Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern;

I am writing to appeal for an extension of an incomplete grade of CHEM 282/285 Summer 2015 Distance Studies course. My grounds for this appeal are family problems.

In mid-October 2014, I received some troubling news about my younger sister's mental health and some actions she had taken in regards to that. This weighed heavily on my mind, distracting me making it difficult to focus. It also took up a lot of my time; I would spend many hours each week on the phone with her. All of the concern and strength I gave to her left little for me, this added to underlying mental health issues of my own. My all-consuming concern with my younger sister was finally beginning to subside early February 2015 as I helped her finally reach out for professional help.

I received another bought of bad news at the beginning of March 2015. My older brother was also struggling with his mental health. My parents tried to keep it from me because they knew how it had affected me and my school work with my younger sister. I was absorbed again with worry for my brother, my sister, and also feeling guilty that I couldn't handle it as well as I should have for them. This again affected my focus, my ability to sleep, even my appetite and adding again to my own instability.

In May, I reached out for help myself. I began seeing Rachel Sturgeon, a counsellor with Health, Counselling and Disability Services here at Queen's. She will be providing the official documentation to supplement this appeal. Talking through the events of the year and what was still occurring was very taxing.

Then in mid-July my brother got into a car accident, this event directly conflicted with the CHEM 282/285 Distance Study courses I was taking. My brother's car was almost entirely totalled but he luckily walked away from the accident with only minor injuries. However, the accident rattled his already delicate mental state and he needed even more support. I did not withdraw from the course because I didn't want to add to my brother's already negative self-image by making him think he was damaging the lives of those around him. I was unable to focus on the course because my mind and heart was always with my brother. My ability to both sleep and eat was again affected by worry for him. He continues to fight with these issues even now.

Looking at my transcript, you can see from my first year that I am capable of doing better than I did in my second year and this past summer. I understand that there is a time limit on these appeals, but in light of my situation I ask that you also consider granting me Credit Standing marks where applicable. If this is not possible, my primary intent of this appeal still remains to request an extension of an incomplete grade in CHEM 282/285 Distance Studies.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information or clarification.

Thank you,

Monica Morson
13mavm@queensu.ca