Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear the Academic Petitions Committee,

I am writing to formally petition for academic considerations for several courses I completed during the 2022 Summer, 2022 Fall, and 2023 Winter terms. I am grateful that my request to waive the petition deadline was accepted, and I appreciate the opportunity to further explain my circumstances that significantly impacted my academic performance during this period.

During this time period I was struggling with serious emotional and psychological distress stemming from a difficult personal situation and unresolved family challenges. I also developed unhealthy coping habits and experienced severe anxiety which made it difficult to focus, retain course material, or perform during exams. These challenges were especially disruptive during key assessment periods, and I was not yet set up with formal accommodations.

Some courses were further affected by my living circumstances in Kingston, where ongoing family tension and occasional conflict made it hard to maintain a quiet, stable environment to study or prepare for exams. On multiple occasions, I experienced panic attacks or high anxiety before exams, which affected my performance even when I properly prepared and studied the material.

I did not feel capable of seeking formal help and lacked the resources or knowledge of how to advocate for myself academically. The following year, recognizing the impact these circumstances had on my education, I decided it was important to perform a psychological assessment and was able to register for academic accommodations.

These circumstances directly impacted my performance in the following courses:

- STAT 263, Winter 2022: Due to ongoing health issues during this term, I experienced persistent cognitive fatigue and difficulty focusing, which negatively impacted my ability to grasp course content and prepare for assessments.

- CHEM 282, Winter 2022: Emotional stress and fatigue caused me to fall behind and miss key components of the course.

- CHEM 281, Summer 2022: My mental health declined significantly during this time, and I was unable to manage the accelerated pace of the course.

- PSYC 100, Summer 2022: I had difficulty keeping up with material and performing on assessments due to ongoing emotional distress.

- PHYS 115, Fall 2022: Although I tried to regain academic focus, I continued to face instability that affected my ability to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

- ANAT 312, Fall 2022: My cognitive functioning and retention were affected, making it challenging to succeed in a demanding upper-year course.

- PHYS 116, Winter 2023: While I had begun seeking support, I was still without accommodations and experienced significant anxiety, particularly during exam periods.


While I recognize that some time has passed since these terms, I have since taken significant steps to address these issues, including receiving proper care and registering for academic accommodations. My academic performance has steadily improved as a result, and I am now a much healthier person and in a better position to successfully complete my studies.

I have included documentation to support the timeline and nature of the circumstances described above. I respectfully request that the committee consider Credit Standing (CR) or another form of academic relief for the affected courses where appropriate.

Thank you for considering my petition. I am grateful for the opportunity to complete my education at Queens with high integrity and appreciate your understanding of the challenges I faced during these earlier terms.

Sincerely,
Thalia Sousa-Walsh
20237624
20etsw@queensu.ca