fits well or if I should switch into a more appropriate course, while also ensuring that I communicate well with QSAS and SWS. I will also refrain from taking on more courses than I can due to my previous academic achievement before being diagnosed with Autism. If I understand Autism better and set realistic goals based on my particular symptoms, I will be able to achieve better academic standing as I won’t feel extreme pressure. I know that with a proper academic plan regarding my mental health, as well as medical care for my physical health, I can be successful, and hope to prove this to the Faculty of Arts & Science as well.
Sincerely,
Sarah Simon