Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

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


Dear Dr. Atkinson

Re: Appeal for Alicia Stack, Student no. 20239088
Request to extend the deadline to drop courses

I am filing an appeal to retroactively extend the deadline to drop courses from the Winter term of 2021, allowing me to drop four courses (CHEM 112, MATH 120, and POLS 110).

I was enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year in the first year of the Arts and Science program. I was enrolled in BIOL 103, CHEM 112, MATH 120, and POLS 110.

I completed and passed BIOL 102, which is a one term course.

Due to the Covid pandemic, all of these courses were online. I found coping with the isolation and disconnect from classmates and the instructors difficult. I was living away from home for the first time. These difficulties became more pronounced as the two term courses went on, and I became unable to effectively make decisions and meet academic deadlines and expectations. I moved back home in January 2021, but that did not alleviate my problems. As a result, as of the beginning of February 2021, I was unable to participate in academic activities, including writing labs and assignments or studying for and writing exams. During the following months I completely isolated myself from my professors, family and friends, which worsened my mental state. I believe that I was overwhelmed with anxiety and resulting depression. As I did not communicate with anyone from Queen??s from mid-February, I received F??s for all of my courses.

The deadline to drop these courses was March 5, 2021. As a result of my mental health difficulties, I was unable to properly consider a decision to drop courses, or even to contemplate such a step at that time.

I remained in a state of depression and isolation about these mental health issues until the end of August 2021, at which point I admitted that I was having difficulty to my parents, and sought help from Queen??s Health Services. Since that time, I have begun seeing a clinical psychologist twice a week, I have been in touch with a mental health counselor and Queen??s, and have begun having sessions with a psychiatrist. I have begun meditating every morning, and I am trying to exercise regularly. I am considering obtaining a retail job for the upcoming holidays. I believe that I am making progress towards recovering from my mental health problems.


My future plans are, in consultation with my medical advisors, to return to Queen??s full time in September 2022. While this depends on medical advice, my plan is to take four courses in Fall 2022, and five courses in Winter 2022, which along with my credit in BIO 102 would let me have five credits by the end of Winter 2022, and be in a position to choose a major. If advisable by my psychologist, I could take five courses in Fall 2022. We have discussed taking a course in the spring/summer session, but that is not a firm plan until we see how I progress.

I attach a letter from Dr Dahlia Fisher, C.Psych.

I thank you for your time, and I request that you grant my appeal.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.