Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: September 11, 2017

To the Associate Dean (Studies),

I write this to appeal a late drop for two Winter 2017 courses: ARTH 482 and ARTH 272.
Entering Queen¿¿s as a first-year student, I had an accommodation which allowed the negotiation of assignment deadlines and allowed tests and exams to be written in semi-private spaces. I was provided this for undiagnosed mental health issues, and it was very helpful and allowed me the space to perform strongly alongside my peers. In my second year, early October 2015, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, an illness that I sought medicinal therapy for through Queen¿¿s Health Services with physicians like Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Chavloski, as well as psychotherapy with various counsellors at Queen¿¿s Counselling Services.
Winter semester 2017, around March, my mental health changed considerably. I frequently endured very disturbed rest, where for up to 5 days I would be unable to sleep. This deeply affected my ability to focus on course content. I also experienced extreme melancholy and hopelessness which induced excessive sleep for up to 3 days and immobilized me greatly.
The requirement to sit regimented tests, like the slide-tests in ARTH 272, was isolating for my frequent immobilized state. The academic rigor and involved research required for my 4th year seminar was also affected most by my poor memory, attention span, and frequent immobilization. I contacted my instructor for ARTH 272, and due to the number of slide tests missed we both agreed it was best to drop the course and take it again when the symptoms of my illness had improved. My instructor for ARTH 482 suggested that with an incomplete mark, and a one month extension into the summer alongside internal deadlines, my large research seminar paper could be completed. For this reason, earlier documentation supports a late drop for ARTH 272 and an incomplete (IN) for ARTH 482.
I began seeking support at Kingston Addictions and Mental Health Services (KFLA) for long term counselling and medication therapy in early April, 2017. My symptoms described earlier persisted and my frequent immobilization made my ability to sit, focus, and research and write once again incredibly difficult. In July 2017, I came under the treatment of Dr. Singh and he diagnosed me with Bipolar Affective Disorder. I was placed on new medications that produced a chronic hand tremor, persistent nausea, and pronounced vertigo. This once again made focusing incredibly difficult. Due to persistent symptoms, unfortunately unmanaged, I was unable to meet the one month extension that my instructor for ARTH 482 had arranged and thus I decided upon a late drop for ARTH 482 as well.
With a new medication regime assisting me in the process of stabilization, my weekly appointments at KFLA for psychiatric and psychotherapy support, as well as my newly acquired knowledge that the symptoms are part of an identifiable illness, I am hopeful that with being granted this appeal, I will be able to finish my final year at Queen¿¿s in good academic standing.
I thank you for your consideration,


-Andrea Howard