Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Dorit Naaman,

My name is Alex Bullen, and I am in the fourth and final year of my undergraduate degree (Joint Honours in Political Studies and Sociology) at Queen’s University. I am writing to request “Credit Standing” for POLS 318 (Fall 2024), POLS 350 (Winter 2025), and SOCY 304 (Winter 2025), as well as a “Late Drop” for POLS 313 (Fall 2024), and ENGL 223 (Winter 2025).

This request arises from extenuating circumstances related to an undiagnosed disability, ADHD (inattentive), and the difficulties I experienced before receiving formal assessment, treatment, and accommodations in February-March of this year. Before that point, I struggled to no end with task initiation, time management, and emotional regulation, and these challenges became progressively more intense.

In my first year, I passed all courses but regularly lost participation marks and submitted assignments late, despite putting effort into producing strong work. Despite feeling capable, I struggled to manage my personal and academic responsibilities most days and burned out quickly. In second year (Fall of 2023), the strategies I had used to cope previously were no longer successful, and I relied on my professors’ patience to narrowly pass several courses. I ended up failing my first course (POLS 212). I had begun therapy/counselling to try to develop new skills. This effort was insufficient, and entering my third year, I was as exhausted, discouraged, and frustrated with myself as ever.

In my third year (Fall 2024), these difficulties had peaked. I experienced debilitating task paralysis, irregular sleep due to poor deadline management, and a prolonged period of emotional volatility. I had been on the waitlist for an assessment for several months and was attempting to gain my parents’ support to do a psychiatric evaluation, as talk therapy alone was not making improvements. During early November 2024, I was also the primary responder to a traumatic incident involving a roommate - a terrifying event that compounded existing challenges and accelerated my withdrawal from both academic and social life. As exams and incomplete assignments accumulated, I worked intensely through December. The courses I had prioritized received Bs, and due to my inability to attend in-class and perform for the others, I received a C for POLS 318 and failed POLS 313.

In Winter 2025, after eight months on the waitlist, I received a psychiatric evaluation and was formally diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive). I began combination treatment, counselling and medication, which has changed my life for the better. I had always felt capable, but with a targeted treatment and, as of mid-March, formal QSAS accommodations, I saw immense improvements. For the first time in about a decade, I had stability, structure, and support. As I was adjusting to new treatment and had about a month to use my QSAS accommodations, I continued to have issues with managing on several courses simultaneously.

I am requesting Credit Standing for POLS 318, POLS 350, and SOCY 304 because they do not accurately reflect my academic ability or my performance once adequately supported. Despite experiencing my most severe symptoms in Fall 2024, I still earned three Bs. After beginning treatment in Winter 2025, I earned three A- grades. I consistently showed that I could perform well, though I was unequipped to manage more than three courses at this level. These results indicate that my academic challenges were connected to living with untreated ADHD, not my lack of effort or capability.

I am requesting a late drop for POLS 313 and ENGL 223, as these failures represent the worst impact of my mental health challenges on my academic performance. The Fs symbolize a lack of effort and a failure to learn, which could not be further from the reality of my efforts. To me, these failures signify the point at which I was overwhelmed, unsupported, and unable to manage a full course load without a diagnosis or accommodations. Since February, I have progressively regained control of my life to where I am now managing a full course load and can say for the first time in a long time, I am proud of my performance this term.

Until this academic year, I had severely lacked motivation, confidence, and recognition for my neurological difference, and it negatively impacted every facet of my life. As my final Fall term at Queen’s ends, I am grateful to say that I have experienced dramatic changes as a student that I once believed impossible: the daily volatility that I used to anticipate has been replaced with balance. For these reasons, I respectfully ask that my requests for Credit Standing and Late Drops be granted so that my transcript accurately reflects both my effort, and the unique circumstances of my challenges.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Alex Bullen