Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Arts and Science:


I am writing to you to appeal an F grade in PHAR230, instructed by William Racz. I had my final exam deferred for this course in winter 2014, but was unable to write the exam until now. Subsequently, the grade for this course has changed from an incomplete to a failing grade. I would like to appeal to have an extension and write the final exam for this course during this winter semester, as I am returning to my studies and without this course, cannot graduate.
During the winter semester of the 2013-2014 academic year, I was unable to write my final exam for PHAR230. I continued to struggle with addiction, depression, suicidal thoughts and other issues affecting my ability to focus on my studies and final exam. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with anxiety and was suffering from several symptoms of mania leading up to and on the date of my final exam. These symptoms included intrusive thoughts, musical hallucinations and extreme anxiety. I could not cope with these symptoms and write my final exam, focus was impossible, so I put my health before my studies and sought a deferral from counseling services, a document I¿¿ve included with this appeal. I had been seeing a counselor regularly at HCDS throughout the winter semester after having a mental breakdown in December, which put me in the ER at KGH.
I successfully had my exam deferred until the fall of this year (2014), as I was unable to write during the summer months for financial reasons, I have to work out of province to support myself during the school year, and to give me time to rest, as my symptoms were ongoing although milder and easier to manage.
During the fall of 2014, I continued to rest and relax and recuperate. After experiencing much trauma and stress from these manic episodes and psychotic breaks, gathering yourself takes twice as long as it takes to break down. This rest period was crucial for me, as I am now feeling balanced and coping very well with my addiction issues and anxiety, issues I was still struggling with during the fall. I am currently in the process of registering for an addiction service at FCMHAS and have begun regular counseling appointments at HCDS.
I felt unable to access free mental health services while in Kingston during the fall, as I was not enrolled in courses until recently. I assumed that counseling services were not available to me as I was not enrolled in the health or dental plans Queen¿¿s offered. Friend¿¿s also reinforced that I would not be able to access these services, so I was coping and managing my mental health as best I could. On approximately December 17, 2014, I sought counseling and academic advice as I had now enrolled in courses and it was necessary to establish a support network for myself before winter term started. My appointment with an academic advisor brought to my attention that the former IN grade in PHAR230 had changed to an F grade, and my deferral had expired. I was not informed that a deferral could expire and could not access this information until the aforementioned date, as I felt these services were unavailable to me.
As I felt I was not able to access affordable mental health services in the community, my period of recuperation this fall is undocumented. I have been to counseling services recently to reestablish and set the foundation for my support network while I¿¿m studying this winter.
I was not able to do this during the fall, as my issues with anxiety and addiction continued, directing my focus away from my academics and completing the final exam for PHAR230. I was and am also working part-time to support myself financially in preparation for returning to my studies this winter. Now that those bases are covered and I am coping well, I am able to fully focus on my studies and on writing my final exam. I need to appeal for an extension for the deferral I was granted last winter. This deferral expired Fall 2014 and I would like to have it extended until Winter 2015. I am coping very well with my mental health now, supporting myself financially by working a part time job, and am in the process of registering for addiction services available to me in Kingston in order to maintain this balance and succeed academically. I have started to seek counseling from HCDS to maintain my health as well. I am finally ready to write my final exam, I just need the opportunity to do so. Hopefully, I am not to late to do this, and can have this appeal granted so I can complete PHAR230 and finally graduate, which would be a huge step in my journey to health and happiness. PHAR230 is one of 3 final courses I need to complete in order to graduate. If I am not granted an appeal, my life will be significantly affected, as I will have to wait another year to compete the course. This could mean an incomplete degree for me, as a year is a long time to wait, especially when my mental health is the best it¿¿s been in a while and I am ready to finally achieve my BSc now.