Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: October 12, 2020

Subject: Cory D. Bartlett, Student ID 320-3393 - Academic Appeal

Dear Associate Dean of Studies:

As follow up to my recent phone call with Academic Advisor Spring Forsberg, please find the following information to support my appeal.

I was at Queen's from 1991-1996. My intended graduation with a BA was 1995. I had a relatively good experience at Queen's except for the fact that my studies and marks did not reflect or attain what I had hoped for myself. I neglected to drop many courses by the drop date deadline and with some courses I had very low marks. This in turn caused the Requirement to Withdrawal. It was during this time at Queen's that I was experiencing very difficult and severe mental health issues.

I will attempt to give you some background as to why this occurred and what has happened since my time at Queen's. I was born in Kingston and lived there until I was 11. Being that my father was a professor at Queen's, I grew up around academia, and spent all my childhood summers around grad students and their research. I always knew I wanted to attend Queen's and envisioned myself obtaining my doctorate and becoming a professor like my father.

In my early adolescence, I suffered severe trauma as I was repeatedly sexually abused by a close family friend. The trauma was not addressed at the time, nor did I disclose it to anyone for many years. My behaviour and outlook on life was forever changed. I started doing poorly at school and eventually during my high school years, quit several times. Throughout my adolescence and adulthood, and during my time at Queen's, I had numerous doctor visits, therapy sessions and was prescribed various prescriptions and antidepressants with little-to-no effect.

When I was 20 years old, I discovered that I could attend Queen's as a mature student. I put the wheels in motion and was accepted as a mature student. I did 'okay' for a time, but eventually I would start falling back into my old habits of depression and anxiety and lack of drive and feelings of hopelessness, lack of confidence, very low self-esteem and not being smart enough to be at Queen's resulting in further depression and many ideations of suicide that had started at age 14. I tried to stick it out and hoped that I would overcome and graduate. After too many drop date deadlines missed and courses with low marks, I was asked to not return to Queen's. Not graduating and obtaining a degree was, and is, a very shameful and embarrassing moment for me.

After Queen's, I moved back to Calgary and worked various jobs including some years spent working with my brother and my father in the energy sector. Throughout this time, I experienced mental health issues and some very dark times. Eventually at the age of 34, I made the difficult decision to reveal to my family and close friends the sexual abuse. This started me on a path of healing and recovery resulting from intense and numerous visits with a doctor of psychology specializing in sexual abuse survivors and an eventual diagnosis of complex PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety. I still struggle, but I have acquired tools to help me deal successfully with my triggers and past traumas.

Now that you have a brief history and background, I will get to the reason for me contacting you. As stated previously I remain ashamed of my record at Queen's and have always kept a modicum of positivity that one day I will complete my degree. Throughout my time at Queen's I suffered mental health issues. Most of the time, I was able to function at a high level, but when my depression or anxiety was acute, it effected my ability to function, I became apathetic, and often, I could not complete the simplest of tasks. This resulted in my low marks, and my neglect to drop classes, without penalty, before the deadlines.

I am asking if there is a possibility that these late dropped courses be removed or modified on my transcript, and courses with low marks modified and I be granted CREDIT standing in these courses My reasoning for this is two-fold in that this occurred directly because of serious mental health issues I was suffering at the time, and secondly, it could allow me to eventually enroll in Queens's again for some courses. I am at a place in my life where I would very much like to complete my University education, and I want to at least inquire if this is possible, and if so, to get the process started. I have spoken with an Academic Advisor and am aware of the outstanding requirements for completing my degree. At this present time I would consider beginning my studies again for September 2021 starting with one course per term. If I am allowed to resume my studies, I would be cognizant of the course withdrawal deadlines and carefully assess my progress for each term prior to the drop dates.

I thank you very much in advance for taking the time in addressing this for me.

Cory D. Bartlett
cell (403) 651-0566
cdbartlett@telus.net