Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to formally petition for the option to drop LAW 201 from my academic record due to extenuating personal circumstances that have deeply impacted my mental health and academic performance.

At the beginning of this year, I experienced two significant losses that have left me emotionally shaken and unable to cope with my academic responsibilities. My father died by suicide just hours after I spoke to him face to face and told him that I would see him the following morning. Said morning came and I was the one to discover what had happened, just before what would have been his 55th birthday. This experience was devastating and continues to haunt me. A few months later, my grandfather passed away from a heart attack. These traumatic losses, especially discovering my father’s death, shattered me and left me with no space to process or grieve.

By the end of the second year, I was barely holding on. The strain of keeping up with school while processing these tragedies left me physically and emotionally drained. Once the semester ended, I fell into a deep depression, and this unprocessed grief made it difficult for me to find any balance. To complicate matters further, during the summer, I had to undergo emergency double jaw surgery, which required a three-month recovery period. This major medical procedure compounded the stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil I was already facing, making it hard to focus on academics.

Despite my best efforts, I was enrolled in two summer classes—RELS 131 and LAW 201. Professor LaGrone kindly accommodated me by granting an IN mark, and I have since completed the necessary work for that course. However, Professor Rachel Law, who was teaching LAW 201, informed me that she could not offer a similar option given my situation.

I reached out to Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS), who had previously provided accommodations for me during the regular school term. Unfortunately, they were unable to assist in this particular case for LAW 201. Understanding that I needed further guidance, I also spoke with Cynthia, the undergraduate assistant for Political Studies, who recommended I pursue the option of retaking the course as part of my recovery plan.

Given the emotional trauma I experienced, the emergency surgery, and the overwhelming difficulty of managing both, I was unable to perform to the best of my ability during the summer term. I am now fully recovered from the surgery, but the three-month recovery period severely hindered my ability to keep up with coursework. Retaking LAW 201 would provide me with the opportunity to focus fully on the material without the distractions of my personal circumstances.

I would be extremely grateful for your understanding and consideration of my petition to drop LAW 201 under these exceptional circumstances. I have taken all the necessary steps to address my mental health, and I am committed to succeeding academically going forward. Retaking the course at a later date, when I am fully capable of engaging with the material, is the best way for me to succeed and avoid further academic setbacks.

Thank you for your time and consideration.