Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Studies:

I am writing to appeal for a Credit Standing for ENGL203, taken in the 2009-2010 term, and to drop ENGL255 taken in the same term. Due to the interference of clinically diagnosed major depression and stress-triggered anxiety, it was necessary for me to defer several high-stress assessments from the period of 2009-2010. These were assessments I had fully intended to complete, but was unable to do so after when my depression later progressed to a level that rendered me unable to function.

My appeal is based on my belief that my course results do not reflect my abilities or even the quality of work submitted in those courses. For instance, in ENGL203, I had deferred, but was ultimately unable to write, the final exam. However, prior to the onset of my illness, I had completed every other element of the course at a grade level of A or higher. My mark in the course is currently 57, which theoretically, had it not been for the missed exam worth 35, would have been 88. For this reason, I request a Credit Standing in this course to better reflect my abilities and the work put into the course, as the missed exam was due to extenuating circumstances. In ENGL255, I deferred the final exam as well as an essay. However, owing to the severity of my illness, I was unable to complete these assessments, and therefore request to drop the course.

I also wish to appeal to drop LING320, LING330 and LING340 from the 2011-2012 period. I returned to Queen's University after a one year hiatus, after seeing a psychiatrist regularly the past year, in hopes that my condition had improved. In the fall term, my depression was severely triggered by an incident that happened in class a few weeks into the term. I withdrew from Queen's and took the rest of the term to recover. I returned in the winter term because I believed my episode at the time to have been triggered by a specific occurrence, not necessarily due to worsening depression. However, I was wrong, and its worsening interference compelled my mother to remove me from Queen's University in the winter of 2012, in order for me to take time to recover. While under normal circumstances, I would have dropped the courses that I did not intend to finish, the severity of my condition prevented me from performing even simple daily tasks. It is for this reason that I was not able to drop the courses then, and I wish to do so now.

For your consideration, I have enclosed documentation of my disability with this appeal letter. Documentation has also been filed with my disability counsellor at Queen's University. I am availing all the resources available to me and doing my utmost to return to my studies, with the support of Queen's Accessibility Services and appropriate mental health professionals. During my absence from Queen's, I have slowly relearned how to function and believe I am in a much better state than before. Some steps I have taken or will take to ensure academic progress include:

1) Arrange and/or modify necessary accommodations with my Accessibility Advisor at Queen's.
2) Take a reduced course load.
3) Work with my psychiatrist to adjust my medications as needed.
4) Make use of a learning strategist to better allocate my time in a way that causes the least amount of stress and minimizes anxiety.
5) Utilize Queen's counselling services to better manage my anxiety.
6) Employ a psychologist or psychotherapist.
7) Change program to one more appropriate for my condition; I believe that English was causing too much stress, so I switched from an English Honours to an English General

Academic success is extremely important to me. Before the interference of my illness, I was on the Dean's Honour List with Distinction, and I earnestly believe I can get there again. I have had this illness for a very long time, and I am working very hard to overcome it. I hope sincerely that you may aid me in doing so by granting my appeal, so that I may pursue my education to the full extent of my abilities.

Sincerely,
Angela Chung


NOTE: During the 2011-2012 Fall/Winter school year, I was unable to complete any of my courses and did not sit any final examinations. While I was informed by my advisor I received a B- in ENGL311, I am unable to explain this grade, as I did not complete the course.