Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Arts & Science,

I am petitioning for a late drop of my MATH 112 as well as CISC 204, CISC 203, COGS 201 and CISC 220 experiencing mental health challenges during the entirety of the Fall and Winter Term due to being misdiagnosed last year, additionally I encountered a severe physical health challenge which affected my cognitive and physical ability.

I suffer from major depressive disorder and have recently discovered I also suffer from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD). In the Fall term I entered a bad depressive episode due to not being able to keep up with my coursework due to my undiagnosed ADHD, I have been unmedicated for the past two years and the leading cause of my poor academic performance as my executive function was severely impaired and it did not allow me to properly balance coursework, attend classes and complete work on time. This was exacerbated as I did not have the proper treatment options due to the distance from my doctors in Milton, and it took a while to get access to them. I also did not have the financial means to get a diagnosis from a psychologist as I could not afford one long enough to obtain an ADHD diagnosis and had to wait until I qualified for OHIP care, this is why I was initially misdiagnosed last year and did not receive help until after this academic year was complete.

I could not receive academic accommodations via VENTUS due to my misdiagnosis, so I was going through the Fall and Winter Term without much help. I also had several health crises where I had to go to the hospital/doctor and have been documented in my academic considerations requests, and a further doctor's note also details the sudden onset of severe migraines that resulted in me being largely physically incapacitated during the Winter term. I was in severe pain to the extent that I could not leave the bedrest. I also had to travel back home to get a CT scan and further testing. As a result, I have grades which do not reflect my academic ability and instead reflect the results of my mental illness and disorder. As well as health issues beyond my control. Due to my depression and ADHD, I was not able to keep up with the more rigorous coursework of MATH 112, CISC 204, CISC 203, CISC 220 and COGS 201 and the course load I was taking unmediated overwhelmed me due to my ADHD. I was able to complete coursework better last year despite being unmedicated and undiagnosed as I had my knowledge from advanced placement courses to help me scrape through first year, however that wasn’t possible for the higher level courses of second year.

However, I have finally been able to access mental health care for my ADHD and I’m undergoing treatment with counselor Jacquelyn Garvie at Halton Healthcare, and have finally received medication for my ADHD and depression from my physician. I am also submitting necessary documentation for QSAS accommodations to ensure success next year. I plan to repair my GPA and fulfill my degree requirements over the summer as I am instead taking PSYC 100, MUSC 171 and HIST 200 over the summer. My physical condition has also been managed. I can say with full confidence that I now have the resources I need to return to functioning at the high-academic level I have before and is required of a Queen’s student.

I have actively been seeking help since last year but due to my financial circumstances and the state of our provincial healthcare system received it far too late. This has negatively impacted my GPA greatly and it is truly not reflective of my academic abilities and commitment to Queen’s and my current degree plan. Granting this petition would allow me to move on from this dark period and repair the damage it has done to my GPA and continue to pursue Computing and my goals of studying Computer Science at the graduate level.

This letter serves as my formal petition for a late drop from MATH 112 as well as CISC 204, CISC 203, COGS 201 and CISC 220. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Sree Bandi