Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am writing to petition for academic consideration based on medical circumstances that seriously affected my academic performance beginning in November of last semester and continuing into this term.

In early November, during a critical point in the semester, I began experiencing serious medical issues. I sought medical care at the time, but my symptoms did not improve immediately and continued for an extended period. During this time, I struggled with basic day-to-day functioning. It became difficult for me to eat properly, maintain my energy, and function normally on a daily basis. Although the most severe period eventually passed, the effects continued for months and significantly affected my concentration, stamina, and ability to manage academic responsibilities.

These circumstances had a direct impact on my ability to keep up with coursework, prepare for assessments, and meet deadlines at my usual level. Because these issues began during the semester and continued beyond it, they affected both my academic performance last term and my ability to manage the demands of this term.

These circumstances also worsened a pre-existing condition for which I am registered with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services. I receive accommodations for exams and assignments, and I continued to rely on those supports throughout this period. However, even with those accommodations in place, the seriousness and duration of these circumstances made it very difficult to keep up with my academic responsibilities.

As a result, last semester I had to request Incompletes in three of my five courses. The effects of these circumstances continued into this term, including while I was completing a deferred exam at the beginning of the semester. This left me trying to manage unresolved work from last term while also keeping up with my current courses, all while still dealing with the ongoing effects of these medical circumstances.

I continued to seek support throughout this period by attending the clinic multiple times and speaking with my doctor from home. Despite these efforts, the effects of these circumstances continued into this semester, even though I was gradually improving.

I am therefore respectfully requesting the following academic consideration:

an extension for the Incomplete in [ARTH 121]
a CR for [POLS 250]
a CR for [CLST 131]

The connection between these circumstances and my academic performance is direct. Beginning in November and continuing for months, these medical circumstances significantly reduced my ability to complete coursework, study effectively, and meet academic expectations across both terms. Prior to these circumstances, I had maintained strong academic standing, including being named to the Dean’s List last year, and this level of academic difficulty is not reflective of my usual performance. Despite my efforts to seek medical care and manage the academic consequences as responsibly as possible, these circumstances made it impossible for me to meet all academic expectations within the usual timelines.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my petition and supporting documentation.

Sincerely,
Naomi Henry