Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Johanne Bénard,

I am appealing for a change of grade in my LING205 course (attended in 2014).

In winter of 2014, I came to terms with the fact that my sole parent is extremely abusive and unsafe for me to be around. I failed nearly all of the courses from winter 2014 because of my inability to function properly in a school environment due to my PTSD. Some of the courses from winter 2014 were appealed and dropped after the fact, while two courses were left as incompletes. My professor for LING205 (for which an incomplete grade turned into an F, after I obliviously missed a deadline), Dr. Jessop agreed to allow me to submit the final paper during the winter of 2015 in order to count the course towards my graduating credits. She helped me throughout the semester with the writing process and the paper was submitted in April 2015.

During 2014- 2015 I was a full time student at Queen¿¿s still and had other courses I was taking (in addition to working part-time and supporting myself entirely). Dr. Jessop and I met many times over the semester to discuss the paper, but I was limited in my time and ability, hence the lengthy period from the course ending to the work being submitted. Currently, Dr. Jessop has a final grade ready to submit.

For the past few years, I have been seeing a trauma counsellor in Kingston who has helped me come to terms with my only parent being unsafe, and has helped me in get myself safe and independent. Included in the appeal package is a letter from Lisa Doxtator, my counsellor. I will continue sessions with Lisa for the foreseeable future

I have also talked extensively with Dr. Borins at (Queen¿¿s) LaSalle clinic about my health issues stemming from the abuse, as well as Cathy Touzel at Queen¿¿s counselling services.

Since then, I have cut my abusive parent out of my life completely and my mental health is rapidly improving.

I am attempting to graduate for this Spring (2015) and this credit (LING205) is the last I need to fulfill my degree requirements and walk across the stage.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If any additional documentation is required, I would certainly provide it.

Sincerely,

Ceren Aytimur