Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Jenn Stephenson
Associate Dean (Academics)
Queen’s University

Dear Dr. Stephenson

I am petitioning to withdraw from PORT 103 and ENGL 100.

I came into Queen’s with a chronic illness and a plan for accommodations that would help me succeed in my academic courses and living away from home for the first time. I had anticipated that it would be challenging, but with the state of my health as well as my accommodations, we (myself, my doctors, my family) thought it would be possible.

However, as time progressed from the beginning of fall 2023, I experienced first a gradual and then more rapid destabilization of my health and symptoms. When I came home for reading week in October, I reconnected with my doctors to re-evaluate my medications and I connected with my professors regarding accommodations and a plan moving forward.

When I got back to Kingston, my health just worsened, and I was barely able to leave my residence room. I have to say, my professors were very kind and understanding, and I really appreciated that. In collaboration with my professors, I tried to do work from my room instead of going to my classes, but even that became impossible. Professor Macedo was kind enough to grant me an incomplete for PORT 103 and I was planning on finishing over the next several months. For my full year courses, we made a plan that I would catch up over Christmas break and then pace myself in the next semester.

When I came home for Christmas it became clear to myself, my family, and my doctors that I couldn’t go back. I had hoped to finish LING 100 and PORT 103 remotely, but upon the advice of their departments, my professors said that wouldn’t be possible. My piano instructor for MUSC 124 said that she’d welcome me back to lessons in the fall of 2024. As it stands, I was able to withdraw from MUSC 124 and LING 100 before the deadline, as they were full year courses. However, as I was working on an incomplete for PORT 103, it was too late to withdraw. I had hoped to complete an online course this summer (ENGL 100) but due to both my health and a family member’s cancer care, my efforts were derailed, and I needed to drop the course. I had hoped to be able to catch up, but I just got further behind.

I now have a slightly different (and extended) medical team, and we are working hard to resolve the severity of my symptoms. I’m hopeful that with some new medication, and the conclusion of a diagnostic odyssey, I will be able to return to my studies at Queen’s in the fall or winter of 2024. It’s also become clear that I will likely need to put in some medical supports while I’m in Kingston and we’re working to put that in place.

I really miss being at Queen’s. I was so excited to be accepted and it was devastating to have to withdraw from my courses. I’m doing everything in my power to come back as soon as possible.

Thank you so much for your kind attention and I hope to hear back about my petition soon.

With gratitude,

Evie Jordan.