Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dean Stephenson,
My name is Luisa Aimoli and my student number is 10169687. I write to you today as I am appealing to late drop the following courses: CISC 223 (Winter, 2019), CISC 325 (Winter, 2019), CISC 497 (Winter, 2019), COGS 400 (Winter, 2019), COGS 499 (Winter, 2019), PSYC 205 (Fall, 2018), PSYC 370 (Fall, 2018), FILM 215 (Fall, 2018) and HIST 246 (Fall, 2018). I am also appealing for Credit Standing for SPAN 111 (Fall, 2018) and CISC 352 (Winter, 2018). In addition, I am appealing for Aegrotat Standing for CISC 332 (Winter, 2018) and PHIL 270 (Winter 2018). Please note the previous form for the appeal application online prevented me from ¿¿adding another course¿ so I could fill information about one of the classes mentioned above: SPAN 111 (Fall, 2018) for Credit Standing, taught by Prof. Max Lizano.
In brief, I was previously diagnosed with mental health disorders that started to manifest severe symptoms at around February-March 2018, which affected me and my ability to fulfil and do well on my academic responsibilities towards the end of that Winter term. My conditions only significantly worsened at around August 2018 and continued to deteriorate throughout the entire 2018-2019 school year, causing me not to attend almost all classes, as well as not complete tests or assignments for courses in the Fall 2018 and Winter 2019. Because of the same reasons, I was unable to return to Queen¿¿s and Canada for the past year, and it was impossible for me to tackle all this until recently, when my condition started to improve.
I started feeling mild, but manageable symptoms of anxiety for the first time in university in December 2017, including occasional palpitations, trouble concentrating and overly-worrying. Around reading week of Winter 2018, my symptoms were quickly becoming worse and more constant. Nervousness was debilitating at times, and would leave me nauseated. I would fluctuate between days where it was manageable to study some and fulfill my responsibilities, and days where it completely consumed me and my mental capacities, leaving me unable to go to class or submit work during that day. By late March 2018, those symptoms became more intense and I started experiencing symptoms of depression as well. I sought help from Student Wellness Services but at this time, I did not want to resort to medication, so I only pursued counselling. My symptoms, however, continued to worsen and I did not hand in my final assignments for CISC 332 or PHIL 270, worth most of the final grading. Tess Grant, SWS Occupational Therapist, helped me contact my instructors for a late submission - Dr. Nancy Salay (PHIL 270) suggested I resorted to an academic appeal, as grades had already been submitted, and Prof. Wendy Powley (CISC 332) suggested the same, as I was unable to present my project due to medical eye problems (included within my documentation). As I would have scored decent grades otherwise, having completed most material for both courses, I am appealing for Aegrotat Standing. The same conditions also led for me to perform significantly worse at my other classes, which is why I am applying for Credit Standing for CISC 352. I do believe I would have succeeded in these courses otherwise.
As I returned home for the Summer 2018, I was obligated to stop counselling due to stigma and financial constraints. In addition, I experienced stress as a family member battled cancer, passing away in July 2018. By the time the Fall 2018 term started, I felt more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety every day, such as complete loss of interest, hopeless and sadness, worthlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, trouble concentrating and suicidal thoughts. I felt too depressed to attend classes or do academic work, and too anxious to tackle the situation - be it finally writing out my appeals, emailing my instructors, or dropping my courses. When I found motivation to schedule appointments with Student Wellness Services, I often felt completely unable to go on that given day.
In December 2018, I started treatment with medication, but ran out of it while on Christmas break. At the time, my father also had a major health complication that required he avoided feeling stressed. Both my lack of treatment and the anxiety over causing financial stress on my father, due to the possibility of retaking my courses, led my mental health to further quickly decline. Throughout Winter 2019, without a support system in Canada, not only did I not fulfill any of my academic responsibilities, but I could not perform basic daily tasks. This continued until the end of the term, until I returned home to my support system.
Because of the same circumstances, I was unable to return to Canada for the 2019-2020 school year. Although I began slowly improving throughout the past year by having a support system and restarting my previous medication around November 2019, tackling these academic issues would leave me experiencing nausea, tight-chest, hyperventilation and panic attacks just at the thought of it - it felt almost impossible not to avoid it, which is why I am only tackling this now. It is not an exaggeration to say that it was the first and last thought on my mind every day for the past year. Yet, I was unable to manage my symptoms in order to resolve the situation until recently, when medication became more efficient and I was financially able to seek psychological treatment here in Brazil.
The fact that I am not appealing to my remaining two courses from Winter 2018 is for two reasons. The first reason is in regards to PHIL 250: although I was also unable to submit some work in the Winter due to my mental health, I was functional throughout the Fall 2017. Given PHIL 250 was a full-year course and I was able to complete it in the first school term, I find that I do not have strong grounds for appealing to my final grade of D-. The second reason is in regards to ITLN 111: despite the fact that my symptoms got in the way of both attending graded classes and studying throughout the term, I was able to gain enough marks from the work I could complete and the final exam to pass the course with a C+ grade.
SPAN 111 is also the only course from the 2018-2019 school year I am appealing for Credit Standing instead of late drop. This is due the fact that I was able to complete enough work and attend enough classes to score a passing grade. The reason for it being the only course I was able to deliver this much is because it was the only class I had a close peer in, who knew about my anxiety and depression, encouraging me numerous times to attend class with her, as well as our final exam and final presentation. I also had a previous background in Spanish. This allowed me to achieve a passing grade. However the many other tests, assignments and classes I missed still significantly affected my grade negatively.
Currently, I am following monthly psychiatric treatment, as well as psychological treatment weekly. If I feel unable to attend treatment that day, I am able to video call instead, which has been extremely helpful. I am currently on a lower dose of medication, which seems to be working better, as well as constantly learning new ways to manage my symptoms and prepare a step ahead of them. My symptoms have eased and are no longer disabling me of completing tasks. My family members now also follow my medical schedule in case I need help following through with it. I feel like my mental health has been enormously improving and that I am ready and confident to finally return to my academic responsibilities. In addition, I have planned for my academic future and graduation this upcoming year, with help from Karen Knight from the Computing department as well as from my Psychologist, while taking my mental health and needs in consideration so I can best succeed. We have planned options so I can spend the most time at home with my current doctors and support system, and ease financial and health-related stress on my father. I will focus on retaking my remaining electives and other available courses online for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020. For my remaining Winter 2021 classes, I will either return to campus and continue treatment through Student Wellness Services, or, ideally, apply for Letters of Permission to take those courses at home if possible. I will also be seeking help from Queen¿¿s Student Accessibility Services ahead of time.
Lastly, I apologize for the length of this letter. I felt like it was important I honestly and throughly shed light upon my past situation. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Lu¿sa Aimoli