Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Studies,

I am appealing the faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's for a minimum of one year, as well as for credit standing and dropping my failed marks since fall semester of 2017 until this last semester.

The extenuating circumstances that resulted in my academic standing occurred in October of 2017, I was involved in a traumatic event. This event affected me mentally and physically, I went and received help from both a physician and a mental health nurse at the Queen's Wellness Centre. Previously to this event I had had issues with sleeping and anxiety, but this event spurred my symptoms to increase and I began struggling with mental illnesses. This made it harder for me to pay attention in lectures, attend lectures and meet deadlines. I was also unable to be around people because I would feel panicked, making it hard for me to attend lectures or large exam rooms. This is also the time when I received accommodations (winter semester of 2018). At this point I was not sleeping and not able to upkeep my academics. During this time, I was attending multiple different counselling sessions, trying medications and attempting to do my school work. I struggled with the side effects and I was not using the full resources the QSAS offers as I was not fully aware of what I needed, for example looking into getting extra time on work and other marks instead of verbal participation/ attendance in lectures. I was just writing my exams separately. When I started school again in the fall semester of 2018, I believed that by taking a break during the summer semester I could have healed from the events that happened the previous school year, but quickly found myself struggling again. I started also experiencing a physical medical illness which effected my mood, emotions and overall energy. I started counselling again and spoke with two psychiatrists, I also went back to QSAS and worked on amending my accommodations to meet my needs better, and to further understand what was being offered to me. After October of 2018, I started experiencing an increase of my previous symptoms from the anniversary of my trauma and with the help of Meg from QSAS and the individuals I saw at the wellness center I started trying new forms of therapy. That semester I didn't drop any classes because I believed that I could catch up on my work and bump up my GPA, but I was feeling overrun by everything. In the winter semester of 2019, I dropped two of my classes believing that this will help with dealing with my stress and allow me to succeed in the classes, but I still struggled with meeting deadlines and attending classes; while adjusting to these new forms of therapy and the emotions surrounding my unresolved PTSD. I in general had a difficult time paying attention. This last semester was also when I started seeing a counselor that specializes in my form of trauma. While still early in my counselling sessions I have found that with this and my cognitive behavioural therapy from a psychiatrist at the Wellness Centre I am better at detaching my negative emotions and memories from my responsibilities.

In my appeal I have included documentation my QSAS accommodation letter. The physician I spoke with 2017 Fall, 2018 Winter and 2018 Fall is no longer working at Queens; and the Mental Health Nurse I spoke with Fall 2017 and 2018 Winter is on maternity leave. The counsellor I am currently speaking with has agreed to use my notes on file to corroborate my timeline for the past two academic years. She will be sending in the letter of support. Thank you for your consideration.

Kind Regards,

Mariya Georgieva