Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am petitioning to drop the course GEOL 368 past the drop deadline. I suffer from anxiety and depression for which I am registered with QSAS. Recently, I have experienced an exacerbation of my symptoms that has made it incredibly difficult to attend labs and classes in the latter half of the semester, specifically the month of March. This has manifested into mild agoraphobia and intense anxiety when it comes to attending class and leaving the house. The content in GEOL 368 is complex and difficult to follow online compared to my other courses as most of the content is explained in lectures. Additionally, not being able to attend labs has made them near impossible to complete due to missing key instructions and group support. I have received accommodations from my professor and TA throughout the semester but, due to the nature of this course, I am still missing the majority of relevant information needed to succeed in its evaluations. I believed that I could remedy the missed course content but I have come to understand that the deficiencies in my understanding are too substantial. I have felt extreme guilt over my inability to be successful in this course which has only worsened my symptoms. I have been working with my psychotherapist to address this through bi-weekly therapy sessions as well as seeking medical intervention through my family physician. With this in mind, I would rather complete the course when I am in a better headspace instead of attempting to complete it with large gaps in my knowledge of the course content. Dropping this course would greatly alleviate my stress and allow me to better focus my energy on my other courses.

Thank you for your consideration,

Nadia Taylor-Meyer