Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

(a) The Request:
I am appealing to drop the following courses late: (1) ARTH 253 (Baroque Art History); (2) PHYS 316 (Mathematical Methods in Physics); (3) PHYS 313 (Computational Physics); and (4) PHYS 344 (Quantum Mechanics).

(b) Explanation of Extenuation Circumstances:
I have been experiencing a severe psychological challenge (depression) since early September 2016. The depression has been getting significantly worse over the Fall term. It has affected my sleeping, eating, and mood patterns. The depression has affected my ability to concentrate on my academic studies. Specifically, this condition has affected my ability to attend classes on a regular basis, my ability to concentrate on course readings, completion of course assignments/projects, and tests. It has lessened the amount of time that I was able to study. My ability to complete the appeal letter in a timely manner was also affected by the depression. This is out of character for me as I have been on the Dean's List for academic excellence for the last two years.

I have taken the following steps to deal with this situation: (1) Talked to friends and family for guidance and support; (2) Contacted Student Wellness Services (discussed my situation and possible solutions); (3) Booked an appointment with Dr. Farnworth (Queen's Health Clinic); (4) Referred to and met with Dr. Barb Campbell (Psychiatry); (5) Discussed my situation with Dr. Chen, the Undergraduate Chair for Physics regarding make-up courses; and (6) Presently attending alternating bi-weekly sessions with Dr. Farnworth and Dr. Campbell.

(c) Future Plans:
My future plans are directed at dealing with my present psychological challenge by developing a manageable workload for next term and having the necessary supports in place to ensure class attendance and course assignment completion. Specifically, my plan includes: (1) Taking a lighter course load of three classes for the Winter term; (2) Making up the dropped courses over the Summer of 2017 and Fall of 2017; (3) Maintaining regular meetings with Dr. Farnworth and Dr. Campbell (bi-weekly sessions); and (4) Continuing with therapeutic Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.


Sincerely,

Jeremy Favaro (10143483)