Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

My name is Hayden Sommerhalder, and I am writing to formally request withdrawal from my Fall 2025 courses (BIOL 102, CHEM 112A, MATH 130, PHYS 115) and my Winter 2026 courses (CHEM 112B and BIOL 103).

During this academic year, I experienced multiple significant personal losses that had a profound and sustained impact on my ability to function academically.

My grandfather passed away on June 15th, and because I was working in the summer, my family in Victoria where he lived refrained from informing me about his death until August 12th, before the start of the academic year. While I entered the fall term intending to manage my coursework as I was a high achieving student in high school, the grieving process was ongoing and intensified by the timing of his funeral over Thanksgiving. Receiving this news so close to moving away to university was extremely difficult and affected my mental well-being, focus, and motivation during a critical transition into university. The delayed timing of the news followed by his celebration of life over Thanksgiving prolonged and intensified my grief during a critical adjustment period. As a result, I struggled significantly with my mental health, which affected my ability to carry out basic academic responsibilities. I was unable to leave my room to attend lectures, tutorials, and, most critically, mandatory labs that I needed to be present in, in order to pass the classes.

In the Winter 2026 term, I began to regain stability and demonstrate my academic ability, as reflected in the grade that I earned in CISC 115. This improvement was the result of renewed mental effort and increased engagement with my coursework. However, approximately one month before final exams, on April 4th 2026, I experienced the loss of a close friend, Colin. This unexpected event compounded the emotional strain I had been managing and occurred at a critical point in the term. As a result, my ability to prepare for and perform on final assessments was significantly disrupted, leading to unsuccessful outcomes in CHEM 112B and BIOL 103 that do not reflect my true academic capability.

What made this period particularly challenging was that I had not previously experienced circumstances of this magnitude. As a high-achieving student in high school, I was accustomed to managing academic demands independently and did not initially recognize the extent to which these events were affecting me. I thought that I would be able to handle my grief and mental health all on my own. Consequently, I did not seek support early enough, and I was not aware of the possibility of late course withdrawal. While I take responsibility for this, it is important in understanding how these circumstances impacted my academic record.

I am now in a significantly different and more stable position. I have taken active steps to address my mental health and am working closely with my doctor, who has provided formal documentation from both the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 terms, which outlines the impact these events had on my mental health and academic functioning during each period of time. With this close support, I have developed healthier coping strategies and regained the ability to consistently attend and engage with my responsibilities. Most importantly, I have learned the importance of using resources like Academic Advising to help me so that I am not attempting to handle everything on my own.

I am currently enrolled in two summer courses to make up for this academic year, including MATH 151 (equivalent to MATH 130) and BIOL 102, and my performance reflects the stability I have regained. I am committed to continuing my degree and confident in my ability to succeed under these improved circumstances.

Moving forward, I have developed a structured and sustainable academic plan. This includes maintaining a consistent weekly study schedule, dedicating specific time blocks to coursework, attending office hours regularly, and actively utilizing academic support resources.

Given the severity, timing, and ongoing nature of my personal circumstances, I respectfully request approval for withdrawal from the Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 courses listed above so that I may continue my studies on a stable academic foundation.

I will continue working closely with my doctor and mental health professional to manage my mental health and ensure it does not negatively impact my academic performance moving forward. I will also maintain regular communication with my academic advisor and actively monitor my academic standing to remain accountable. I recognize that improving mental health is a gradual process that does not happen overnight, however, I have already begun to make meaningful progress.

With demonstrated academic recovery, current medical support, and a clear, structured plan moving forward, I am now in a position to succeed. Granting this withdrawal would allow my academic record to more accurately reflect both my capabilities and my current trajectory, and would provide a fair opportunity to continue my studies on a stable foundation.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Hayden Sommerhalder