Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom It May Concern,

I am requesting to submit a late appeal due to the fact that I did not know about the appeal process before the deadline. I found out about the appeal process when I talked to an academic councilor in student services looking for help with what would be the best thing for me to do in my situation. Since finding out about the appeal process I have been meeting with doctors to get appropriate documentation in the hopes of having a successful appeal. If I had known about the appeal process I would have appealed at an earlier date. I was extenuating circumstances that were out of my control. As a result my grades were impacted in such a negative way that I was unable to preform at the standards I hold myself to in my academics. I was diagnosed with mental disorders including mild depression and moderate to severe anxiety. These impacted my grades in a very negative way because I was unable to cope in a right way that is required to deal with the everyday stresses of the academic work of university. Since I was suffering with a mental disorder I was not at my full mental capacity and therefor I acted in ways and dealt with situations differently then if I were mentally well. Because of my anxiety disorder before tests and exams I would go into a sort of attack where I would not have any feelings running through my head and just be going through the motion of what I thought should be done; with the lack of feeling from my anxiety attacks there was also a lack of motivation to study and other daily tasks due to the depression. I am highly motivated person who once I set my mind to something I work hard enough so I am able to succeed at what I am doing which is proven by being on the varsity rowing team.
I started suffering from these conditions at the beginning of my first year at Queens (Sept 4, 2013) but was not officially diagnosed until January 29, 2015. Since being diagnosed with both depression and anxiety my doctor has put together at treatment plan for me so that I am able to get better and will be able to hold myself to my normal standards for my academics. I am requesting to drop the courses I failed and receive CR in the courses I passed but did not do well in so they do not negatively effect my in my future academics. I have also been seeing an Educational Psychologist to help ensure I am taking the right courses that I am able to excel in. I am also on the varsity rowing team here at Queens and because of my situation I have been meeting with my coach on a weekly basis where he checks in on my mental health to see how I am doing. I also am meeting with people form the athletic department who make sure that I am keeping up with all my schoolwork. Prior to submitting this appeal I have sat down and talked to academic councilors in student services as well as Haley Everson who explain the appeal to me and took in my medical documentation.
Sincerely,
Rebekah Price