Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean (Studies), Dr. Johanne Bénard:

I am writing this appeal letter today as a request to drop the online course FILM 260 (Summer, 2016) late. I have fallen behind in the six-week course due to its fast-paced nature, and as a result failed to hand in the assignments. I made the mistake in thinking that I could still catch up, thus missing the initial drop deadline. I contacted my instructor, Sydneyeve Matrix, explaining my situation and she suggested for me to appeal to drop the course. This is not the first course I have fallen very far behind in, and I believe it is partly due to my mental condition.

A couple years ago, I have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and I believe it is a large part as to why I have been struggling academically at Queen¿¿s (specifically with electives). In the past, I had weekly appointments with a counsellor in Toronto in order to tackle several of the obstacles I have been presented with as a person with ADHD. On campus I have tried to continue counselling by reaching out to Queen¿¿s Health Services, but it was not as effective as I would have liked. I am currently taking medication (Adderall XR) for my mental disorder, and about a year has passed since having appointments with a counsellor. Before understanding my disorder in my first three years at Queen¿¿s, I was fairly miserable and struggled to wake up for my morning classes and hand in assignments on time; I had not set a solid plan in motion which is something people with ADHD definitely need. I have seen great improvements in my emotional wellbeing ever since confronting my ADHD, and academically things are getting slowly better. My mood and my wonder for learning have been revitalized as I have retained the habit of going to my classes.

As stated before, FILM 260 is a condensed course, and so is a huge challenge for someone like me to keep pace with everyone else. I understand that Queen¿¿s has accommodations for people with mental illnesses to provide extra time, however I did not opt in for them this year. The reasoning behind this was because I believed that I could meet the standards despite my ADHD. I have the potential to excel in my studies, but brushing off the possibility of accommodations proved to be a poor sense in judgment. I apologize for my ignorance in this. I am also currently taking ASTR 101 online. Unlike FILM 260, it is not a condensed course and I am thankfully keeping up with the weekly material.

In the upcoming Fall term, I look to getting back in touch with my counsellor, as I aim to my studies at Queen¿¿s. Having someone there to help me to articulate plans and small achievable goals proved to be a huge asset for me in the past. I also plan to apply for accommodations, as I now know that they are there in helping me reach the level of academics Queen¿¿s expects out of a student; it is a level I know I can achieve.

Attached is a doctor¿¿s note that proves I indeed have ADHD. I apologize for any inconvenience I have caused, and I thank you for taking the time to read this letter of appeal.

Sincerely,
Sebastian Wang
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