Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am attempting to formally request the removal of the failing grades (3 Fs) from my transcript. I received these in CISC101, STAT263 and ASTR101 during the Fall 2023 and Winter 2024 semesters. I retook two of said courses and did fairly well in them. I am working on this waiver just now, despite one of the semesters having passed by more than 1 year, due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control that prevented me from submitting my petition within the required timeframe. My delay in filing this petition was directly tied to the difficulty in getting my diagnoses. During my first year at Queen’s I struggled with undiagnosed ADHD and an anxiety disorder which significantly impaired my ability to advocate for myself and take timely action regarding my academic standing. I was only officially diagnosed on January 30th of 2025 due to the complexity of obtaining an official assessment. I worked with QSAS to verify my circumstances and they confirmed my eligibility for accommodations on March 3rd of 2025. Although my struggles predated these diagnoses and I sought help throughout the Summer of 2024 I was advised against submitting a petition without official documentation. After this formal verification (and strenghtening my support system) I now fully understand the impact my conditions had on my academic performance and, thanks to my QSAS advisor, became aware of the petition process as a viable option to rectify my academic standing.
During that period (Winter and Fall Semester of last year) I experienced severe difficulties with recurring panic attacks. These profoundly affected my exam performance and overall well being. Despite putting in the effort to study and prepare for exams, I often found myself unable to think clearly as my mind entered a state of panic which rendered me unable to truly function. These panic attacks were unpredictable and not always triggered by a specific event. This aspect made them harder to address or seek help for, especially since I had never experienced them in that magnitude. The overwhelming stress and inability to manage my workload led me to a cycle of worsening academic performance which, in turn, also had a very negative impact on my mental health. Compounding this struggle was my lack of access to a family doctor and immediate family support (as neither are based in Canada) which made it difficult for me to recognize the severity of my situation or seek appropriate medical attention. At the time I did not fully understand what was happening to me. I was unable to advocate for myself or request help that could have significantly improved my ability to do well in these courses.
Since that difficult period I have actively sought help for my struggles, received my official diagnoses and registered with QSAS. I returned home in the summer of last year and that’s when my turning point began, as visible from the grades in my transcripts. Since seeking support I haven’t failed a single course, and my cumulative GPA has risen from 2.4 (Winter 2024) to 3.25 (Fall 2024). If we consider only my most recent semester then my GPA stands at 3.6. Additionally, I retook 2 of my failed courses. In one of them I got an A+ (CISC101) and in the other a B (STAT263).
As already said, over the summer I took the time to reflect on my struggles and consult with a doctor back home to better understand. A year later I received therapy, joined support groups and refined my study strategies. I am now in a far better position both academically and personally.
Given these circumstances I kindly request a waiver of the 1 year petition deadline, so that hopefully my petition may be considered. Now that I have received a formal diagnosis and appropriate accommodations I am in a position to advocate for myself effectively. Thank you for your time and consideration and I am of course open to provide any additional documents needed to support my case.