Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Board of Studies,

I am appealing to drop Film 220 past the due date as well as to not be on probation for third year.

I was placed on probation after my first year at Queen??s University. During the year of 2020, I had a very difficult time managing the online learning environment. As a student with learning differences and an ADHD diagnosis, I found the lack of structure and cancelation of all in person classes detrimental to my learning. I am a student who benefits from in person classes and the opportunity to hear and discuss class content with my professors and peers. As a result of all my classes being online with limited interactions with my professors, it was very difficult for me to focus and thrive. As a result, I did not do well, and I was placed on academic probation for the 2021-2022 school year.

In first semester of the 2021-2022 school year, I took the advice of my psycho educational consultant and took a reduced course load of three courses. I was successful in first term and received the grade point average required. At this point, I was feeling more confident and motivated and decided to take four courses in the second semester.

Unfortunately, two things occurred which negatively affected my academic performance in the second semester. Firstly, I switched the dosage of my ADHD medication as I found the ones I was previously taking to be ineffective. This took some time to remedy. Secondly, because of my inability to focus, I was experiencing a great deal of anxiety surrounding school. These two factors resulted in a serious struggle to maintain the academic level that was required. I acknowledge that I should have dropped Film 220 prior to the deadline. However, I was hoping that I would be able to raise my mark and meet the grade point average I needed. Unfortunately, I did not. I am hopeful that you will consider the fact that the three other courses I took did meet the grade point average requirement that I needed to be removed from my probation status. Next year, I will be much more self-reflective about my mental health as well as the status of each of my courses.