Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Hi Associated Dean Dr. Jenn Stephenson, I’m writing to petition to waive my requirement to withdraw for one year from studies at Queen’s University. During my years at Queen’s I’ve gone through a lot, including trials experienced by all of our community like COVID-19 in the middle of my studies at Queens and personally struggling with extensive mental health issues in addition to the difficulties I’m accommodated for by my letter of accommodations. Over the last two years at Queen’s my living situation has changed and that change in environment and support network has had serious effects on my mental health, specifically because of my narcolepsy which creates serious issues for me when my mental health is strained. Because of these issues, which had gotten worse over the last two years, I have failed courses even as I tried my best to turn my academic standing around and finish my degree strong. Accepting my situation needed to change I switched programs from the Bachelor of Arts Honors to the Bachelor of Arts three year degree plan last year and after meeting with academic advisors made plans to finish my remainder of my degree online at home with a stronger support network. This plan was compromised when this last year I received devastating news just as I was beginning to make the necessary changes to adjust my academic standing and finish my degree. Last Fall 2024 term I received news in October that my maternal grandmother was dying of lung cancer and had weeks or months to live. This news was deeply upsetting to me as my grandmother was a close source of support and love, with her living in the province as the rest of my family lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her illness and mortality was deeply upsetting but I was blessed to be able to visit her quickly. She passed later that month. This sudden loss was a tipping point and created an isolating effect. I was not able or perhaps capable of getting mental health support at Queen’s, having had terrible experiences in the past when trying to deal with the Queen’s health resources for my narcolepsy as reaching my family doctor in Vancouver from Ontario would repeatedly prove difficult. Due to these issues I do not have easy access to documentation of my mental state in the wake of my grandmother's illness and passing but am weeks into the lengthy process of meeting with my family doctor to get documentation of some of these issues and explore further if formal therapy is wise in addition to the improved support network I now have having returned to my family home full time.
I have made plans with academic advisors and following the Queen’s academic plan guides, building upon the plans I made prior to this last year's devastating nose dive. I have built a plan with specific courses selected to enroll in and retake to raise my GPA and graduate, targeting courses I previously got a poor or failing grade in taking care to check they are currently offered. In addition I am making sure not to repeat the mistakes I’ve made in the past of overextending myself as I did in my fifth year, hoping to finish my honors degree when it was not something I was capable of. Most importantly I am back home with my parents, sister and close friends and I know this support network with professional aid can mean a huge difference to my performance. And if I am granted this petition to not withdraw for one year I know I can finish my degree and move onto my next chapter in life proud of my time at Queen’s and standing on a strong foundation. I do not know what I can do if I am required due to my failings to withdraw for one year as I’ve struggled with mental health as a student on campus and am frightened of falling deep into a hole if I can’t progress for a year. I don’t think there is anything I would want more than executing on my academic plan, graduating this coming year in my degree and going forward in life as a Queen’s graduate. I have struggled with issues as everyone has, including some chronic extreme issues not all of which I've obtained accommodation for but I believe I deserve a chance as my attempts to regroup and institute my new academic plan in a stronger support network were sabotaged by tragedy and loss.

Thanks, Jack Allen.