Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I, Elianna Hanna, am appealing to drop the course BIOL321 past the academic deadline. During the winter semester of 2020, I was dealing with debilitating mental health issues including depression and anxiety. While I was working on my research paper assignment for my BIOL321 course in February, I got a call informing me that someone close to me had committed suicide. As I was already going through a difficult time, having lost another friend a month prior, and having to unexpectedly become more financially independent due to familial circumstances, the phone call was my breaking point. I found myself not capable of processing the news. Since the phone call, I was unable to work on the research paper, or any other assignment in that course without recalling the memory. As I associated the assignment with my friends passing, I avoided dealing with the assignment as I was not able to face my grief and anxiety associated with that day and moment.

In an effort to improve my mental health, I enrolled myself in therapy and received a short-term accommodation from the student wellness services. However, due to lack of funds from having to quit my part-time job because of my worsened condition, I could not pay for more sessions. Prior to the incident, I had a very strong track record in the class getting an A+ on all my tests. I tried my hardest to get back on track after the event to no avail. I received an extension to submit the necessary assignments and was able to get myself to complete some of the other assignment after some time passed, however, I still could not get myself to do the research paper. Despite, trying multiple times over the course of the winter semester, as well as the summer, every time I tried to work on the assignment, I became paralyzed by anxiety to the point of physical pain. I would sit down for hours on end unable to write more than a few words, hence, I was not capable of completing my research paper and failed the course.

Since then, I have become registered under QSAS and have been actively working on improving my mental health, through working with health-care professionals and counselors. While I was going to appeal to drop the course in May of 2021 and received a letter of support from my QSAS advisor, I was still unable to face that period of my life without being paralyzed with anxiety and grief. Now, as I have become better equipped at dealing with my circumstances, I would like to appeal to have the course dropped from my transcript. My extenuating circumstances impacted my academic ability in the course in a manner which was beyond my control. I appreciate the consideration in this manner, and the opportunity to appeal this course.