Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To: Dr. Johanne Bénard, The Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
94 University Ave. Kingston ON K7L 3N9

From: Megan Quin, 10020009
Queen¿¿s B.A.H./ B.Ed.
GPHY Major, FREN Minor, and Concurrent Education

Dear Dr. Bénard,
I am appealing initially for an extension of the appeal deadlines regarding courses I took over the Winter 2015, Fall 2015, and Winter 2016 academic terms. I am appealing to late-drop unsuccessful credits, and/or to salvage any credits possible through CR or AG standing.

Extenuating circumstances beyond my control of a medical nature have affected both my ability to appeal in a timelier manner and my ability to perform academically at my true capability. For context to my condition, I experienced my first major concussion in January 2012, followed by several more over the following 4 years. Each successive concussion caused further deterioration of specific cognitive capacities, as detailed in my post-concussive cognitive testing and my neuropsychological assessment. The impact of these injuries was enormous, marking my status as a student with a disability and consequently I needed to re-learn basic academic strategies as well as seek support from Accessibility Services. The deterioration of my physical wellness triggered a marked decline of my mental health. The physical symptoms of my mental illness exacerbated my existing physical illness as well as complicated my ability to perform academically. For this reason, I took a medical leave of absence during the Fall 2010-Winter 2013 school year. I received intensive treatment, and learned many important skills to manage my mental illnesses in preparation for my return to school.

My academic success -notably in the period I am appealing- deteriorated after a new symptom emerged: debilitating chronic fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. I am still undergoing medical diagnosis, and thus have an incomplete understanding of the exact nature of the illness, but I am saddled with the incapacitating symptoms and time-consuming medical appointments. In Fall 2014, I was started on a low dose of a medication by a specialist, which required much trial and error to titrate to my more effective current dose. The period of several months in which I was not on a sufficient does crippled my academic performance as my life was consumed by the symptoms of the illness. Involuntary sleep regularly consumed 15+ hours of each day. Despite attempting to arrange alternate deadlines with individual professors, and having some support from SASS, my illness during this period prevailed and rendered me incapable of producing written academic work. Following thee difficult terms, I took off the Fall 2016 term to pursue further diagnosis and treatment, as well as to organize for this appeal in preparation for my return to studies.

As I will outline in further detail in my academic plan, I will be making numerous persona adjustments to foster success going forward, including seeking additional academic supports, financial assistance, and pursuing effective and continued medical treatment. Having implemented some of these changes, I am having a much more successful term than I had imagined, and I am genuinely excited to move forward in my degree.