Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Board of Studies,

I am appealing to the board to request to drop three courses from my timetable. The courses are HIST 250, CLST 201, and ENGL 271. The circumstances that have affected my academics to the point where I do not feel I can complete these courses are extenuating mental health reasons that are beyond my control. Because of my psychological and emotional instability and high levels of anxiety, I cannot continue to be enrolled in these courses and maintain good academic standing. I have been struggling with my mental health for the entirety of the year, but have been able to cope with it up until a couple weeks ago, when a PTSD-related breakdown rendered me incapable of being able to healthily cope with any type of major stress, including those related to my upcoming assignments and exams. Although I have been getting help for my mental illnesses throughout the year, my symptoms have been snowballing to the point where I cannot cope with them despite my efforts to control them.

I am opting to drop these courses in hopes of relieving a significant amount of stress, thus allowing me to focus on my two remaining courses, ENGL 200 and ENGL 292. My reason for staying enrolled in these courses is that ENGL 200 is a required course for my major that I have a good standing in, and ENGL 292 is a course that I am extremely passionate about and have a good standing in, and is also highly recommended for English majors. They are both full year courses, and I do not want to give up my progress in either course. The three courses I am opting to drop are all electives. I have also contacted both professors in the courses I am choosing to remain enrolled in and accessibility services, and am working towards completing the courses with accommodation regarding upcoming assignments and exams. I will also be in contact with Student Wellness Services for counseling and further help with my mental health regarding this PTSD breakdown. Throughout the summer, my plan is to regularly attend therapy to further my recovery from this breakdown.

I am fully aware of and understand the consequences of dropping three courses this late in the year with regards to how it will look on my official transscript, as well as the financial consequences associated with taking a part-time course load with regards to changes in health insurance and OSAP. I am hoping that this situation is temporary, and that I will return to Queen¿¿s in the fall enrolled as a full-time student equipped with all the tools I need to manage my mental illnesses and the stressors that come with them and being a full time student.

Sincerely,
Andy Gardiner