Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

New Information: July 5, 2014

Dear Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science,

As my Appeal to Drop Courses Application outlines, I am seeking permission to drop MUSC 203, MUSC 205 and DRAM 300 from the Winter semester of 2013, MUSC 204 and CLST 205 from the Fall semester of 2013, and I am also appealing to drop GNDS 375 from the Winter semester 2014 . Necessarily so, I must appeal to waive the 21-Day Deadline for which I was unable to adhere to by means of dropping these courses in a timely fashion and dealing with the issues surrounding my case.

My previous appeal from 2012 outlines issues pertaining to an assault. Although equipped with a strong support system and occasional counseling with mental health professionals, I found it difficult to immerse myself back into the lifestyle I was accustomed to before the assault. I found school to be intimidating, and the teachers to be even more so. I was never looking for special accommodations from my teachers; I was simply searching for a mutual understanding that I might need to go about class work at my own pace. As the semesters after the assault progressed, I found myself more anxious than ever and I thought that the biggest feat was that of overcoming my own anxieties and personal issues. School fell to the wayside and I celebrated the rare occasions on which I attended a class or completed a reading. Even though I was unable to adhere to the ¿¿Queen¿¿s Academic Standard¿, I was proud of myself for the small victories. Along the way to my illusion of ¿¿recovery¿, I found myself sidetracked by a severe substance abuse as well as a mentally abusive relationship; I figured that my well being was the most important thing, and I needed to focus on getting myself better. Unfortunately, I sought solace in all the wrong places. As time passed, I felt the horror of my situation set in¿¿ I knew I had the issue of school to deal with, but right around the time of my intention to write this appeal, I found out of my father¿¿s diagnosis with cancer.

As far as my academics were concerned, I saw countless assignment deadlines come and go and missed what seemed like endless tutorials and lectures. I was overwhelmed by the idea of trying to get my schooling back on track so I dealt with it by trying to pretend as though the responsibility didn¿¿t exist¿¿the sort of ¿¿out of sight, out of mind¿ mentality. On a good day, any effort I¿¿d attempt to put forth on catching up with homework left me in a state of anxiety and an inability to focus on the task at hand. However, a year and a bit later, I find myself in a significantly better mental state and am supported by a team of mental health professionals at Providence Care as well as a group of close knit friends who monitor my day-to-day state of mind, ensuring as best they can that I do not relapse. I have been substance free now for over 45 days and I have a clear view of how I want my future at Queen¿¿s to pan out. Unlike the last time, I have my heart and my mind on my side this time and I am ready to conquer my last year at Queen¿¿s and pass with flying colours.

It is with an open mind and an eager heart that I ask for your consideration to waive the 21-Day Deadline and accept my appeal to drop said courses. I feel stronger than ever and I know that with your help, I can see my last year out as successfully as I started, 4 years ago.

I thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Kindest Regards,



Hannah Stewart