Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am requesting to retroactively drop grades from Winter 2012 and Winter 2013. I know of students who have retroactively dropped grades due to extenuating circumstances beyond their control. I did not know that retroactively dropping grades was an option; however, my professor suggested that I looked into doing it, considering he knows of some students who have retroactively dropped grades due to extenuating circumstances.

During this time I mentioned (my first two years at Queen's University--Winter 2012 up until Winter 2013), I experienced a severe psychological challenge that interfered with my ability to perform academically. Due to clinically diagnosed disability, my mental health was compromised. I believe that the three Fs received during this time is not an accurate representation of my academic performance. As medically documented by my psychologist (as well as Queen's Disability Services), I have been diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder as well as a major depressive episode. During the time period of Winter 2012-Winter 2013, my mental health challenges most severely interfered with my academic performance during my whole career at Queen's. Particularly, I was suffering seriously from both anxiety and depressive episodes--simultaneously--and this challenge hindered my ability to perform in my course work and my examinations. My severe symptoms of anxiety and depression made it extremely difficult to even get out of bed in the morning. The symptoms I experienced were so severe that I was even on the brink of dropping out of university, but after doing some research on psychological services and antidepressants, I believed there was a chance for me to rehabilitate mentally so that I could perform to my best in academia.

During this difficult time, I sought psychological help in Kingston and with my family doctor; I regularly attended cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, and I took professionally prescribed psychotropic medication in order to ease my severe depressive episodes and debilitating anxiety. Unfortunately, I still struggled immensely in academia, and thus, failed three courses during this difficult time period. Nonetheless, I did not drop out of university, even though I suffered from serious symptoms. But over the years--with my regular attendance at cognitive behavioural therapy sessions as well as the continual use of antidepressants--I have gradually improved in my academics.

Although my anxiety disorder is permanent, I have nonetheless learned how to control it over the past three years so that I can participate in academics. My regular and continual use of medication has also contributed to a drastic decrease in major depressive episodes. I attribute my positive current state of mental health to my ongoing attendance at psychological treatment and my use of antidepressants.

My current state of mental well-being is reflected in my current grades; I currently have received several As and even A+s in my course work, and over the past two years I have been received several B+s in my courses. This sort of academic was unthinkable to me during the time I suffered from severe depression and anxiety. My attendance in class is also excellent. Now that I have healed psychologically, I can now perform to my greatest effort in academia. Due to my current state of mental well-being, I no longer need to regularly see a psychologist. As I have been doing well this semester, as well as the academic year of Fall 2014-Winter 2015, I can see my future academic performance following this positive pattern.

I have medical documentation from my psychologist about my health condition during 2012-2013. I am able to provide this supporting documentation. Although I did not as for her opinion regarding this matter, she nonetheless stated that she supports the retroactive dropping of these three Fs.