Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: note: password for supporting documentation: LetterforRA2023

Dear Academic Associate Dean,

I am petitioning to drop the following courses: CHEM112b (winter 2022), BIOL103 (winter 2022, fall 2022). I am also petitioning for credit standing for these other following courses: PSYC100b (winter 2022), PSYC271 (fall 2022).

During the time between October 2021 and November 2022 I experienced a severe drop in my mental state. I had a diagnosis in November of 2021 and was put on medication in hopes of improvement. Over the winter break of 2021 I was in contact with a therapist and the medication seemed to be working well. However, In early January, something happened in my personal life that caused my mental health to severely drop to levels I had not experienced before. In a bad state I made a bad call to stop taking my medication, unaware of the withdrawal effects. These physical and mental withdrawals only made my mental state worse. I missed a therapy appointment and never made another one because I could not take care of myself. I was not able to put any effort into my school work and did not have the mental energy to think of dropping courses by the due date. I started getting grades way lower than I ever had before and even failing classes. Starting the second year I decided I needed to make a change and help myself. I started therapy again, going twice a week, and over the course of a few months made a significant change. After fighting to bring my mental health back up in the fall, my early december grades were showing my true potential. Of course my final grades for the fall 2022 semester were not representative since it was only the last few assignments that my grades went up; Despite these grades, I knew my potential again and felt much better entering the new year.

My plan to keep improving my mental health is to continue to consistently see my therapist and work hard. I am also taking a lighter course load than I have previously as well as courses in a different projected major. In addition to this, I now have accomodations in place to help me with my courses. I hope to keep seeing improvement and that my struggles and the mental fight I endured are not dismissed.


Thank you,

Reagan Armstrong