Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Johanne Benard

Associate Dean (Studies)

Queen¿¿s University



Dear Dr. Benard,


Please accept this letter as an appeal to my current academic standing following my first year at Queen¿¿s University. As you are aware, my final GPA was below 0.7, which is the minimum requirement. Although I am aware that this grade is not a mark to be proud of, there are extenuating circumstances that explain my academic assessment by Queen¿¿s Faculty of Arts & Science. Currently I am in ¿¿good standing¿ however, this is because I do not yet have 30 credits completed. I would like you to consider the following extenuating circumstances and compassionately consider my request to appeal my first year, to have my grades removed.


At the beginning of my first year, I was enjoying my studies and had an ideal routine that I followed. I was taking an array of courses and feeling good about learning. At Christmas, I was relatively successful in my full year courses. I had been going to class making an effort to learn. (eventually I failed these courses). I struggled with ¿¿Discrete Math¿ but other than that was feeling confident. Around this time, I stopped taking my anti-depressant medication (Fluoxetine), for a problem that I was diagnosed with in June of 2014. This proved to be an unfortunate decision, since into the new year, I starting feeling depressed and highly anxious. Why I did not start up the medication again is unknown to me even in hindsight. At that point I started to lose motivation, withdrew from my friends, and did almost no academic work. Often I would go to my class and tell myself I was going to get all my outstanding work done however, when I would arrive back to my room in residence, anxiety would overcome this motivation and I would just lay in bed contemplating my work. However, I could not bring myself to do this work. I communicated nothing to my friends, my family, or my teachers. In the end, I failed all my courses, even ¿¿Intermediate French¿, for which I should have achieved and ¿¿A¿ with my French knowledge and ability. In ¿¿Rudiments (Music), another failure, I could not bring myself to work, and yet I received and 83 on the final exam and yet still failed the course ¿¿ a real sign of my lack of energy during the term.


When my parents asked about my experiences and my progress, I avoided these issues, withheld information, and I mislead them. I was worried it would be hard for them to understand and it is of course not easy for me to understand fully now. I was not a rational thinker and I began existing in a quiet space or lost myself in my computer. Despite having a meal plan, I ate very little. I began to lose weight and lost 20 lbs, reducing my weight to 104 lbs, dangerously low for my height (5¿¿11¿). I have since been diagnosed with an ulcer and am now taking medication for that as well.


It was not until I completed the year that I decided to finally tell my parents of the disastrous year that unfolded. And, as you can imagine, I was stressed about telling them but see how important their support is. I also regret that I did not fully take advantage of the supports that are available at Queen¿¿s. I do, however, believe that Queen¿¿s is a special place and it is a place that I want to continue to be a part of. However, I have learned about myself and plan to continue on the path of positive mental health.