Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: May 20, 2023

To: Associate Dean, Academic Petitions and Appeals
From: Julia Steele, Student Number 20336895

I am asking to drop the following two courses:
Introduction to Theatre ?? DRAM100A & 100B ?? Fall 2022 / 2023 Winter
Principles of Psychology ?? PSYC100A & 100B ?? Fall 2022 / 2023 Winter

My academic performance during my first year at Queen??s was negatively affected by a series of medical conditions that I suffered, almost on monthly basis, between September 2022 and April 2023. I am asthmatic and prone to urinary tract infections (UTI). Both of these chronic conditions plagued me throughout the year, resulting in the constant need for: (1) diagnosis by the KGH ER Dept. or the Queen??s Wellness Clinic; (2) runs to the pharmacy for prescriptions; and (3) rest and recuperation. The illnesses were very disruptive, and I ending up missing classes and falling behind. Consequently, my academic results were poor and I failed three subjects.

I have now been placed on academic probation. However, I know I am capable of attaining a 75% - 80% average. Throughout my academic career, I have always been an Honours student, and have never failed a course. I??d very much appreciate the chance to prove my value as a Queen??s Honours student.

My goal is to achieve and maintain a 3.0 average. Being allowed to drop the two failed courses mentioned above (DRAM100A & B; and PSYC100A & B) would be a good start in this regard.

Below is a timeline of the illnesses I suffered throughout the school year, and the impact they had on my ability to perform academically. In both semesters, I reached out to my professors to explain an absence from a class or lab, and appealed for Academic Consideration.
In September 2022, I tested positive for COVID, and had bouts of bronchitis, made worse by my asthma. This required several visits to the KGH ER Dept., where I would spend an entire night waiting to be seen by a doctor. Each time, by the time I was seen by a doctor, got to a pharmacy to have a Rx filled, and then returned to campus, I had missed valuable class time, and I started to fall behind. This became overwhelming, and my mental health was negatively affected.
In October 2022, I experienced problems related to a more severe UTI, which required a further ER visit and another trip to the pharmacy. As UTIs are painful and disruptive, I missed several Drama and Psychology labs during this time.
In November 2022, I unfortunately experienced an STI, which was diagnosed by the Queen??s Wellness Clinic. Unfortunately, word got out about this, and I was harassed both online and in person. Not only did looking after the illness take its toll in terms of time and energy, but the harassment I endured had a serious negative impact on my mental health, lasting for several months.
In February 2023, I had to return to the ER Dept. with swollen tonsils, and was given steroids. During this period I was so fatigued that my parents thought I might have mono. Again, I missed some Drama and Psychology classes and labs during this period.
In March 2023, I had another UTI.
In April 2023, I had a further UTI. Then, I was exposed to COVID through a friend who had contracted it during Easter Break. I didn??t test positive, but I had serious flu-like symptoms and had to defer my final Psychology exam after requesting an Attestation Form to Defer. I wrote the final Psych exam in May.

I realize there are things that I need to do to address my academic performance. Some of the things I am doing include: (1) taking two summer courses to help boost my average (including re-taking Principles of Psychology); (2) meeting with my family doctor to address my chronic medical conditions; and (3) seeking guidance from Student Advisors at Queen??s to help me choose an academic path that I can excel at.

To summarize,
I would like to be able to drop DRAM100A & B, and PSYC100A & B. I believe that my recent performance does not reflect my true academic ability, and I??d appreciate the opportunity to try to improve my GPA. Thank you in advance for considering my request.