Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Office of Associate Dean (Academic)
Queen??s University, Kingston
ON, Canada
Student Services, Dunning Hall


Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

I am appealing to late drop three semesters of studies (2021 Winter, 2021 Summer, 2021 Fall) in addition to three courses from 2020 Summer. For the purposes of readability, I have attached the course codes at the end of the letter with the associated grades and unit weight.

I have, and continue to struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to violent sexual abuse, domestic abuse and surrounding factors. My academic start at Queen??s was hopeful, and as I connected to work with supports on campus and actively made effort to balance personal circumstances with my education, I started to believe I could accomplish my goal of graduating with a Medial Degree in Political Studies and Global Development. However, I was sexually assaulted on campus during my second year while working in a residence building at Queen??s which sharply deteriorated my mental health and triggered my healing, but painful, PTSD. This is seen directly in my academic performances moving into my third, fourth, and now fifth year.

Throughout this time, I have been fortunate to connect with great campus resources, register with QSAS, and seek the help of counselling services on a weekly basis through Student Wellness Services. This help, alongside the loving support of many of my professors during these three terms helped me continue my push forward and gave me the strength to not give up; academically and with myself. Through my therapy and reflections, I have come to terms with my PTSD affecting my abilities to be the ?straight A??s?? overachieving student I once was, and have set a new goal to focus on completion rather than over-compensation for the credits I have lost. Therefore, I have applied to change my degree plan to a General Degree in Global Development Studies instead of the Medial Honours in POLS/DEVS which will allow me, if my appeal is approved, to graduate this upcoming term.

During the semesters I am applying for appeals to drop, I have had a constant battle with myself; balancing family interests in my marriage with my own mental health. I fully acknowledge I should have taken my mental state into deeper consideration and dropped the courses within the deadlines, however, the reality of my daily life was not neglect of my school but rather intense anxiety and sleepless nights of trying to make it work until the last moment before having to face it is too late; sometimes including weeks of depressive episodes where even eating was overwhelming. It??s not a reality I am proud of, as it is not in my nature to be late, fail, or disappoint all those around me. During this time, I struggled badly with suicidal thoughts and self-harm so being in a place now where I can see a light at the end with a possible graduation day with this new degree plan (due to the help of amazing academic advisors whose help was so kind and patient) is a weight lifted off my shoulders, and something I feel I can be proud of myself for.
Due to the pandemic, I have been exclusively a remote student and have not had a chance to connect with a family doctor to oversee my overall health but have an appointment in January 2022, which is a large factor in the scattered appointment history I can provide as documentation to support my health condition during these months. I do give complete permission for my records at Student Wellness Services to be examined, including detained information outlined in sessions with health care providers, if necessary. I have additionally included a letter of support from QSAS and a letter regarding this period of time from my counsellor at Queen??s. I am open to further explaining my situation, as well, including providing records of people spoken to regarding the sexual assault on campus and/or previous files regarding my PTSD.

The above-mentioned appeals, if granted, make a large difference in my chances of attending graduate studies in the future by giving me the chance to have a transcript reflective of my sincere efforts by removing the debris of extenuating moments. I have not given up on myself yet, and am asking for this chance to achieve my goal of graduating with an undergraduate degree from Queen??s successfully, even if it was not the full degree I imagined for myself.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and considering my appeal. Please feel free to contact me for any further clarifications or additional materials required.?


Sincerely,
Glafki Baci
20052190





List of Courses For Appeal

2020 Summer
POLS 212 - Canadian Politics 3.00 F
POLS 347 - Politics of Africa 3.00 F
POLS 486 - The Politics of Rights 3.00 F


2021 Winter
DEVS 353 - Business & Global Development 3.00 F
DEVS 359 - Migration, Refugees & Dvlpment 3.00 F
DEVS 492 - Topics in Developt Studies I 3.00 F
POLS 398 - Intro Intrnatnl Law & Politics 9.00 IN
POLS 463 - International Relations Theory 3.00 F

2021 Summer
DEVS 392 - Topics in Developt Studies I 3.00 F
EMPR 280 - Finance and accounting for HR 3.00 F
POLS 360 - International Relations Theory 3.00 F
POLS 397 - Topics in Gender and Politics 3.00

2021 Fall
DEVS 220 - Intro Indigenous Studies 3.0 F
DEVS 356 - Resource Extraction 3.0 F
DEVS 358 - NGO Policy Making and Dvlpmnt 3.0 F
DEVS 361 - Project Planning & Policy Adv 3.0 F
DEVS 492 - Topics in Developt Studies I 3.0 F