Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am submitting an appeal to drop 3 courses past the academic deadline. Though I have managed to consistently deal with challenging psychological conditions throughout all my schooling, as of February 2022, increasing pressure from multiple areas in my life has put unmanageable stress on me psychologically. This stress has pushed me into a debilitating state, one where I am no longer able to deal with my psychological challenges and school demands simultaneously. Therefore, I have not been able to complete any major assignments in any of my courses this semester, as my attention and energy have been, intentionally and unintentionally, directed towards my personal challenges.
Due to these extenuating circumstances, when I attempt to initiate work, I experience a mental paralysis that stops me from engaging with school tasks and assignments. Challenging this paralysis rarely produces successful results, but when it does, I am left with little energy to spend on schoolwork. One resource who helps me overcome this paralysis is my academic coach. With her support, I can engage with my assignment, but it is only during our weekly, one-hour sessions that I am able to do so. Outside of those sessions, while I am managing my psychological challenges alone, I am not able to work.

The accumulating mental and physical stress has also amplified my preexisting challenges with maintaining daily routines, and communication with academic faculty. Within the context of school, this has made it unusually challenging for me to attend classes on time or at all, negatively affecting my exposure to and understanding of the courses' material. Additionally, communicating to my teaching assistants and professors my struggles with attendance, and challenges with completing course work proved very difficult. As a result, I was not able to notify any academic faculty of my issues or receive any support during the semester.

Nearing the end of the winter semester, I have experienced such psychological and emotional overwhelm that I have had to completely withdraw from engaging with my studies for the sake of my mental and physical well-being. I am a student passionate about learning and developing my academic perspectives of this world, but, under these circumstances, I am not able to do so. Therefore, dropping these 3 courses, past the academic deadline, would give me the best chance at having an academic record that reflects only my true, unhindered academic abilities in the future.
As my doctor advised, I have recently returned home to my family for the betterment of my health. Furthermore, I am currently seeking support from my doctor, my academic coach, and my personal counsellor with the goal of reattaining the ability to function day-to-day healthily, and consistently.

Thank you for considering my appeal. I will be happy to provide any additional information that would help you in making your decision regarding my academic appeal.