Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Dorit Naaman,
I am writing to respectfully request permission to complete the remaining four courses of my degree through Athabasca University. Additionally, I am requesting to drop POLS 354 late due to the same extenuating circumstances as outlined below.
I am currently enrolled in a BA in Politics and in good academic standing. However, due to my ADHD and comorbid conditions, I experienced challenges with the pace and structure of the courses I attempted at Queen’s, particularly over the last two years. I feel taking courses that are offered on-line and in a self-paced format will allow me to better manage my disability, and lead to the completion of my degree.
During the 2024 Fall semester, I experienced psychological distress due to my disability. I was unable to attend classes or complete work as most of my energy went towards taking care of my basic needs. Eventually, I was able to reach out to academic advising and, working with them, I came up with the plan to drop my fall semester courses and switch my degree from a BAH in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics to a BA in Politics, with the intent to complete the remaining four courses of my degree in the winter semester. The Winter semester started out okay, but then I experienced similar psychological distress to the fall. I reached out to my disability coordinator, and we arranged for me to try to complete one course, POLS 354. Dr. Andrew Lister and I arranged for a deferred exam constituting most of my grade. Unfortunately, the psychological distress did not cease and was debilitating. I was unable to successfully write that exam.
The decision to switch from four courses to one course happened in March, after the deadline to drop courses without academic penalty, and most of the work done to complete POLS 354 was done after the last day of classes as the deferred exam was in May. By that time, it was impossible to drop the course in solus nor was I in a state to explore alternatives to writing the deferred exam and accepting the consequences. I understand this was solely my responsibility to manage at the time, and I am respectfully requesting permission to drop that course now and have a DR on my transcript. I would prefer if this experience did not restrict my options for post undergraduate education.
In May 2025, I withdrew from studies to focus on my recovery. I have recently completed a 6-week intensive adult mental health program through Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Having completed the program, and on medication to better manage my ADHD, I feel I am in a position to complete my remaining courses.
In terms of completing all four of my remaining courses, returning to Kingston presents financial and support challenges. I was unable to work over the summer, unlike previous summers, so I do not have the funds I would typically have to support myself while in Kingston. My support system is currently here in Oakville, my friends are here, and I’m living with my parents, who can help with the maintenance tasks of living. Additionally, my family doctor is here, which is critical as I am still figuring out ongoing medical treatment and support. Queen’s online courses are an option but present a unique challenge as they are typically not self-paced, and time constraints are stricter compared to a course through Athabasca University, which is self-paced, and can be completed within six months. The flexibility of a self-paced 6-month course aligns with my learning needs. Extensions provided in a Queen’s course do help but there is a potential for extensions to turn into falling behind, the risk of which is mitigated for a self-paced course as I could take breaks without missing any content.
My academic plan, should this petition be successful, is to focus on environmental changes. Taking courses that allow for a lot of flexibility will grant me the time to focus on my mental health while completing course work. By engaging my support network here in Oakville, practicing the skills I learned in the program, and upkeeping pillars of wellbeing, I can be successful. With this plan, I am confident I will be able to complete my remaining four courses and obtain my degree.
Thank you for considering my request to take additional courses on LOP, and to drop POLS 354. I have attached medical records pertaining to the mental health program, an email from Dr. Lister and Dr. Baisley to show the timing of events, and my psychoeducational report that has my diagnosis. I reached out to QSAS and SWS for documentation from a professional and the requested that your office contact them directly for information.
Sincerely,
Harry Blackwell
I am writing to respectfully request permission to complete the remaining four courses of my degree through Athabasca University. Additionally, I am requesting to drop POLS 354 late due to the same extenuating circumstances as outlined below.
I am currently enrolled in a BA in Politics and in good academic standing. However, due to my ADHD and comorbid conditions, I experienced challenges with the pace and structure of the courses I attempted at Queen’s, particularly over the last two years. I feel taking courses that are offered on-line and in a self-paced format will allow me to better manage my disability, and lead to the completion of my degree.
During the 2024 Fall semester, I experienced psychological distress due to my disability. I was unable to attend classes or complete work as most of my energy went towards taking care of my basic needs. Eventually, I was able to reach out to academic advising and, working with them, I came up with the plan to drop my fall semester courses and switch my degree from a BAH in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics to a BA in Politics, with the intent to complete the remaining four courses of my degree in the winter semester. The Winter semester started out okay, but then I experienced similar psychological distress to the fall. I reached out to my disability coordinator, and we arranged for me to try to complete one course, POLS 354. Dr. Andrew Lister and I arranged for a deferred exam constituting most of my grade. Unfortunately, the psychological distress did not cease and was debilitating. I was unable to successfully write that exam.
The decision to switch from four courses to one course happened in March, after the deadline to drop courses without academic penalty, and most of the work done to complete POLS 354 was done after the last day of classes as the deferred exam was in May. By that time, it was impossible to drop the course in solus nor was I in a state to explore alternatives to writing the deferred exam and accepting the consequences. I understand this was solely my responsibility to manage at the time, and I am respectfully requesting permission to drop that course now and have a DR on my transcript. I would prefer if this experience did not restrict my options for post undergraduate education.
In May 2025, I withdrew from studies to focus on my recovery. I have recently completed a 6-week intensive adult mental health program through Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Having completed the program, and on medication to better manage my ADHD, I feel I am in a position to complete my remaining courses.
In terms of completing all four of my remaining courses, returning to Kingston presents financial and support challenges. I was unable to work over the summer, unlike previous summers, so I do not have the funds I would typically have to support myself while in Kingston. My support system is currently here in Oakville, my friends are here, and I’m living with my parents, who can help with the maintenance tasks of living. Additionally, my family doctor is here, which is critical as I am still figuring out ongoing medical treatment and support. Queen’s online courses are an option but present a unique challenge as they are typically not self-paced, and time constraints are stricter compared to a course through Athabasca University, which is self-paced, and can be completed within six months. The flexibility of a self-paced 6-month course aligns with my learning needs. Extensions provided in a Queen’s course do help but there is a potential for extensions to turn into falling behind, the risk of which is mitigated for a self-paced course as I could take breaks without missing any content.
My academic plan, should this petition be successful, is to focus on environmental changes. Taking courses that allow for a lot of flexibility will grant me the time to focus on my mental health while completing course work. By engaging my support network here in Oakville, practicing the skills I learned in the program, and upkeeping pillars of wellbeing, I can be successful. With this plan, I am confident I will be able to complete my remaining four courses and obtain my degree.
Thank you for considering my request to take additional courses on LOP, and to drop POLS 354. I have attached medical records pertaining to the mental health program, an email from Dr. Lister and Dr. Baisley to show the timing of events, and my psychoeducational report that has my diagnosis. I reached out to QSAS and SWS for documentation from a professional and the requested that your office contact them directly for information.
Sincerely,
Harry Blackwell