Petition Letter
This Appeal Letter is in response to the May 24, 2022 letter I received from Ms. Jenn
Stephenson, Ph.D., Associate Dean (Studies), where I was informed of the requirement to
withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science, effective May 25, 2022.
In 2021 I experienced extenuating circumstances which seriously impaired my physical and
mental health in both academic semesters of my 4th year of Sociology at Queen??s. As a
result of this, I felt impaired in my ability to balance my academic career alongside my
personal health journey towards healing from the traumatic effects of these events.
These abilities were hindered by the extenuating circumstances that I was put through in
2021 and is the reason that I am now appealing the withdrawal notice. If I had known just
how much these circumstances would have affected my academic performance, I would
have retroactively reduced my course load tremendously last year.
I currently have multiple strategies set up to aid my success in the completion of these
remaining credits. This involves daily medicinal treatment of an SNRI to improve my mental
wellbeing, as well as weekly sessions with my therapist, in which we work on the
implementation of coping strategies that will help me to complete daily tasks in my personal
and academic life. I have already noticed a substantial difference in my ability to go about
my daily life with these strategies in place and I hold the utmost confidence that this will
transcend into my academic life moving forward.
Attached to this appeal is an official mental health report written by my counsellor/therapist,
as well as letters written by those close to me, who confirm the events of these extenuating
circumstances. The mental health report not only outlines my daily functioning abilities but
also my exact extenuating circumstance.
I am more than optimistic that, if granted this appeal, I will succeed in my revised academic
plan to a high degree, which I now know I am capable of. I would also like to note that there
has been one grade from Fall 2021 semester (SOCY225) that was incorrectly managed in
the discourse of an ?IN?? grade. My final assignment in this class was not graded despite its
submission prior to the deadline. However, the head of my department, Dr. Andrew Silver
has given me his word that he will manage this situation internally, meaning I should have
the revised grade very soon. I have also attached this email to my appeal.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sarah Welch.
Stephenson, Ph.D., Associate Dean (Studies), where I was informed of the requirement to
withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science, effective May 25, 2022.
In 2021 I experienced extenuating circumstances which seriously impaired my physical and
mental health in both academic semesters of my 4th year of Sociology at Queen??s. As a
result of this, I felt impaired in my ability to balance my academic career alongside my
personal health journey towards healing from the traumatic effects of these events.
These abilities were hindered by the extenuating circumstances that I was put through in
2021 and is the reason that I am now appealing the withdrawal notice. If I had known just
how much these circumstances would have affected my academic performance, I would
have retroactively reduced my course load tremendously last year.
I currently have multiple strategies set up to aid my success in the completion of these
remaining credits. This involves daily medicinal treatment of an SNRI to improve my mental
wellbeing, as well as weekly sessions with my therapist, in which we work on the
implementation of coping strategies that will help me to complete daily tasks in my personal
and academic life. I have already noticed a substantial difference in my ability to go about
my daily life with these strategies in place and I hold the utmost confidence that this will
transcend into my academic life moving forward.
Attached to this appeal is an official mental health report written by my counsellor/therapist,
as well as letters written by those close to me, who confirm the events of these extenuating
circumstances. The mental health report not only outlines my daily functioning abilities but
also my exact extenuating circumstance.
I am more than optimistic that, if granted this appeal, I will succeed in my revised academic
plan to a high degree, which I now know I am capable of. I would also like to note that there
has been one grade from Fall 2021 semester (SOCY225) that was incorrectly managed in
the discourse of an ?IN?? grade. My final assignment in this class was not graded despite its
submission prior to the deadline. However, the head of my department, Dr. Andrew Silver
has given me his word that he will manage this situation internally, meaning I should have
the revised grade very soon. I have also attached this email to my appeal.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sarah Welch.