Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Associates Dean for the Faculty of Arts and Science,

This letter is prompted by my appeal to be removed from PHIL203 online course this winter semester of 2016. I am appealing to drop this course based on the extenuating circumstances beyond my control that have resulted in my inability to concentrate on my studies to the fullest expectations this past semester.
I was travelling home to Guelph every weekend in January as I have been testing for ovarian cancer. It is hereditary within my family and naturally, my parents were stressing me to get checked. The traveling and stress that I was put under resulted in me falling behind in my studies. I was looking forward to getting on top of my workload and catching up over reading week, my boyfriend of 4 years decided that would be a good time to break up with me for reasons I have yet to understand. My mental health has not been in a good place as I completely shut down these past few weeks with the pile of school, health, and emotional stress I have been put under. I would not leave my bed for days on end after reading week. I felt very alone and could not conduct everyday activities. I have begun to go to counselling through Queen¿¿s Student Support Services regularly, where began the process of my bettering my mental health (Beginning March 7th). My inability to receive replies from my professor regarding extensions has failed and thus as a result, I will unfortunately fail this course. I genuinely care about my grades as I have always had plans to attend law school following my undergrad. Upon speaking with Joyce Hunter, it is clear that the application for my appeal to drop this course is beneficial to my academic plan overall. As outlined in the medical documentation provided, these extenuating circumstances have had a considerable impact on my current academics. I do not expect these circumstances to limit me into third year as I have taken substantial steps to better my mental health with the main goal of supporting and furthering my academic objectives.
I was unable to complete the weekly discussion posts that were a major component required by this course. I attempted to get in contact with the professor requesting if he would allow the second half of the semester¿¿s discussion posts to be weighted higher than the first (March 10th). I provided the appropriate documentation and was shortly notified afterwards that he would draw up a plan and speak with me within the following week (March 11th). However, I have not yet heard anything. Upon beginning the final term paper (March 15th) that I was under the impression was due on March 25th, I discovered it was actually due on Friday, March 11th. As an organized student this is not an error I make. Not once in any of my university courses have I missed or mixed up a scheduling date as important as this. Feeling defeated this further added to my stress and upon speaking with Joyce Hunter in the Faculty of Arts and Science academic advising, I have decided to appeal to drop this course due to the combination of inability to complete this course to receive a passing grade.
Moving forward with politics, I hope to excel during third year with the additional course load of 6.0 credits per semester. However, I am also open to taking an additional year at Queen¿¿s to finish my undergraduate studies if need be. I will continue to attend counseling until my mental health is in a place of control and where I want it to be. I plan to re-take PHIL203 in the following year if offered because it is genuinely interesting and I would like to complete it. I will be meeting with an academic advisor during this exam period if possible to fully map out what is most beneficial for me in the coming years here at Queen¿¿s.

Regards,
Keely McVicar