Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Attention: Associate Dean (Academic)
I am appealing to drop BIOL102 (Fall, 2020).
I started out the year with optimism, as my education has always been very important to me and I have always done well in school. However, I began having health difficulties in October and sought medical attention. My health became progressively worse and by the beginning of November, had reached critical. My anxiety became so debilitating, I was barely functioning when I wrote the BIOL 102 midterm exam on November 2nd. I was far too ill at the time of the November 2nd drop deadline and was unable to make decisions of any kind. My doctor is in agreement that I must immediately reduce my university course load so that I will be able to complete the year. I was unable to recognize how truly sick I was and had no concept as to how bad my health would become. I could not have foreseen that continuing at the current course load would become completely unmanageable. I am extremely sleep deprived, cannot hold down food, completely exhausted and cannot continue at this course load. I have never felt this sick and am completely devastated that school has not worked out the way that I planned. The added stress and anxiety of isolation due to COVID-19 and online learning also contributed to my declining health. The midterm for BIOL 102 came at a time of my worsening health and because this course is the most demanding, with the least help, I respectfully ask that you allow me to drop this course without academic penalty.
My plan is to lessen my course load in an attempt to focus on my remaining courses and finish the year. I am hoping the reduced stress will allow me to manage my illness. My doctor¿¿s recommendation is to reduce my course load and thereby hopefully reduce my stress and anxiety, allowing me to be successful. I do plan to retake biology at a later date once my health improves, hopefully in the summer of 2021. I know I can be successful if given this break, these were extenuating circumstances beyond my control. I will continue to follow my doctor¿¿s recommendations and perhaps consider a lighter course load for the following year. I have always taken my grades very seriously and graduating from university is my ultimate goal. I will be more careful in the upcoming year (2021-2022) to not overload myself so that this does not happen again.
I would have contacted you sooner but due to COVID-19 it takes longer to get doctor¿¿s appointments. I called my doctor¿¿s office the beginning of November and the earliest appointment available was on November 25th, however, it was cancelled and rescheduled for December 1st. At my December 1st appointment, my doctor recommended that I reduce my course load by dropping a course. With a reduced course load, help from my doctor, counselling, and medication, I am hopeful that I can be successful. Please allow me to drop BIOL 102 without academic penalty, as I do not want to lose the whole year.
Thank you in advance. Please help me in this difficult situation, I will not let you down.

Sierra Madter
Student : 20208016