Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Deans,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to appeal to have my fall and winter term RELS131 course dropped past the add/drop deadline without academic penalty. Over the past two academic terms, I have struggled immensely with an ongoing health issue that has severely impaired my everyday life. I have had ongoing internal bleeding and significant GI issues with little to no answers from my medical team so far on direct causes or solutions. I managed to push through my first semester with a full course load but the constant pain and sickness I had been experiencing took a large toll on my mental health over the winter break and throughout the winter term. My lack of answers as to why this is happening manifested itself into a depressive episode that has become increasingly overwhelming and difficult to get a hold of.

The ongoing struggles with my physical and mental health lead me to drop 4 out of 5 of my winter term classes. I had kept my RELS131 class in the hopes of my health improving and me being able to manage my mental state better with only one active course in the works, but unfortunately did not improve as I hoped I would. In all honesty, I have never felt as low mentally as I have throughout this past term. I have struggled with the idea that nobody seems to know how to make my health better, and I will wake up as I have been for the past few months with little to no will to keep going. Making simple life tasks, let alone completing class tasks seem nearly impossible.

I can assure you, that I am a student that takes great pride in my work and strives to do well in all my academic endeavours. I tried to push myself to complete this course and had every intention to do so but the mental struggle of day to day life at the moment has become too much to take on and It has been crucial for me to focus on pushing forward mentally and adjusting to a new sort of normal physically. I kindly ask that you consider my appeal to drop my RELS131 course past the academic deadline. It is difficult to put into words the impairment I have experienced and the mental battle I have been fighting this past term. I am hoping to be granted the grace and leniency to close this semester, focus on getting where I need to be mentally and start next school year off on a better, healthier note. Please see attached a medical note from the psychologist I have been working with over the past few months.


Thank you for your consideration,

Katarina Meze