Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am appealing to late drop two of my courses for the Fall 2020 term: ECON 255 and ARTH 214.

For the past year or so, I have struggled with debilitating anxiety, but it was not until November that I realized I could not continue in my studies without seeking help and adjusting my academic situation.

Regarding ARTH 214, in October, I received an extension on the first essay of the course (due to a COVID-related health concern) which constitutes thirty five percent of my grade. Despite the extension, I had still not completed the essay by November. One of the main ways in which my anxiety manifests is a lack of confidence in my ability to do satisfactory schoolwork. This feeling is especially intense when it comes to subjects with which I am not comfortable, such as Art History, a subject in which I have no experience. Thus, I was unable to even begin the ARTH essay because of my intense fear of failure.

This aspect of my anxiety was also prevalent in ECON 255, as I have never been proficient in calculus, and I struggled to pass MATH 121 in the past summer term. Moreover, between the end of October and mid-November, I lost fifteen pounds and began having difficulty falling asleep. Consequently, I slept through the second midterm for ECON 255. Prior to this, I had already been exempted from the first midterm due to the same COVID-related health concern, so by missing the second midterm, I exhausted my options to continue in ECON 255.

While I find it difficult to begin and submit my assignments on time in general, my other three courses suit my academic skills and interests, and I have managed to complete their work (albeit late in several instances).

Amid my struggles with sleep, eating, and the two classes, I resolved to formally address the anxiety. On November 13th, I met with a counsellor through student wellness, who then recommended that I schedule an appointment with a doctor. On November 18th, a doctor from Student Wellness diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and prescribed medication. I was then referred to QSAS by the Academic Consideration Office and have since registered with QSAS.

Currently, my accommodation period lasts until the end of this term, but I plan on seeking accommodation for next term¿¿at least until I feel it is no longer needed. Along with this, I am hoping medication and therapy will mitigate my anxiety and enable me to work on improving my academic performance. I will also utilize resources from Student Academic Success Services (SASS) to receive help with studying and writing. Additionally, I plan on enrolling in four courses at most for the winter semester to lighten my workload. Lastly, I have enlisted various people in my life¿¿family members, Queen¿¿s advisors, SWS counsellors, and professors¿¿to help with making sure I stay on top of my work.

In light of my struggles with mental health, I feel as though dropping ARTH 214 and ECON 255 is the best way to ensure I succeed this semester, especially in my other three courses, all of which directly pertain to my degree plan. While I wish I could have appealed to drop these classes earlier, the wait times and the multitude of appointments and documentation I needed to fully address my anxiety and make this appeal have pushed the process back. I hope my request is well received, and that my desire to succeed is apparent.

Sincerely,

Coleman Campbell