Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: 19 July 2016

ALAN TOWNSHEND-CARTER ACADEMIC APPEAL,

To whom it may concern,

I am requesting the following:

1) A waiver for the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years;

2) The previous offer made (ref: Sue Blake email 6 May 2016) to drop CLST 410 and change my HIST 250 grade to a Credit standing to be enacted, and;

3) That the following failed courses from the 2013-2014 academic year from my transcript be dropped:

a. ARTH 212;
b. CLST 340;
c. CLST 214;
d. CLST 330, and;
e. CLST 331

I believe that these requests are justified due to multiple mitigating factors that have had a negative impact on my academic success which were beyond my control.

The primary factors that have influenced my inability to successfully complete my studies were two underlying and undiagnosed medical conditions, these conditions being major depression and ADHD. I have suffered from the symptoms from birth, but I was reluctant to go for treatment because I concluded that these symptoms were normal amongst everyone. Following the 2013-2014 academic year, I was asked to withdraw for a year. During this time, I prepared myself in techniques to better organize and manage my time and tasks. My symptoms were still present, but I never concluded that mental illness was the cause. Upon my return for the 2015-2016 academic year my conditions increasingly became unmanageable which culminated in a professional colleague strongly advising me, and accompanying me to psychological treatment at LaSalle. In April, I was diagnosed with major depression. Later, in June, my doctor also diagnosed me with ADHD. Presently I am being medicated for both conditions and receiving counseling. These impairments have been a constant companion of mine throughout my life, and as such these impairments were a major detriment to my academic success throughout my undergraduate career.

A secondary factor was my worries over the illness of my partner. In late February a tumour was discovered during a routine medical exam. In March her doctor excused her from the final week of classes to have a biopsy preformed to evaluate the severity of the discovery. During the exam period, the results came in saying that she urgently required immediate invasive surgery. From February to June she required my emotional and mental support. Naturally such a significant, and potentially life-threatening prognosis hanging over the head of someone who is extremely significant to me (and who I hope to have a future with) is a hard pill to swallow, and with my depression, preparing for and writing exams was nearly impossible ¿¿ leading to poor academic results.

A final ¿¿ albeit minor ¿¿ factor was my work obligations. I¿¿m an Infantry Officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, and have been serving this country for over five years as a means of financially supporting myself. I realize now that my work obligations were interfering with my studies ¿¿ a mistake on my part I have since corrected.

My attached academic plan outlines how I will address the above concerns. In short; I have been receiving treatments for my major depression and ADHD, my partner is now healthy and preventive treatments have begun, and my work has become my lowest priority ¿¿ I will cut my work hours down and take fewer courses to maximize academic success. I¿¿d also like to drop the above mentioned courses to boost my GPA in order to achieve the mandatory GPA level to graduate by the end of this academic year.

In closing after receiving treatment I am very hopeful for the future. All I want to do is go back to school and complete my undergraduate degree. I have worked very hard to overcome my impairments and if given another chance I will not fail Queens. I will meet the high standards not only demanded by Queens but by myself and above all else succeed.

Sincerely,



Alan Townshend-Carter (06337630)
647-839-8005