Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am appealing to late drop CHEM 321 (Winter 2021).

Throughout my life I have struggled with depressive episodes and these episodes tend to debilitate me day by day. They have increased in frequency as I have had things to be ashamed of, and it takes up a lot of my time. This disease impacts me in one class each year. Each year you can see there is one class that I do not perform well in, but could have if I had more time. Those classes are not me. This year things got dramatically worse. It was the first time I was not able to finish the course. Due to the severity of my symptoms, I was hospitalized prior to the beginning of the term. I was discharged, but my symptoms became progressively worse because they were untreated. I was hospitalized again at the beginning of March for 2 weeks. I had manic episodes that would prevent me from getting sleep, I developed an eating disorder because I could not cook for myself. Every moment I was not totally engaged in work, I argued with voices in my head telling me that I was not good enough, and I did not deserve to finish a task without being scorched by circumstance. I did not realize how quiet my mind could be until I started taking medication.

The reason why I am only dropping CHEM 321 is that there was a literature review assignment and a midterm in the course and both were due the week that I was hospitalized (the midterm took place a couple of days prior to my hospitalization). Up until that point, I had missed a 5% assignment, but felt that I could make up my grade on the midterm and literature review. However, due to my hospitalization, and the severity of my symptoms leading up to my hospitalization, I was unable to complete the assignment and midterm.

Since being discharged I have been in intensive therapy and continue to work with my health care team to tweak my medication. Academically, I want to take an additional term in order to complete my degree and will take a reduced course load in Fall 2021, depending on my health status at that time. Since participating in treatment, I feel amazing. I feel like I can focus now and I feel like I have purpose, and that purpose is chemistry. I am looking forward to completing a few remaining deliverables in my incomplete courses from Winter 2021 over the summer. This will allow me to complete my 3rd year requirements.


Yours truly,

Marco