Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Academic Petition Team
Queen’s University
94 University Avenue
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
K7L 3N6

Subject: Appeal for Exception to 1-Year Petition Deadline for Course Drop

Monday March 31, 2025

Dear Academic Petition Team,

I am writing to formally appeal the 1-year petition deadline related to requesting a course drop for two courses that I failed during the winter 2023 semester at Queen’s University. The courses in question are Anatomy of the Human Body (ANAT-100) and Selected Women Writers II (ENGL-223).

During the winter 2023 term, I faced significant personal challenges, including ongoing mental health issues and a divorce that was not yet finalized at the time. These circumstances contributed to my inability to perform adequately in my courses. I sought support from my therapist and medical health team, as well as legal counsel, during this period. Despite my best efforts, the combination of these factors severely impacted my academic performance. Since then, I have remained committed to addressing my mental health concerns, consistently attending therapy and working with my medical team to manage anxiety, depression, and the emotional aftermath of my relationship challenges. These efforts have been integral to my ongoing recovery, and I continue to make progress.

Following my failure of the two courses, I felt a deep sense of shame, as this was the first time I had ever failed any academic courses. I set the goal of retaking both courses and was under the impression that doing so would allow me to remove the failing grades from my transcript. This misunderstanding arose from a misinterpretation of the information on the “Academic Regulations | School of Policy Studies” Queen’s University webpage, particularly point #2 regarding course repetition. I mistakenly believed that I could only appeal the grades after retaking the courses. As a result of this misunderstanding, I did not submit an appeal within the 1-year deadline. I retook Selected Women Writers II (ENGL-223) in the winter 2024 term and am currently finishing my repeat of Anatomy of the Human Body (ANAT-100) in the winter 2025 term.

In the year following my failure of the courses, I continued to experience challenges related to my mental health, including periods of depression and anxiety. However, I remained focused on my studies, setting realistic goals and prioritizing coursework. Despite the difficulties, I continued to strive for academic success, as my long-term goal has been to complete my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Queen’s University.

I am particularly concerned that the failed grades from the winter 2023 semester will significantly impact my GPA and hinder my chances of being accepted into graduate school. My aspiration is to pursue a Master of Arts in Psychology, with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist. In addition to my academic ambitions, I currently work as a recreation therapist in a mental health hospital, where I am dedicated to supporting others in their mental wellness journeys.

I would be extremely grateful if you could consider granting an exception to the 1-year petition deadline, allowing the failed grades to be removed from my transcript and improving my GPA. This would greatly aid me in achieving my academic and professional goals. I have attached a letter from my family doctor, Dr. J.J. Scheeres, which provides further details about my medical circumstances during this time.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration of my appeal. I look forward to your response and sincerely hope for a positive resolution.

Sincerely,

Andrea Marshall
Student ID: 20313267 | Email: andrea.marshall@queensu.ca