Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Stephenson,

I am appealing to drop the two courses that I am enrolled in this Fall 2020 semester - ARTH 260 and GPHY 227 - on account of the significant mental health issues that I have struggling with for the duration of this semester. While I have battled depression through most of my undergraduate career, the ability to socialise with friends, seek in-person counselling services from the Student Wellness Centre, and maintain hobbies and exercise routines had previously allowed me to address my mental health issues without significant harm being done to my academics. The pandemic has changed this situation for me.

Since late summer, I have been living with my family. The fear of passing the virus on to vulnerable members of my household has made me extremely wary of even the most cautious social activities. I'm happy to do this, but the resulting social isolation has cut me off from friends and hobbies which have previously been vital to maintaining my mental health. Without that avenue of support, I found myself having increasingly dark thoughts through September and into October. This slide into depression was exacerbated by my anxieties regarding ongoing global events, as well as the seasonal change which has worsened my mental health in the past. These factors, alongside anger at myself for my inability to complete coursework, brought me into the deepest depression I have experienced. By mid-October, I was struggling with my sleeping and my appetite, and found myself dealing with suicidal ideation.

I should have recognized then that I was not fit to continue my courses for the semester, or at the very least should have contacted my instructors for support, but when I'm dealing with depression I find it very hard to ask for help. It took me to the beginning of November to reach out to my family doctor to seek treatment. He prescribed me with antidepressants which had previously been very helpful to me, but cautioned that they would likely not take full effect for a month or more.

I believe that the medication is now beginning to take effect, and given my history of seasonal mental health issues, I will remain on this medication until at least the beginning of the summer. The improvement in my mental health is perhaps most evident to me in the fact that I am now able to reach out and ask that the courses I am enrolled in this semester may be dropped. It is my hope that I may be able to maintain this progress into the new year and make up for these lost credits in the Winter and Spring semesters. However, the thought that two failing grades may sit on my transcript as I apply for graduate studies remains a major stressor to my mental health. I believe that my failure to complete these courses to the best of my ability is not indicative of my ability or my character, and I hope that I may be able to prove this through my coursework in the new year.

I have reached out to my doctor to have the Off-campus Physician's Note completed, and I will attach that to my appeal as soon as I am able. If anything else is required of me, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Colin Rogers
10202677