Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Faculty of Arts and Science Petitions Committee,
My name is Clarke Smith, and I am a fourth-year undergraduate student in Gender Studies within the Faculty of Arts and Science. I am writing to formally submit this appeal to request permission to enroll in the courses I require for this semester, despite having missed the add/drop deadline by one day. I fully understand the importance of academic deadlines and do not take this request lightly. I am submitting this appeal due to significant extenuating circumstances related to ongoing mental health challenges and complications arising from prescribed ADHD medication, which directly impacted my ability to manage registration, academic tasks, and daily functioning during this period.
I have a formal diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Combined Presentation, meaning I experience a high level of both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms. I am prepared to attach official medical documentation confirming this diagnosis as supporting evidence. Over the past several months, I have been navigating substantial difficulties related to my ADHD treatment. Last semester, my previous medication (Concerta) caused severe side effects, including loss of appetite, recurrent fainting episodes on campus, nausea, vomiting, digestive distress, insomnia, heightened anxiety, panic attacks, and persistent depressive symptoms. These effects significantly disrupted my academic performance and overall well-being and ultimately led me to seek further medical intervention.
Two weeks ago, after consulting with my doctor, my medication was changed from Concerta to Vyvanse in an effort to improve my health and academic functioning. While this change was medically necessary, I was advised that my body would need time to adjust and that side effects such as appetite suppression, insomnia, dizziness, and executive dysfunction could temporarily worsen. During this adjustment period, I experienced ongoing insomnia (often unable to sleep until 5–6 a.m.), resulting in sleeping through much of the day, frequent nausea, episodes of faintness due to difficulty eating, and intensified ADHD paralysis that made initiating and completing essential tasks—such as course registration—extremely difficult. It was during this time that I mistakenly believed I had successfully registered for my courses and only realized, one day after the add/drop deadline, that I was not enrolled in any of the required classes for my program, except for one elective course.
I want to emphasize that I am taking active steps to improve my health and academic stability. The medication change was made specifically so that I could perform better this semester, and I have also begun the process of talk therapy, with my first appointment scheduled for next week. In addition, I plan to meet with an academic advisor at the first available opportunity, this upcoming Monday, to review my program requirements and ensure that I am enrolling in the appropriate courses moving forward. I am deeply committed to my studies and to completing my degree successfully, and I am requesting this consideration not to avoid responsibility, but because my circumstances temporarily limited my capacity to function at my usual academic level.
I respectfully ask for the opportunity to enroll in the courses I need this semester so that I may continue my program of study without further disruption. Being granted this appeal would allow me to move forward with improved medical support, academic focus, and stability. Thank you very much for taking the time to review my petition and supporting materials. I sincerely appreciate your consideration and understanding.
Sincerely,
Clarke Smith
Fourth-Year Undergraduate Student
Gender Studies
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University