Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Sonal Gupta
1300 Leyton Avenue
Kingston, ON, K7P 2V5

15 October 2025

Queen’s University
Faculty of Arts and Science
94 University Avenue
Kingston, ON, K7L 3N9

To the Faculty of Arts and Science Associate Dean,

I am requesting HIST 282, IDIS 280, MUCS 104, NSCI 499, LISC 271, and REPD 473, taken during the 2021-2022 academic year, be reviewed under Section 1: Academic Petitions 1.5.2 - Petitioning a Deadline and be removed from my academic record for the following reasons.

In September 2018, I began my studies at Queen’s University in the Life Sciences program and with time and dedication, successfully completed 33.0 units in my first year, including BIOL 243 taken during the 2019 Summer term.

I was encouraged to continue the Life Sciences program in my second year however the 2019-2020 academic year came with unexpected challenges, including a sexual assault incident as an orientation week leader and the onset of COVID-19 lockdown measures. With the necessary support and guidance from family, peers, and health providers, I navigated these circumstances and earned an additional 30.0 units towards the completion of the program in April 2020.

From September 2020-April 2021, I completed another 30.0 units towards my degree requirements and was concurrently a primary caregiver for my father through a severe mental health condition. Due to my father’s reduced earnings at the time and my sense of responsibility to support the domestic response to COVID-19, I joined the military reserves in April 2021.

In September 2021, I began my fourth year of undergraduate studies with 27.0 units to complete. I enrolled in HIST 282, IDIS 280, MUSC 104 and NSCI 499 in the Fall term, and LISC 271, REPD 473, and ANAT 417 in the Winter term. During this time, I had started training with the military on the evenings and weekends and was experiencing significant difficulty managing a full-time course load. Given how unfamiliar I was with the military system, I felt disempowered to prioritize my academics and obligated to participate in military training. I failed 27.0/30.0 units taken during the 2021-2022 academic year and only passed ANAT 417 over the Summer term with additional time for final assessments.

The cumulative effect of the pandemic, family health concerns, financial stress, incomplete schoolwork, and military service, led to bouts of mental, physical, and emotional impairment and caused me to access support from Student Wellness Services, Orange Neurosciences, and Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) - Addictions and Mental Health Services.
The academic appeal documentation and short-term accommodation form provided by Student Wellness Services indicate September 2021 as the date of onset for an unexpected illness/issue, October 2021 as the date I started receiving care, and May 2022 as the date I was approved for accommodations over the 2021-2022 academic year. The cognitive assessment reports and record of counselling from Orange Neurosciences, generated May 2023 to December 2024, document the duration of treatment and counselling services I accessed over the subsequent two years to address academic challenges and complete the necessary coursework to fulfill an undergraduate degree. The wellness and support plan provided by KFL&A Addictions and Mental Health Services reinforces the care I received in 2024 to overcome barriers to learning and improve my health. Finally, the memorandum provided documents correspondence with my employers, stating my exemption from military training to guarantee completion of studies at Queen’s University.

From Winter 2023 to Fall 2024, I completed the remaining 24.0 units in ANAT 409, DDHT 460, MICR 461, NSCI 324, PHGY 355, GLPH 271, ANAT 391, and GLPH 471, to earn enough credits for the Life Sciences program. The health challenges I was experiencing persisted for over 4 years and delayed the completion of these courses and submission of this letter beyond the 1-year deadline. I continue to seek mental health support for my overall wellbeing as I notice an improvement in my performance and ability to communicate with family, friends, peers, and employers. Next semester, I am interested in reapplying for the LISC 595 independent study with the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Carpenter to continue a fourth-year global health study on food security. I was advised by the Life Sciences and Biochemistry Office to request this petition and follow up with a course application for LISC 595.

In summary, I am requesting to waive the 1-year petition deadline and late course drop HIST 282, IDIS 280, MUCS 104, NSCI 499, LISC 271 and REPD 473 taken during the 2021-2022 academic year. I acknowledge the circumstances that led to the incompletion of these courses and despite my best efforts, why I was unable to meet course expectations. I am fortunate to have grown from this experience and greatly appreciate the support I received from my professors, peers, and academic advisors to feel empowered on this journey and confidently pursue post-graduate studies.

Sincerely,

Sonal
20102055
17stg1@queensu.ca