Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
The purpose of this letter is to formally petition for Credit Standing in the courses I completed during the Winter 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters. My academic performance in both semesters was below my capabilities, as a result of acute mood disorders and learning disorders diagnosed during this period. The courses for which I am petitioning for Credit Standing are as follows:
Winter 2023 Semester:
PSYC 100 Principles of Psychology
KNPE 125 Intro to Human Physiology
Summer 2023 Semester:
MATH 121 Diff & Integral Calculus
CISC 101 Elements of Computing Science
Toward the end of my first semester at Queen’s University in the Fall 2022 semester, I began to experience significant acute mood/learning issues while preparing for my final exams. In hindsight, I realize that my symptoms had been heightening during the semester but impacted me academically beginning with final exams in Fall 2022. I managed to complete the term with a GPA of 2.75, although my grades dropped slightly in all 4 credits as a result of final exams and assignments.
At the end of the Fall exam period, I attended an urgent care clinic for an initial assessment and then followed up with a further assessment by my family physician, Dr. Moodley, during the holiday break. At that time, I was diagnosed with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder – subtype anxiety/attention) and commenced pharmacological treatment (SSRI). Based on a recommendation, I also completed a psycho-educational assessment with Dr. Kim Saliba that started just prior to the beginning of the Winter 2023 semester and was completed in April 2023. The assessment confirmed mood (MDD) and attention (ADD) disorders, which are hereditary. This paperwork was provided to Dr. Moodley for further assessment and as a result, I was prescribed an ADHD medication. I began taking this medication during the Summer 2023 semester. Based on the assessment from Dr. Saliba, I was also connected with SASS and became eligible for accommodations to support my studies.
I believe strongly this period of onset of acute mental health illness had a significant impact on my academic standing during both the Winter 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters. This is evident in my GPA as it declined from 2.75 in the Fall 2022 Semester to 2.40 following the Winter 2023 semester and 1.94 following the Summer 2023 semester. From January to September of 2023, I was working to understand and accept my new diagnoses. As I had not experienced these types of mental issues in the past, my mood and focus were significantly impacted in the near-term. As well, I was working with Dr. Moodley to find the correct dosage for my medications, which took several months for the SSRI and into the fall for the ADHD medication. My sleeping, eating and exercise patterns were significantly impacted during this period, which in turn impacted my ability to function overall and especially academically. I also found incorporating academic accommodations into classroom and testing routines initially more challenging than anticipated.
I have now established a treatment team, including regular contact with Dr. Moodley (pharmacological treatment) and Dr. Saliba (therapeutic treatment – started in April 2023), as well as the Queen’s University QSAS and Native supports made available to me as a student. Integral to my therapy, I have begun to explore my Indigenous ancestry and the inter-generational impacts related to my current struggles. This is an area that I had not really considered prior to attending Queen’s University but the focus and supports from the university have helped to open this path.
While I enrolled in and started the Fall 2023 semester, I have since withdrawn from my courses so that I can focus on developing a solid routine for myself, including studies, sleeping, eating and exercise. I am currently enrolled in 3 courses for the Winter 2024 Semester. As mentioned above, I was also referred to QSAS and have been working with Jenna Kring, Academic Advisor for Indigenous Students and the Learning Strategy group. I also plan to use my time between now and the Winter 2024 Semester to refine my study strategies. For the time being, my plan is to enroll in 3 classes per semester and increase as I grow more comfortable with my academic approach in conjunction with the diagnoses. I am also planning to apply to the Queen’s Economics Department (QED) as a major in Applied Economics, as I feel it is a better fit for the strengths identified through my psycho-educational assessment.
I appreciate the opportunity to petition for Credit Standing in support of my difficult circumstances and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Sincerely,
William Glaspell
20342042
The purpose of this letter is to formally petition for Credit Standing in the courses I completed during the Winter 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters. My academic performance in both semesters was below my capabilities, as a result of acute mood disorders and learning disorders diagnosed during this period. The courses for which I am petitioning for Credit Standing are as follows:
Winter 2023 Semester:
PSYC 100 Principles of Psychology
KNPE 125 Intro to Human Physiology
Summer 2023 Semester:
MATH 121 Diff & Integral Calculus
CISC 101 Elements of Computing Science
Toward the end of my first semester at Queen’s University in the Fall 2022 semester, I began to experience significant acute mood/learning issues while preparing for my final exams. In hindsight, I realize that my symptoms had been heightening during the semester but impacted me academically beginning with final exams in Fall 2022. I managed to complete the term with a GPA of 2.75, although my grades dropped slightly in all 4 credits as a result of final exams and assignments.
At the end of the Fall exam period, I attended an urgent care clinic for an initial assessment and then followed up with a further assessment by my family physician, Dr. Moodley, during the holiday break. At that time, I was diagnosed with MDD (Major Depressive Disorder – subtype anxiety/attention) and commenced pharmacological treatment (SSRI). Based on a recommendation, I also completed a psycho-educational assessment with Dr. Kim Saliba that started just prior to the beginning of the Winter 2023 semester and was completed in April 2023. The assessment confirmed mood (MDD) and attention (ADD) disorders, which are hereditary. This paperwork was provided to Dr. Moodley for further assessment and as a result, I was prescribed an ADHD medication. I began taking this medication during the Summer 2023 semester. Based on the assessment from Dr. Saliba, I was also connected with SASS and became eligible for accommodations to support my studies.
I believe strongly this period of onset of acute mental health illness had a significant impact on my academic standing during both the Winter 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters. This is evident in my GPA as it declined from 2.75 in the Fall 2022 Semester to 2.40 following the Winter 2023 semester and 1.94 following the Summer 2023 semester. From January to September of 2023, I was working to understand and accept my new diagnoses. As I had not experienced these types of mental issues in the past, my mood and focus were significantly impacted in the near-term. As well, I was working with Dr. Moodley to find the correct dosage for my medications, which took several months for the SSRI and into the fall for the ADHD medication. My sleeping, eating and exercise patterns were significantly impacted during this period, which in turn impacted my ability to function overall and especially academically. I also found incorporating academic accommodations into classroom and testing routines initially more challenging than anticipated.
I have now established a treatment team, including regular contact with Dr. Moodley (pharmacological treatment) and Dr. Saliba (therapeutic treatment – started in April 2023), as well as the Queen’s University QSAS and Native supports made available to me as a student. Integral to my therapy, I have begun to explore my Indigenous ancestry and the inter-generational impacts related to my current struggles. This is an area that I had not really considered prior to attending Queen’s University but the focus and supports from the university have helped to open this path.
While I enrolled in and started the Fall 2023 semester, I have since withdrawn from my courses so that I can focus on developing a solid routine for myself, including studies, sleeping, eating and exercise. I am currently enrolled in 3 courses for the Winter 2024 Semester. As mentioned above, I was also referred to QSAS and have been working with Jenna Kring, Academic Advisor for Indigenous Students and the Learning Strategy group. I also plan to use my time between now and the Winter 2024 Semester to refine my study strategies. For the time being, my plan is to enroll in 3 classes per semester and increase as I grow more comfortable with my academic approach in conjunction with the diagnoses. I am also planning to apply to the Queen’s Economics Department (QED) as a major in Applied Economics, as I feel it is a better fit for the strengths identified through my psycho-educational assessment.
I appreciate the opportunity to petition for Credit Standing in support of my difficult circumstances and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.
Sincerely,
William Glaspell
20342042