Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I hope you are doing well in this stressful time. I am writing this letter to you, appealing to drop three courses from my transcript. These three courses being: BIOL 335 (Fall, 2019), BIOL 369 (Fall, 2019), and GNDS 215 (Fall, 2019).

Throughout my University career, I have had a steadily declining mental health, and have suffered from depression for a while now. This past fall, I was also in an emotionally abusive relationship. Due to this combination of existing depression and a destructive relationship, I fell into a very deep and very serious depression during Fall 2019. Most days I could not get out of bed, and for weeks I only ate one small meal a day. Most of my life was just sleeping.

During this time, I was registered in these three courses and a thesis course. My thesis work did suffer during this period as well, and that was reflected in my final project in the Winter. However, I do not need to appeal that course at this time. My grades in the other three courses, however, are a direct result of my mental wellbeing at the time. I did not have the energy to shower or brush my teeth, let alone do my readings. I did not drop them earlier because I was ashamed at my decreasing grades, and thought that maybe I could figure out a way to pass. As my mental illness got worse, and I realized I could not pass, it was too late to drop the courses. I was in a period of complete hopelessness and isolation. Over the Christmas break, I ended my relationship, and I reconnected with old friends I knew had my best interest at heart. Over the course of the Winter 2020 term, I honestly was focusing on recovery, and did not have appealing in my mind. This was even further pushed from my mind once the covid-19 crisis began, and I was trying to figure out what my next steps would be. That is why I am submitting this appeal now, as I'm thinking of applying for post-grad opportunities, it made me remember that I did have the option of asking you for help.

I have already taken steps to help my mental health and to achieve more success in my academics going forward. I am taking a 5th year with a much lighter course load, and have been seeing a social worker that I intend on going to for the foreseeable future. I have also opened up about my struggles to my Dad and some friends, who have been kind enough to check in on me daily to ensure I'm doing alright. In these ways, I plan on increasing my academic standing by increasing my well-being.

I cannot express how much I want to succeed. I would be the very first person in my family to complete a University degree, and I want to make my family and myself proud. I do not want this illness to win.

Thank you so much for your time and attention, I hope you and your family have a very healthy and happy rest of your year.

Most sincerely,

Alycea Wood