Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am writing to formally petition for consideration regarding my academic performance in CISC 121 (Fall 2024) and STAT 268 and MATH 280 (Fall 2025) due to severe and well-documented mental health circumstances that were beyond my control and directly affected my ability to perform academically.

During the 2024–2025 academic year, I experienced a significant mental health crisis. In March 2025, my condition escalated to the point where I was suicidal and attempted to take my life on March 23rd. In the months leading up to and following this period, I was dealing with severe depression, emotional instability, and an inability to function consistently or safely. This was not a temporary dip in motivation, but a serious medical and psychological emergency that disrupted every aspect of my life, including my academic responsibilities.

These circumstances directly impacted my performance in CISC 121 (Fall 2024). During that term, my mental health was deteriorating rapidly. I struggled with concentration, memory, sleep deprivation, and maintaining basic routines. As a result, I fell behind in coursework, was unable to perform to my true academic ability, and ultimately did not demonstrate the level of understanding or effort I am capable of under normal conditions.

While I worked to stabilize my mental health following the March 2025 crisis, the effects were long-lasting. Entering Fall 2025, I experienced a resurgence of severe symptoms, this time manifesting primarily as debilitating anxiety. During that term, I suffered two major panic attacks, which significantly impaired my ability to attend classes consistently, focus during lectures and exams, and manage the sustained cognitive demands of STAT 268 and MATH 280. These panic attacks were not isolated moments of stress; they were overwhelming physiological episodes that left me mentally exhausted, fearful of recurrence, and unable to perform effectively in high-pressure academic settings.

Throughout these periods, my academic struggles were not due to a lack of effort or commitment. I made attempts to keep up with coursework, but my mental health severely limited my capacity to do so. Tasks that would normally be manageable became overwhelming, and assessment performance suffered as a direct result.

Since these events, I have taken concrete steps to address my mental health. I have sought professional help and have been under the care of mental health professionals. I can provide documentation from therapists and evidence of prescribed medication if required to support this petition. I am actively working toward long-term stability and developing better strategies to manage my condition alongside my academic responsibilities.

I am submitting this petition in good faith and with full accountability. I am not asking for special treatment, but rather for recognition that these circumstances were extraordinary, beyond my control, and had a direct and substantial impact on my academic performance during the specified terms. I remain committed to my education and to demonstrating my true academic ability under stabilized conditions.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition.

Sincerely,
Ali Usman