Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Dr. Jill Atkinson, Associate Dean (Academic),

I am appealing the Faculty??s decision that I must withdraw from all studies at Queen??s, past the academic deadline, for the current academic year due to health-related extenuating circumstances.

Due to an abrupt exacerbation of anxiety and depression-like symptoms, I found I was unable to fulfill daily obligations such as preparing food, exercising, or leaving the house in order to attend classes. During the week of November 8th, Week 10 of classes, after several days of being unable to attend classes due to persistent anxiety, lethargy, fatigue, and increasingly frequent anxiety attacks, I recognized that continuing with the semester was not conducive to my overall well-being, and it would be most beneficial to take a leave of absence and seek help for these issues that were impeding on my ability to perform academic and extracurricular obligations. Although I wished to fulfill these obligations to the best of my ability, I acknowledged the need to prioritize my own well-being, and have since returned home to both be with family and seek long-term assistance.

Immediate plans to remedy the circumstances include consultation with both health-care professionals and personal counselors, in the form of medications and/or counselling. Long-term plans for academic success entail assessing my mental, physical, and holistic well-being after seeking care and subsequently either returning to Queen??s or relocating to an institution closer to home in order to continue my post-secondary studies. In addressing these abrupt health circumstances in the following months, I hope to regain the ability to balance both academics and personal well-being and continue my studies soon.