Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Members of the Academic Petitions Committee,

I am writing to request Aegrotat and Credit Received standing for the courses affected by significant health-related circumstances during the 2025–2026 academic year.

I was diagnosed with depression in October 2025 and ADHD in January 2026. Although receiving these diagnoses helped explain the difficulties I had been experiencing, treatment was not immediately successful. It took an extended period of time to identify an appropriate treatment plan, and the medications I initially tried did not provide consistent relief. During this process, I continued to experience significant symptoms while also dealing with disruptive medication side effects.

The treatment and adjustment period affected my concentration, memory, energy, motivation, emotional regulation, and ability to function consistently. At times, the side effects caused fatigue, nausea, drowsiness, brain fog, and periods of reduced functioning. Because treatment was still being adjusted, there was no immediate improvement after my diagnoses, and it took time before I began to feel more stable and capable of managing my daily and academic responsibilities.

These circumstances directly affected my academic performance. I had substantial difficulty studying, retaining course material, initiating and completing tasks, managing deadlines, and preparing for assessments. I missed assignments and examinations, struggled to attend classes consistently, and fell behind in my coursework. In courses with cumulative content, frequent assessments, and material that built heavily on earlier concepts, falling behind made it increasingly difficult to understand later topics or recover before final evaluations. As a result, I was unable to successfully complete or pass several courses.

I was significantly affected from October 2025 through the end of the Winter 2026 term. Although I attempted to continue my studies during this period, my academic performance did not accurately reflect my abilities, effort, or commitment.

I sought professional medical support, received formal diagnoses, and continued working with my doctor to manage my symptoms and adjust my treatment. However, due to administrative delays, I was not able to complete my registration with Queen’s Student Accessibility Services until May 2026. As a result, I completed the affected academic terms without access to the formal accommodations and supports I required.

Since then, I have continued seeking appropriate medical care and have registered with QSAS. I now have a better understanding of my functional limitations and the accommodations and supports I need to manage my academic responsibilities more effectively.

I am therefore requesting Aegrotat and Credit Received standing for the affected courses. I respectfully ask the Committee to consider that my inability to complete or pass these courses was directly connected to documented psychological conditions, an extended and initially unsuccessful treatment process, and significant medication side effects. These circumstances were beyond my control and interfered with my ability to meet the academic requirements of my courses.

Thank you for considering my petition and the accompanying supporting documentation.