Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academics):

My name is Catherine Haba, and I have been a student enrolled in the BAH at Queen's University since September 2017. This present letter is to launch an appeal to drop my DEVS 300 officially, DEVS 492, GPHY 254, and DEVS 360 courses currently that I took on in the Winter 2021 semester. Throughout this time, I have overcome personal challenges (2 previous head injuries) to be an engaged learner in my classes, while also finding time to be involved in several extracurricular. However, I have faced no challenge more significant than those I had to confront in Winter 2021. Due to extenuating circumstances, I met great difficulty in meeting my own goals for success as a student this past academic year. However, in the last few days, things in my life have improved so that I can once again become a capable student. I hope this appeal will further support this journey.

Three important issues impacted my ability to be a successful school year. The first was a chronic pain condition (acute migraines) due to a significant concussion I did not heal well from in Winter 2019. And the loss of several close family members and friends around the most critical times of the academic year. Lastly, having acute, severe depression and anxiety. After my concussion in April 2019. My winter 2021, despite working part-time to finance my studies and trying to care for my health, I completed a number of my assignments. In March, however, I hit my head, which triggered more of my post-concussion symptoms. In April, I lost a grandparent and travelled back to Guinea (my country of origin) in West Africa for the funeral.

At that moment, I was still struggling with my health and preparing for the exam period. I travelled to Guinea with four final assignments still left to complete and my Fall term incomplete in 2 classes that had taken a backseat due to unforeseen events. While in Guinea, I rarely had access to a network to work on my assignment or communicate with my doctor, which made it challenging to perform academically. In late April, I was finally able to connect with my professors to ask for academic considerations. Upon returning to Canada after a week at home, I fell ill with Covid-19 until I was incapacitated for three weeks and recovered two weeks later. My illness exacerbated my chronic pain condition, making it hard to work while experiencing fatigue and migraines. I experienced during this time great mental distress, including severe depression that made it difficult to accomplish daily tasks. I experienced panic attacks every week and could not access a mental health specialist as I live in a family home that does not believe in mental illness. I often felt anxious when I tried to contact my faculty office and believed no other option was available. I also recently lost a friend and former Queen's student to mental health issues, which affected me deeply. Coming to a point where I no longer could bare my own mental health concerns, I was able to connect with someone from the Devs office who informed me that there are still options to give me the time necessary to focus on my health and to appeal the impact my extenuating circumstances have had on my school year and particularly Winter 2021 semester.I hope it is not too late for me to use this resource as my final attempt to regain control over my studies, future, and health. Knowing now more than ever that my health should come first, I plan to reduce my BAH to a BA to complete my degree earlier to focus on my health and well-being. I recognize the immense prejudice this past academic year will most likely create if not allowed to share the extenuating circumstances that caused this black mark on my studies. That is why I want to appeal and believe these academic processes are designed to support students like me.

I sincerely hope that this appeal shows that I am dedicated to being a successful student at Queen's. I am taking hold of my academic journey, which has been out of my control for a long. Please do not use only my past as a barometer for my success in the future. I am committed and now have the necessary support in place, including medication for my mental health concerns, to complete my degree and feel a sense of accomplishment.