Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Request Outline
I am submitting this petition to request Credit Standing (CR) for CHEM 112, CISC 101, and PHAR 100 from the Winter 2024 term and a late drop for MATH 112. While I performed very well during the semester, I experienced severe extenuating circumstances primarily surrounding my examinations. The challenges I faced were due to my undiagnosed disorder, inadequate accommodations, and unavoidable distractions. Additionally, I had not written an exam since my Grade 10 year due to an additional gap year and the pandemic.

Year 1, Semester 1 (Fall 2023)
After I completed my first semester of exams, I experienced intense anxiety and severe overstimulation due to the environment I was placed in. These struggles made it impossible to complete my exams to the best of my ability. I later learned that I had access to academic accommodations at Queen’s, something I had received in high school for anxiety but was unaware I could access at the university level.

Year 1, Semester 2 (Winter 2024)
On February 14, I implemented accommodations for my anxiety, and despite these improvements, I had not yet received my formal diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I was also not yet on the ADHD medication I now take, which has since significantly improved my ability to perform during exams and manage my previous difficulties. I pursued a formal ADHD assessment through my family doctor as required, but due to the lengthy diagnostic process and difficulties scheduling appointments, I did not receive my documentation until June 13. Without proper accommodations or my medication, I continued to struggle with my exams, resulting in lower-than-expected performance. I now understand that I could have petitioned for my first-semester courses as well due to having no accommodations in place and an undiagnosed medical condition, but I was unaware of this option at the time.

Impact on CHEM 112, CISC 101, and PHAR 100 (Winter 2024)
These courses relied heavily on examinations, which significantly impacted my ability to achieve a grade that reflected my knowledge, as most of my difficulties stemmed from improper or non-existent accommodations. I was placed in a semi-private exam room, unaware that a private setting was an option. The exam environment was highly overstimulating, with students entering and exiting, exams requiring typing on a computer, loud personal laptop fans, and people speaking around me. These factors severely heightened my anxiety and made it impossible to focus properly.
After struggling with these conditions and raising my concerns after completing two of the three exams in this room, I was finally granted a private room accommodation. However, this was only after desperately reaching out to the exams office and my accommodations advisor, pleading to have this change made before my final exam. Unfortunately, this accommodation was only scheduled to take effect after my final exam, meaning it did not help my Winter 2024 performance.

Impact on MATH 112 Final Exam (Winter 2024)
My MATH 112 final exam was weighted more than the in-semester portion of the course and was also my final exam of the term. During this exam, I faced severe overstimulation and distractions while being in the semi-private room.
After struggling significantly with my CHEM 112 exam, I contacted the exams office and my accommodations advisor, Cristina Cardelus, urgently requesting to be moved to a private room. Despite my efforts, an immediate change was not possible, and I had to complete my exam in a setting that once again severely impacted my performance. I was seated next to an individual with an extremely loud laptop, who was typing profusely, while students continuously entered and exited the room as they finished or began their exams.
Despite using a large portion of my extra allotted time, I severely underperformed, which resulted in me failing my exam and ultimately failing the course due to its significant weight of 55% (to my recollection). My struggle and request for accommodation adjustments are documented in the