Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13394
Submitted: July 8, 2025 at 5:53:30 PM
First Name: Gillian
Last Name: Snider
Pronoun: She/Her
Preferred Name: Gill
Student Number: 20409216
Email: 22xcpk@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: GNDS and HIST
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GNDS 215
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: HIST 207
Term: Winter
Year: 2025
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: July 6th, 2025
Dear Associate Dean, my name is Gillian Snider and I will be going into third year this fall at Queen’s University. I am petitioning to have two courses from the Winter 2025 semester removed from my transcript. The courses in question are GNDS 215 and HIST 207.
I was unable to successfully complete these courses due to the following extenuating circumstances, I suffer from multiple mental illnesses that can greatly hinder my ability to function successfully on a day to day basis and to perform academically. I submitted details about my illnesses when first applying for my academic accommodations via the QSAS process. I have also submitted a recent off campus physician’s letter to provide more details about my mental state during the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 semester.
Due to my mental illnesses, colder seasons like fall and winter are difficult for me. During these seasons some of my symptoms such as visual and auditory hallucinations can be exasperated. I experience these symptoms every day which can impact my sleep as well as my motivation which in turn make it challenging for me to get my work done and meet deadlines.
Due to the strike during the Winter 2025 term I attempted a reduced course load and even with that it was difficult for me to participate normally as classes were cancelled and the professors and TAs were unavailable. I did the work for my classes but failed to submit it on time. I was unable to request my accommodation for additional time to submit my work due to the strike. The work kept piling up for me but I tried to preserve as best I could. As the strike continued, all of my professors and TAs were unavailable for correspondence. This led to me feeling lost, stuck, and unsure of what to do which exaggerated my anxiety and I was unable to submit my work. I almost completely shut down during finals season because I felt stuck in a repeating cycle as I failed most of my classes in the Fall 2024 semester.
In an attempt to cope with my mental health issues, I talk to family members and participate in regular therapy appointments while also taking my prescribed medications daily. While having these conversations with family or my therapist, we discuss ways to help me persevere, exercises to calm me down, and things to help improve my situation.
For future plans to help me succeed academically, I am going to continue to take a reduced course load as I started doing in the Winter 2025 semester. I am currently enrolled in three summer courses for the Spring 2025 semester, one being WRIT 125 that I mentioned in my previous petition. I am currently waiting on a referral for a psychiatrist to help me further with my mental health issues. My family and I are also considering the idea of taking a break from school to figure everything out so I can come back to my academic life with improved mental health.
I appreciate your consideration in this matter and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Gillian Snider
22XCPK@queensu.ca
20409216
Dear Associate Dean, my name is Gillian Snider and I will be going into third year this fall at Queen’s University. I am petitioning to have two courses from the Winter 2025 semester removed from my transcript. The courses in question are GNDS 215 and HIST 207.
I was unable to successfully complete these courses due to the following extenuating circumstances, I suffer from multiple mental illnesses that can greatly hinder my ability to function successfully on a day to day basis and to perform academically. I submitted details about my illnesses when first applying for my academic accommodations via the QSAS process. I have also submitted a recent off campus physician’s letter to provide more details about my mental state during the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 semester.
Due to my mental illnesses, colder seasons like fall and winter are difficult for me. During these seasons some of my symptoms such as visual and auditory hallucinations can be exasperated. I experience these symptoms every day which can impact my sleep as well as my motivation which in turn make it challenging for me to get my work done and meet deadlines.
Due to the strike during the Winter 2025 term I attempted a reduced course load and even with that it was difficult for me to participate normally as classes were cancelled and the professors and TAs were unavailable. I did the work for my classes but failed to submit it on time. I was unable to request my accommodation for additional time to submit my work due to the strike. The work kept piling up for me but I tried to preserve as best I could. As the strike continued, all of my professors and TAs were unavailable for correspondence. This led to me feeling lost, stuck, and unsure of what to do which exaggerated my anxiety and I was unable to submit my work. I almost completely shut down during finals season because I felt stuck in a repeating cycle as I failed most of my classes in the Fall 2024 semester.
In an attempt to cope with my mental health issues, I talk to family members and participate in regular therapy appointments while also taking my prescribed medications daily. While having these conversations with family or my therapist, we discuss ways to help me persevere, exercises to calm me down, and things to help improve my situation.
For future plans to help me succeed academically, I am going to continue to take a reduced course load as I started doing in the Winter 2025 semester. I am currently enrolled in three summer courses for the Spring 2025 semester, one being WRIT 125 that I mentioned in my previous petition. I am currently waiting on a referral for a psychiatrist to help me further with my mental health issues. My family and I are also considering the idea of taking a break from school to figure everything out so I can come back to my academic life with improved mental health.
I appreciate your consideration in this matter and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Gillian Snider
22XCPK@queensu.ca
20409216
Documentation
Professional Letter: Gillian Snider Off Campus Dr Note-0.pdf