Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Addressed to the Associate Dean (Studies):
My name is Victoria Chappell, and I am a Life Sciences Specialization student entering my 3rd year here at Queens. At this time, I am requesting an allowance to drop my CHEM 282 (Winter 2017) course after the academic deadline. This is due to mental health circumstances that prevented me from completing the final exam on the set day. I have discussed this extensively with my professors, guidance counselors, academic advisors, and knowledgeable parties in the office of Arts and Science Studies. This is a special incidence amongst my courses, in which dropping CHEM 282 was the best option for my mental health and educational experience.

There is a process that allows students that have already completed Chem 282 and its lab component during the school year, to take the CHEM 285 course in the summer, and have their lab marks transferred over / combined with Chem 285 results to replace the previous CHEM 282 mark. (Therefore the summer CHEM 285 is converted to a credit for CHEM 282).

It was my intention to take advantage of this process. I had completed (and achieved the required mark) in the lab component of CHEM 282, and I fully intended on writing the final exam and completing the course. However, I was not able to write the final exam for CHEM 282 due to mental health issues. (I also had accommodations for my other exams, and after requesting being granted IN status for all courses, was able to complete these exams by mid-June). While i was happy to receive accommodation for the final exam, no acceptable dates could be arranged with the professor (for June / early July). At that point, the professor offered a mid-August date to write the final, which is the same time as the CHEM 285 final. This made is logistically impossible to complete CHEM 282 prior to taking CHEM 285.

I inquired between professors and other administrators, and was able to determine that in order to take the summer course as CHEM 282, the lab component of my mark would still be allowed to count if the course was dropped. After much discussion and thought, I determined that repeating the course entirely was a preferable option to finishing only the final exam (for my mental health, academic outcome, and overall acquired knowledge from the class). At this point I have completed each aspect of the CHEM 285/282 course that is required, writing the final exam on August 17th.

Therefore, this is why I am requesting an allowance to drop my CHEM 282 (Winter 2017) course after the academic deadline.

Going forward, I have highly prioritized my mental health. I have been regularly speaking with a psychotherapist to develop better coping strategies for myself, as well as getting medication assistance. I have reduced my extracurricular commitments for the upcoming year, to ensure I am able to allow time for myself to properly practice self-care. Finally, I plan to establish an agreement through Accessibility Services to better manage examinations with my mental health concerns.

Documentation I had received at the time I was granted accommodation IN status for all classes was provided to the office in late April, and I have included copies of these documents here as well. If anything further would be helpful, please let me know and I would be happy to provide it. As well, if further information regarding the specific circumstances of this incidence would be helpful, I am available any time to meet and discuss, or provide information by email.

Thank you for your time and consideration.