Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Studies,

I am appealing to drop RELS 322 in Fall 2017 due to extenuating circumstances. Over the past year my mental health has been deteriorating, and last Fall semester it was at its worst. Academically, I was unable to attend class regularly and stay up to date on assignments, readings, and tutorials, which were integral and mandatory parts of RELS 322. As a result of my poor mental health, I was quickly, and with short notice, admitted to a treatment centre in Ottawa on November 8th 2017. This treatment centre was the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, and my stay ran for three months from November 8th 2017 to February 7th 2018.

During the weekdays at the centre we were allowed to do school work for only three hours each morning. I had hoped to continue all my courses, but after contacting my professor for 322, she said that it would be impossible to complete the course at a distance. My professors for my other two courses were able to accommodate me fortunately. Due to my needing treatment away from Kingston, as well as the limited time I was allowed on a laptop, I was unable to complete RELS 322. I had to drop it past the academic deadline because as of November 3rd I was unaware of if or when I would be receiving treatment for my mental health.

Due to these circumstances I will be taking at least one more year of school to complete my degree at a reduced course load in order to prevent my needing intensive treatment away from school again. In addition, I am currently completing the outpatient portion of the treatment program which lasts another three months, and is designed to help me settle back into school, work, and daily living. I also have a therapist I regularly see while I am in Kingston and plan to continue to have bi-weekly sessions with her once I am back full-time.

If RELS 322 is offered next year I would gladly take it again as it was a great course and I regret that I could not finish it due to the circumstances last Fall semester. I am fully committed to the two courses I am currently taking and I am looking forward to being a full-time student again in Fall 2018.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my appeal.

Sincerely,

Rachel Devenish