Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies)

I¿¿m appealing to drop CHEM 421 and ECON 322 (Fall 2019)
Starting in early December I started experiencing severe health issues that prevented me from taking part in any academic activity including exams as documented in the form from SWS I¿¿ve attached. I first visited the campus clinic on December 9th and was referred to a specialist for treatment which I started taking the next day. I was given an exam deferral by a doctor with student wellness services and told to come back in January to evaluate my wellness to makeup exams that I¿¿d missed. The treatment did not work as hoped because I reacted severely to the medication and I was forced to discontinue which led to my symptoms worsening. I returned to SWS in the first week of January and given another 4-8 week deferral, given the unknown longevity of my impairment.
Me and the health staff also discussed the anxiety I was experiencing related to the uncertainty around the exams and the prospect of writing them while trying to get started on and succeed in my new courses, as well as negotiating the new Academic Accommodation process which requires direct interaction with the professor as opposed to using the portal. I have a documented history of anxiety and the stigma around mental health makes it difficult to have my professors take my needs seriously even with documentation from my doctors.
Two of my professors have expressed that they would be unwilling to accommodate my exam deferral, ECON 322 in writing, CHEM 421 pre-emptively in a one on one discussion during the semester. I have not contacted my prof for 421 during the deferral period due to past difficult getting him to accommodate my medical constraints and his statement that he would not accommodate another missed exam.
Given the professors refusal to accommodate new exams, the on-going and indefinite nature of my period of impairment and the stress and anxiety related to preparing and writing two exams for classes I haven¿¿t taken in two months while simultaneously writing midterms I¿¿m requesting to drop these two courses. I was not able to drop them by the deadline as the onset of my severe symptoms was long after the week 8 deadline.

I authorize you to communicate with the medical professionals who treated me at SWS and for them to disclose any of my medical information related to this appeal.

Regards,

Samuel Roe
10201263