Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Arts & Science,

I am writing to you today to appeal the Maximum Course Load rule for Arts and Science Students. As you may know, the rule states that I am unable to exceed 18.0 units in either fall or winter terms without permission from the Associate Deans of Arts and Sciences permission.

I am currently enrolled in a full course load (18 units) and would have had the correct number of credits from last semester if I had kept all 5 courses. Unfortunately, my mother has some serious mental health issues which caused significant strain on me and my family both psychologically, emotionally and added a significant amount of stress to my life. I was working full time and had planned on completing a full course load, which I still feel would have been possible had these unforeseen circumstances not unfolded as they did. I ultimately decided to drop one of my courses, to reduce my stress and anxiety. This helped and I was able to complete the four other courses with a high academic standing.

Regarding the timeline of these events, I found out about my mother¿¿s unstable behaviour over reading week in October. It persisted over the next 3 months with varying degrees until she was recently (over the winter break) sent to a mental health facility where she can receive treatment. In dealing with this, I struggled emotionally and psychologically for a while before realizing that I needed to speak to a professional. At the end of November, I began seeing a psychologist to help me understand and cope with some of events that had transpired. She has provided some documentation verifying the details that are included in this letter. Since seeing her, I feel more in control and have new coping strategies to deal with stressors and feel confident that I can continue working towards my degree.

If there are any concerns regarding my ability to complete these 7 courses in the event that this situation persists, I feel confident in my abilities to compartmentalize. As mentioned above, I have learned new coping strategies that have helped me maintain focus and process my emotions. I will also be continuing therapy with my psychologists as both a pre-emptive measure and to maintain my mental health. I have always had excellent time management and organizational skills and am able to prioritize my work to ensure academic success.

Ultimately, my goal is to graduate on time if possible. Regarding my mother¿¿s mental health, I am not sure how much detail you require, but if you have any questions or concerns, I would be more than willing to discuss some of the details with you. Thank you for taking the time to review my appeal letter.


Caitlin Aspinall
16cea5@queensu.ca