Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: June 15, 2016

Associate Dean, Arts and Sciences
Queens University

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to appeal that two courses I took during the Spring, 2016 term be dropped without the grades being recorded even though it is past the deadline. They are CISC 121 and PHIL 157. I am a first year student in the Bachelor of Computing Program at Queens.

My first term seemed to go fine and I had made lots of friends and enjoyed my courses, but in January I noticed that my anxiety level was very high. It finally got to the point that I had to have my mom come and take me home in late January as I was unable to sleep, concentrate, or read and write. My parents set up a meeting with my family doctor and a CBT therapist. I was diagnosed with moderate depression and put on some anti-anxiety medication, and then I returned to Queens.

I returned to school, but my symptoms were getting worse, not better. I was unable to sleep, and, some days, unable to leave my dorm room. I was not able to attend many of my classes and was too stressed to set up an appointment with a therapist. My mom even came to school to try to help me, but it was too stressful to see her for more than a few minutes. Irene LaFleche, my counselor, was in touch with me, but there were times I was too anxious to reply to her emails or meet with her.

I finally met with her and we decided to drop all of my courses except Computer Science 121 (required) and Philosophy 157 (which would have normally been considered not too difficult). I thought that would work. I soon found that I was unable to even attend these two courses consistently or finish the work assigned or take the tests. My parents constantly texted or tried to call me, but I told them to give me space and was too stressed to reply to them. They agreed to this, but I know they were very worried. They set up for me to see a psychiatrist at Oakville Trafalgar Hospital for April 21st, as soon as I left school at the end of term. I talked with Irene LaFleche again and told her I was not able to finish my last two courses and would need to drop them, even though it was past the deadline to drop courses. She agreed that this was the right thing to do.

My current psychiatrist, Dr. Jeremy Butler, is trying to help me get well. I have been put on new medications, of which two did not work, so I have been weaned off those and are trying a third. He wants my anxiety to level out so he can start to work with me. I am seeing him on a regular basis, approximately every other week. I will also be seeing a therapist starting hopefully when the right medication combination is found. I have been too unwell to see one yet. Dr. Butler has yet to confirm a definite diagnosis, as he believes the medication I started on in January may have made me worse, instead of better.

I definitely want to return to Queens as soon as I am well and finish my Bachelor of Computing program. I love the university and know I can make a positive impact when I come back. I have 5 apps currently on the Apple Store website, and have ideas for developing more. I had a successful high school career, and was even Valedictorian of my graduating class.

Please allow me to drop these two courses past the deadline without a grade being recorded. I will be working hard this summer to get well, have good doctors working with me, supportive parents who will do anything that is recommended by my doctors, and I have a huge desire to finish strong at Queens. I know with help I can do this, and my doctors do, too. I will stay in touch with my counselor at Queens and am already feeling better. I plan to return as soon as my doctor tells me I am ready. I plan to work closely with my counselor to make a plan for my course selection that will ensure my success. I am keeping my apartment in Kingston and will work hard to finish my degree, including taking summer courses, if possible, when I return.

Thank you so much for your consideration.

Justin Bush
905-599-5018
1114 Woodington Lane
Oakville, ON L6H 7T9