Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Academic Associate Dean:

I am writing this letter to you in addition to the attached documents for a request to complete past incomplete or failed courses in the last 3 semesters (Fall 2021, Winter 2022, and Summer 2022). The following courses I would appreciate the chance to complete are: SOCY 225, SOCY 352, SOCY 310, SOCY 235, SOCY 300, SOCY 309, HLTH 101, ENIN 207, and WRIT 120. My poor academic progress is a result from my mental illnesses as well as other unforeseen circumstances that have arose in the last 3 semesters (Fall 2021, Winter 2022 and Summer 2022). I am requesting to submit the incomplete work from these courses by Monday January 9, 2023, the beginning of the winter semester.

To gain some insight on my mental health, my mental health journey began when I was 8 years old, after enduring a year of sexual abuse from a family member. This brought on a generalized anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder which has had long lasting effects on my life up until the present date and most likely the remainder of my life. Depression began to arise around age 13 as a result of the trauma, these disorders and bullying that had occurred in elementary school, thus, diminishing my self-confidence.

Throughout my years at Queen??s I have struggled academically due to my mental health. However, the last 3 semesters have been the most difficult. Depression and anxiety brought on by a relapse in reoccurring night terrors due to my childhood trauma began in the Fall semester. I was hoping that the Winter semester would be a new start until a week into the semester I found out I was unexpectedly pregnant with my long-term boyfriend. I made the decision to terminate the pregnancy and have an IUD inserted at Kingston General Hospital and visited the hospital for appointments on the following dates this year: January 31, February 1, and February 14. I was not able to attend class from January 17th-February 14th due to the intense physical symptoms I was faced with. After this I was wrestling with the emotional aftermath, which I still struggle with today. Finally, the summer semester began and a few weeks into the semester my long-term boyfriend and I split up very unexpectedly. This was a shock to me and my entire system. My depression and anxiety have been battling each other which has led to loss of appetite, insomnia, panic attacks and more.

In regard to this school year, I have plans in place to aid me in succeeding. Firstly, I see my counsellor one or two times per week via video calls. Second and third, my physician signed off on forms for academic accommodations which has been granted by Queen??s Accessibility Advisor Caroline Teske and I had a follow up appointment with Caroline Teske on September 13, 2022. I have been in touch with Michelle Underhill from the Sociology department to aid me with my courses as well as aiding me in the appeal process for my grades from the last 3 semesters. Finally, I take medication daily to help mitigate the symptoms of my mental illnesses. With support from my physician, counsellor, and advisors at the University, I am confident that I can and will be successful this academic school year. I have already noticed an improvement in my grades at this point in time due to these networks of supports.

Attached in this email along with this letter is a letter from my counsellor from both December 2021 and September 2022, my academic accommodation forms from my doctor dated August 2022, and a note from Kingston General Hospital for January and February 2022.

I ask you to please allow me to have the chance to successfully complete these courses by the beginning of second semester (Monday, January 9, 2023). I would be able to use the Christmas break as a time to delve into these studies and submit the missing components. I understand that there are quite a few courses however, most of them are only missing an assignment or two. I believe I can 100% submit all of the missing work by the 9th of January.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my health care providers. I am looking forward to hearing back from you about your decision as soon as possible.


Warm regards,
Malayna Walter
2011 4108