Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hello Academic Appeals Office,

My name is Ché Breadner and I am writing you to submit an academic appeal for my courses. I would like to request a late withdrawal as I have not been able to keep up with course assignments due to unforeseen circumstances hindering my ability to complete coursework effectively.

To summarize my situation, I enrolled in Concurrent Education with an average of 93 while being a year younger than my peers. My courses were going well until late October - early November. I was working at home in my basement and the isolation due to COVID-19 was getting to me. I felt a lot of pressure and stress to succeed without the typical university supportive environment I had relied upon and I started to slip in my courses. Eventually, these issues culminated into depression and anxiety, and a constant stream of thoughts of worthlessness and hopelessness. I stopped doing coursework altogether and fell behind in all of my courses. The academic fallout contributed more to my problems and I felt more hopeless to a point where I had some very negative thoughts. By December, I had already solidified a failing grade in one of my September to January classes.

This February 1st, I finally found the courage to come forward to my parents, and they have helped me get back to work rectifying this academic year. After speaking with an academic advisor, I corresponded with all my professors and Teacher Assistants to see if there was anything I could do to counter the damage done. My professors recommended I file an academic appeal. Since then, I have registered for summer sessions that will allow me to redo two critical courses. I have also corresponded with my professors in ¿¿PROF 110 100-103 Self as Teacher¿ and ¿¿GPHY 101 - Human Geography¿ to accommodate me; they have allowed me to work retroactively on assignments and work towards passing the courses. Additionally, I have met with my doctor who recommended psychotherapy and put me on a prescription anti-depressant to help combat dark thoughts and allow me to focus more on school. I will be attending psychotherapy regularly to help me on my way to recovery mentally and academically.

Should my academic appeal be granted, I will be able to recover from this unfortunate year. Going into Queens, I have always been an Honour Roll student, enrolling with an average of 93. I am fully confident I will be able to keep up with coursework with help from my new-found support systems. I am now working upstairs near my parents and am feeling much more confident in my ability to succeed academically. I am finishing assignments again, so far receiving an A- and A+ in graded coursework, and I have set a goal to be completely caught up in my salvageable courses by March. If my appeal is granted and I do well in my Summer courses, I will enter into my second year only marginally behind my peers. With another round of summer courses in 2022, I know I can be completely caught up. It will take time and plenty of effort, but by setting and achieving my short-, mid-, and long-term goals, I can be back on level terms with others in my year.

In conclusion, I hope you approve my academic appeal to allow a late withdrawal from my selected courses. Though I admit I waited a long time to come forward with my problem of depression and anxiety, I have done as much as I can to overcome this obstacle by tapping into all of my available academic resources, seeking and receiving medical help with prescription and psychotherapy, and building a sustainable plan for the future. I believe I have shown the willingness to work hard and rectify my academic and mental situation.

Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing your response.

Sincerely,

Ché Breadner
Class of 2024
20233492