Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello, my name is Kaitlen (SN: 20365884). I am a student at Queen’s University who is currently on academic leave due to a yearlong requirement to withdraw. I am currently undergoing the appeal process to get two poor grades from the 2023 academic session dropped from my transcript. The two classes I need to be dropped from my transcript are HIST 295 and PHIL 275. I am appealing to have these two classes dropped as my performance in these was hindered due to a trauma university from a sexual assault I experienced during the fall 2022 academic session. I have documented proof from the universities sexual violence prevention and response services of an incident of sexual violence taking place during November of the 2022 session. This act was committed in a Queens university residence building and resulted in a great deal of phycological trauma for me, creating an intense fear of men, socialization, and physical and or mental stimuli related to the event. These fears created a longstanding inability to properly adapt and amalgamate in the social and educational environment of Queen’s University. While I did receive treatment for this event in the following year, the residual effects of trauma had left me in a vulnerable, low functioning state as I continued to attempt to navigate my education in university. Due to this vulnerability, I was easily retriggered by the universe of the event in the following academic year. A trauma university is akin to experiencing short term PTSD surrounding an event; as familiar environmental factors retrigger vivid memories and emotions associated with the event, it became difficult for me to cope and function properly. I began self-isolating again and found it difficult to communicate to my male professors (this indicating why I was able to pass the philosophy class but not the history class despite the philosophy class having a much more demanding course load). The retriggering of the event made it incredibly difficult for me to see a future in general, much less at Queens, and as such I was unable to prioritize my studies in the way I would have liked. When the semester ended, I found the break to be restorative, ending the anniversary as the year came to a close. In the new year, I was able to balance my mental wellbeing and my academics rather well, which is indicated by the incline in my academic performance and grade output of the winter semester. It was during this time of growth that I learned that I would not be returning to my studies, which put a pause on my ability to prioritize getting the classes themselves dropped. I spent a majority of my time navigating the appeal process to avoid begging forced to withdraw from my studies for a year. When it became clear I would be unable to return to my studies, I choose to focus on ensuring that my academic’s would be in line for when I return in the 2025-2026 schoolyear. That led to me discussing strategies to boost my GPA with academic services and sexual violence awareness, where I have created a solid plan to ensure that I will be in a strong enough place mentally and academically to allow me to succeed better in my future. My plan academically will begin in January, as I reach out to faculty members in the gender studies board and begin conversations with them about switching my course plan to that of a gender studies major. This will align with my future goals of perusing a major in gender studies, which is supported by my winter 2024 semester grades in gender studies and humanities. My academic advisor believed that the faculty would be particularly sensitive to my story and may be willing to work out a conditional acceptance for the 2026 school year; most likely conditional on me raising my GPA and taking one required GNDS course that is commonly available in online summer classes. Furthermore, I intend to enroll back into classes as soon as possible to retake any courses that I failed in during my first year at Queens due to the sexual trauma. With these courses re-taken, and my second-year courses dropped, my GPA would be in a much better position, and ideally, I would no longer be on academic probation. In reference to the reoccurring issue of trauma, Barbra Lotan and I have rekindled our relationship, and we have discussed monthly check-ins to ensure that if any mental shortcomings due begin, she can quickly assist me in resources to combat them mentally and their effects on my academics. Using these strategies, I can guarantee I will both be able to avoid any future failures in my academics with the assistance of a solid support system (the support system the university endorses) looking out for me.
With this letter I will be providing a character reference from a close family member indicating the effects of the incident on my mental wellbeing, a letter from my therapist (signed by a psychotherapist) confirming the distressing nature of these events and their effects on me, and a letter from Barbra Lotan confirming the timeline of events and the continuation of our relationship. I urge you to contact any of these people if you have questions or concerns. They are happy to provide more information or clarify if there are any misunderstandings.
I understand that my choices that not been perfect so far throughout university, and to say I am remorseful of that would be an understatement. I have spent this probation wishing more than anything for a chance for a fresh start and to show what I am truly capable of beyond one sick man’s actions. Getting these courses dropped and following my new plan is the beginning of that fresh start, and hopefully a much better experience at this institution. This situation has been challenging and I am seeking your support and understanding during these difficult times.