Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I am petitioning for the allowance to drop the courses SOCY 336 (Winter 2023) and SOCY 309 (Winter 2023) from my transcript.

During my year of 2022-2023, I was undergoing much stress that left me in a state unable to perform. The previous summer, I had been diagnosed with ADHD and severe depression, which I had been struggling with for years while at Queens University. Put on medication, I was able to gain a handle on my struggle and managed to start performing better in the previous semester. However, in the winter of 2023, I was forced to commute several times between Kingston and my hometown of Markham, as my family and I were under the threat of eviction from our home. As the oldest child and the only support for my father since his divorce, I spent the semester attempting to balance a job to support the cost of my education, aiding in finding a home for myself, father, and two siblings, and the severity of my illness. During this time, the stress led to me refrain from taking my medication and I was spiraling again. These bouts of depression crippled me and left me unable to complete the courses as I truly wish I had been able to. Included in this submission of appeal is a letter from my personal psychiatrist attesting to this fact. Furthermore, I was determined to graduate from Queens with even a bachelor’s of arts degree as opposed to a bachelor of arts honours, and did not realize by the time of Week 8 that I had satisfied the requirements. The addition of these two courses dropped my average to a point where I could not qualify for graduation and had I known before, I would not have taken these courses to begin with.

I am humbly asking that you permit me to formally drop these courses so that I may graduate and complete my degree. While I realize that this is a large request, I am also imploring that you consider expediating this request so that I may attempt to join the graduating convocation ceremony scheduled for November 17th 2023 for those graduating with a degree in sociological studies. I regret being unable to complete this process sooner, however over the last few months I have also been balancing personal issues such as my younger brother being on life support, my place of employment temporarily closing due to a fire and dangers caused thereafter, and my grandmother’s ailing health that became a burden for my family to which we undertook.

I thank you at this time for your understanding and consideration,
Ashleigh Weerasinghe