Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean,

My name is Carly Farun, and I am a student at Queen’s University. My student number is 20230847.

Due to extreme extenuating circumstances, I am submitting this petition to receive Aegrotat standing for the following courses, which I took in the fall semester of 2023:
ARTH 203 Art and Popular Culture
ARTH 214 Renaissance Art pre-1500
PSYC 366 Social & Emotional Development
PSYC 377 Gender/Sex, Hormones and Behaviour

I would also like to petition for late course drop for:
PSYC 377 Principles of Neuroeconomics
ARTH 215 Renaissance Art post-1500
ARTH 275 Intro to Global Design History

I would also like to petition my grade in PSYC 435 Advanced Topics in Clinical Psychology and am requesting Credit Standing for that course.

In early December 2023, I began to feel unwell. A few days later, I was rushed to Kingston General Hospital and diagnosed with Bacterial Meningitis. I almost died. I spent 10 days in intensive care (ICU), additional time in the ward and I received treatment at home, including IV medication, for weeks afterwards. While still in ICU, my mother & I contacted the school and submitted an extenuating circumstances form, as I realized that I would not be able to complete final assessments for the term. I also realized that although I had begun to complete the paperwork to request the late course drop for PSYC 377, I had not submitted it because of my illness.

My attending physician in hospital was Dr. David Taylor, and I submitted a letter from him to confirm my situation, which I am resubmitting today. I am also submitting new medical information from my family physician.

Aside from PYSC377, I really wanted to complete my fall semester classes, so requested an extension to complete my course work. Unfortunately, I had executive dysfunction, hearing, visual, memory and cognitive comprehension issues that impacted me for the remainder of the academic year. So I was not able to complete the course work and exams that I had hoped to do. I was experiencing shame and blamed myself for not being capable of completing my work. I felt like a failure, so I didn’t tell anyone – not my professors, not my roommates and not my family.

Given my circumstances, I now realize that I was not well enough to make academic decisions at that time and should not have registered for classes for Winter Term.


I am beginning to understand and appreciate that this was not my fault, which may be easy for others to see, but has been hard for me. My family now understands the issues that I’ve been dealing with on my own and my mother is working with me to help keep me on track. And I have a plan to move forward that will help me succeed.

I have met with an academic advisor and will not be taking a full course load this year. I have reengaged my family doctor and my neurologist and will be working with an audiologist. I have also been in touch with Queen’s Student Academic Services and Queen’s Wellness. I have an appointment with my QSAS advisor on September 4th and plan to meet with her bi-weekly to stay on track and ensure that I have the right supports and accommodations in place. I will also be meeting with a Wellness counsellor regularly for therapeutic support, as I’m sure that you can appreciate how difficult this has been for me.

I really hope that you will consider my request. Before I became sick, I was a good student, with mostly A & B grades. This past year has been devastating and I am confident that I have put the right supports in place to move forward with my studies.

Thank you,
Carly Farun