Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Academic Petition Committee,
I am petitioning to request retroactive withdrawal from all courses taken during the Fall term, due to significant medical circumstances that severely impaired my ability to participate in academic activities throughout the latter part of the semester.
I am a first-year undergraduate student at the university. Earlier in the term, I was able to engage with coursework; however, starting from October, my mental health condition deteriorated rapidly. I have a documented history of Bipolar Disorder, and during this semester, I experienced a relapse that substantially affected my cognitive functioning, energy levels, and capacity to meet academic obligations.
Throughout this period, I made repeated efforts to access specialized psychiatric care in Canada. Unfortunately, due to extended wait times and limited availability of specialists, I was unable to receive timely or effective treatment. As my symptoms worsened, I was prescribed lurasidone and valproate as part of my treatment plan. While medically necessary, this medication caused severe side effects, including extreme fatigue, dizziness, somatic symptoms, and prolonged hypersomnia. These effects left me largely bedridden and unable to function consistently on a daily basis.
As a direct result of this relapse and the side effects of treatment, I was unable to attend classes regularly, complete required essays, or sit for in-person examinations during the Fall term. In several instances, I missed assessments and deadlines, and I was not always able to communicate promptly with instructors. This was not due to negligence or disregard for my academic responsibilities, but rather because I lacked the physical and mental capacity to perform basic academic tasks, including sustained concentration and email correspondence. I sincerely regret the disruption caused by these circumstances and understand the importance of academic standards and fairness.
Given the seriousness of my condition and the lack of accessible psychiatric care locally, my family and I made the decision that I return to Beijing for further evaluation and treatment under specialist supervision. I will be flying on December 7 to receive appropriate medical care. This decision was made strictly for health reasons and reflects the extent to which my condition has impacted my ability to function academically during this term.
I respectfully request permission to retroactively withdraw from all courses taken during the Fall term. My academic performance and attendance during this period do not accurately reflect my abilities, effort, or commitment to my studies, but rather the impact of an acute medical relapse beyond my control. Allowing this withdrawal would enable my academic record to more fairly represent my true academic standing.
I remain fully committed to continuing my studies once my health stabilizes and I am able to participate meaningfully in academic life. I am prepared to provide all relevant medical documentation, including prior diagnoses and treatment records from Beijing, as well as any additional information the committee may require.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I sincerely appreciate the committee’s understanding and support during this difficult period and respectfully ask for approval of my request.
Yours sincerely,
Stephen Si Li You
20507131
Concurrent Education/ Arts