Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I had written already this year; in April about appealing to drop courses after the deadline. Unfortunately, not much has changed, and I??ll be referencing statements made in my previous appeal. What has changed, is things have gotten worse over the couple of months, most notably planned attempts to commit suicide, and the realization that completing my degree most likely isn??t possible and as discussed in the past, institutionalization might be the best option.
I??m applying for an appeal for my two winter courses (ARTH 310 and 346), due to both psychological and physical issues and events that are beyond my control. These events have been deliberating and have had an impact on my academic performance and overall life. It is the psychological issues that have continued to occur which is why I haven??t been able to complete or attempt to finish my courses- most notable my attempted suicide attempts and self-harm.

During the semester (January-April 2022).

I never really recovered from the setbacks of the fall course and that was the untimely death of my older brother. Being made to return to campus after writing appeals about doing things remotely was denied, these appeals were made due to the death of my brother and not feeling stable enough to return to campus, fears about covid (living in a house with 5+ people), and my best experiences on campus and being the city in Kingston weren??t pleasant (I wasn??t able to receive the care and access the support I needed). Fast-forward to the winter semester, I felt more at ease about being home, but felt blindsided when we had to return to campus. Things weren??t perfect at home, but were better than they were on campus. Once returning to campus, I resumed my bad habits (starving myself, overmedicating, oversleeping, and other self-harm). Things became worse when unexpectedly a fellow colleague and Queen??s student suddenly passed away (Liam Geddes in March 2022). This was extremely difficult since I was still dealing with my brother??s passing, and my own issues. My stress level and I assumed lack of nutrients, caused hair loss, headaches, nausea (unable to keep food down), and blurred vision. It is important to note that I was in communication with professors and very open about what was occurring. I was also taking steps to help make my situation better, by taking medication, making plans with an academic advisor, and speaking to a counsellor at Queen??s Wellness - Dr. Arunima Khanna. Though it had become clear, to myself and Dr. Arunima Khanna that I wouldn??t be able to complete my courses and being at Queen??s (on campus) after the winter semester wasn??t a good idea, since I haven??t been able to retrieve the care I need, I don??t have the support, and the negative experiences I have had at Queen??s and within the Kingston community as a racialized person as well as internal issues (such as having to financially support my education and relatives, being a mature student, and past traumas).

April- Present

When I had written the appeal in April, I had made plans with Dr. Arunima Khanna and Spring (academic advisor), to try and complete the two courses during the summer and not return to campus in the fall and instead complete my degree from a distance. I had all intentions of doing so, and had faith in myself of being able to fulfil this problem. I had been in contact with my two professors, and it's clear that I cannot do it, since things have gotten worse. Also in my last appeal, I had shared a plan, I don??t have a plan to share since things are such a mess right now. As I had mentioned earlier, I have been and still am suicidal (I haven??t been making plans or thinking about the future) and dealing with self-harm. I??m sorry that I couldn??t produce a more concise or even detailed letter, that showed why I deserved an appeal, just in my current state which has been ongoing, I don't feel that I??m capable of it.