Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean, Arts & Science, undergraduate, Queen’s University,
I am writing to formally express my struggles with depression and anxiety, which have significantly been affecting my academic performance and overall well-being, for the past 3 years. This affected my final year of high school, and now my first two years here at Queen’s University. I am submitting this level 1 petition for your consideration.
I am Emma Uba, and I am a 19-year-old student in my second undergraduate year in the Faculty of Arts & Science, I am doing my best to keep up with my coursework, but the weight of my mental health challenges made it increasingly difficult to function at my full capacity, especially in my first three terms. I have recently been able to get closer to my normal functional and healthy self, thanks to my physicians, my treatment plan, and my efforts.
In my first three terms (fall 2023, winter 2024, and fall 2024), my anxiety would often leave me overwhelmed with fear of failure, making it hard to focus in class or complete assignments on time. At the same time, depression drained me of my motivation, making even basic daily tasks feel exhausting. Despite my efforts to stay on track, there were days when attending lectures, participating in discussions, or meeting deadlines felt impossible.
I want to assure you that I am actively working on managing my mental health. I have been seeing a therapist (Katerina Schiralli, who has her Masters in Social Work) for a few years. (Prior to seeing Katie, I saw Hellen Simopoulos, also MSW, for many years). Together Katie and I are working on elements of cognitive behaviour therapy. I have been diagnosed by my family physician, Dr. Dandonna, with severe depression (in the summer of 2024) and I have started taking a prescription medication under the guidance of both my doctor and therapist. The date of onset of severe depression, according to Dr. Dandonna, was Feb 2023; however, my therapists feel I was battling depression for at least a few years prior to the doctor's diagnosis.
I now regularly attend therapy sessions, which are helping, but it is still a process. While I am committed to my education, I recognize that I may need additional support from the university to help me succeed academically while prioritizing my well-being. This is why I am formally requesting a level 1 petition, regarding many of the courses I have taken in the first three terms at Queen’s. Prior to my treatment plan, my depression and anxiety severely affected my physical well being: adversely affecting my ability to sleep, which led to fatigue, as well as headaches, transient nausea, and sensitivity to light. My thinking was sub par: difficulty concentrating, processing information, recalling information, and my ability to plan and organize. It also affected my socio-emotional well being, with higher than normal anxiety levels, low mood, difficulty with interacting with others and managing stress. As a consequence of the effects of my severe depression, attending class was difficult, as was meeting deadlines for assignments, participating in group activities, as well as reading, taking notes, delivering presentations and completing exams. All of this compromised my engagement with my studies in my first three terms at Queen’s.
I am requesting a CR for three of the courses I took in first year: BIOL 103 (Christopher Eckert, section 103), CHEM 112 (Michael Momboquette, section 002) and ENIN 140 (S. Hughson).I feel that my severe depression directly affected my ability to focus and engage with these 3 courses that I took in my first year. I earned a substantially lower grade than what I would normally expect, had I been able to give a normal effort.
I am requesting an AG standing for 2 courses: FILM 240 (Philip Gauthier) taken in winter of 2024, and GPHY101 taken in fall of 2024. I believe I fulfilled the criteria required, attending and passing at least 60 per cent of the work in these courses, but I was unable to complete all the work in the courses.
Finally, I am formally asking for a DR in these courses, that I took in fall of 2024: DEVS 101, POLS 101, and GNDS 101, dropping these courses after the academic deadline.
I have stabilized my mental health in the last few months, and it is reflected in my successful engagement in my current courses in the winter term of 2025. I am also engaging with life on campus, regularly exercising at the ARC, volunteering at the ARC, and joining the Queen’s equestrian club. My therapist, my physician and I, think that I have reached the therapeutically relevant dose of my SSRI medication, and together with my therapy sessions, I have had the most successful term at Queen’s currently in the winter term of 2025. I am hoping to continue my studies in my area of interest, in environmental studies. I do feel that I have indeed turned a corner, and I am starting to feel engaged with student life, and I would like to continue with that positive momentum.
I am currently in the process of securing long term accommodations with QSAS.
Thank you for your time, understanding, and consideration I appreciate any assistance you can provide.
Sincerely,
Emma Uba
20426446
23hsnm@queensu.ca