Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: October 1, 2025


Dr. Dorit Naaman
Associate Dean (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University

Subject: Petition Request for Late Drop of Course

Dear Dr. Naaman,

I am writing to request a late drop of CLST 205 – Ancient Humour, which I took online during the Summer 2025 term.

Request

I am asking for permission to remove CLST 205 from my academic record. I was not able to finish most of the course because of unexpected mental health challenges, and I don’t feel that my performance in the class reflects what I am capable of as a student.

Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances

When I returned home after finishing my first year at Queen’s, I experienced a significant decline in my mental health. This was not something I anticipated, and it quickly became overwhelming. What started as a difficult adjustment after leaving residence turned into a period of severe stress, anxiety, and low mood that affected my daily functioning. These challenges were extenuating circumstances well beyond my control, and they directly interfered with my ability to manage my academics during the summer.

Although I enrolled in CLST 205 intending to stay productive, I was unable to maintain a study routine or complete assignments. Even basic tasks, such as logging into the course website, often felt overwhelming. I completed the final project with an 81% but could not submit other assignments. Because of this, my work in the course is not an accurate reflection of my effort, ability, or potential.

I did not withdraw from the course earlier because I truly believed I could recover and catch up. I kept waiting for my situation to improve, but it continued to get worse. By the time I realized I could not manage the workload, the withdrawal deadline had already passed.

Eventually, I sought help from my doctor and a registered counsellor. They confirmed that my mental health difficulties were serious and required treatment. Their support helped me take steps to stabilize my health, but unfortunately, these steps came too late to allow me to succeed in the course. I have attached a physician’s note to confirm the care I was receiving during this time.

Future Plan

Since the summer, I have continued to work with my doctor and counsellor and now have proper treatment and support in place. I’ve learned strategies for managing my health, and I’ve been able to regain structure and focus in my daily life. Moving forward, I plan to be more proactive in asking for help early, whether through Accessibility Services or directly with my instructors, if I find myself struggling again. I also plan to manage my course load carefully so I don’t put myself under unnecessary strain.

These changes give me confidence that I can succeed in future courses.

Conclusion

For these reasons, I respectfully request approval to late drop CLST 205. My circumstances during the summer were significant, unforeseen, and beyond my control, and they had a direct and negative effect on my ability to succeed in the course. Removing it from my record would allow me to move forward in my studies with a fairer representation of my academic ability.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Sincerely,

Charlie McConville
Student ID: 20459087
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University