Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am requesting to drop three of my courses (PHYS 239, PHYS 212 & PHYS 250) this term due to a serious physical health condition that has overtaken my daily life.

On February 6th 2019, I was taken to hospital by ambulance due to a sudden onset of physical symptoms. I underwent testing in hospital for about five days, at the end of which my neurologist recommended I go home to rest with my family. I was given accommodations for three weeks and flew back home. I couldn't take care of myself and I spent most of the time at home going from appointment to appointment, struggling to understand this mysterious illness that seemed to come out of nowhere.

During this time, I attempted to keep up with the assignments, quizzes and reading assignments in my five courses. However, what little energy I had left every day was spent trying not to have a mental breakdown. I was physically and mentally lethargic with no relief in sight. After a month of testing, we finally had an idea of what was going on. With hope in my heart and some tools to manage my symptoms, I didn't hesitate to come back to school immediately and try to get my life back on track.

I came back on March 4th 2019. I dropped two courses to ease my workload and salvage the semester academically. Unfortunately, missing a month of classes, assignments, and quizzes is difficult to make up while also trying to keep up with the workload. I had deluded myself into thinking that I was ready to come back to school; my physical health was and still is taking a serious toll on my day to day well-being.

It is now April 8th 2019. I managed to attend six class periods in the past month. My physical health has not improved. I will not be able to complete the assessments required by my courses. I am requesting to drop them past the deadline due to my extenuating circumstances, but I fully plan to take them again next year once I am physically capable.

I also am taking the summer semester off in order to focus on my mental and physical health, in addition to completing testing for my health condition (which takes a significant amount of time). I would also like to mention that throughout this time I have been seeing a psychologist to help manage my mental health, and will continue to do so when I return in September.

After testing is complete I will be given a treatment plan to follow. In addition to continuing therapy appointments, I will be taking a reduced course load in the Fall and Winter terms. My doctors have assured me that after testing is complete within the next 2-3 months I should be on a concrete treatment plan. Until then, I have to focus on managing my daily physical distress and flare ups, including the mental stress that comes from it.

I am confident that I will be able to start the Fall term on the right track. Thank you for considering my appeal.