Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: I am submitting this petition to request retroactive Credit Standing (CR) for COMM 221/621– Introduction to Finance for the Fall 2025 term on medical and compassionate grounds.
This request arises from significant and ongoing circumstances that affected my academic performance throughout the entire semester and prevented me from being able to seek appropriate academic accommodations within the standard timelines.
In September, one of my closest friends all throughout my four years here and a fellow Queen’s University student, Alexandra Mitha (Nursing), passed away suddenly. This loss had a profound impact on my mental health and marked a clear escalation in symptoms of anxiety and insomnia that persisted for the remainder of the term. Following her death, I was left alone in Kingston without a proper support system to help me through these difficult times given that my other friends had already graduated. I isolated myself and experienced severe and continuous anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and impaired concentration, which substantially affected my ability to perform academically despite completing the course requirements.
At the time, I was struggling to function day-to-day and was not in a position to navigate administrative processes or seek medical documentation promptly. As a result, I was unable to apply for Academic Consideration or elect Credit Standing before the applicable deadlines. I now recognize that this delay was directly related to the same medical circumstances for which I am seeking consideration. I am currently in the process of seeking retroactive Academic Consideration for the Fall term, supported by newly obtained medical documentation. I emailed the team this morning.
I have since obtained medical documentation confirming my anxiety and related symptoms during the affected period and have begun appropriate treatment (Antidepressants). This documentation reflects the ongoing nature of my condition throughout the Fall term.
I am not disputing the academic standards or evaluation of the course, nor am I seeking a grade change. Rather, I am requesting Credit Standing as a fair and proportionate accommodation, as my final grade does not accurately reflect my academic abilities under normal circumstances. As this was my final semester, the outcome of this course has significant implications for my academic record and ongoing graduate school applications.
I am currently preparing applications for graduate programs in International Relations, an area in which I have clear academic and professional ambitions. The presence of this grade, which was substantially shaped by circumstances beyond my control, has created significant concern about the competitiveness of my application and has made the application process itself deeply discouraging. I am seeking Credit Standing not to avoid academic accountability, but to ensure that my transcript does not misrepresent my academic capacity during a period of documented medical and compassionate difficulty.
I would also like to note that Professor Kaitie Jourdeuil was aware of my situation during the semester and was exceptionally understanding and accommodating within her course. Should further context be required, she may be able to speak to my circumstances and academic engagement during this period.
Given the documented medical and compassionate circumstances, the term-long impact on my academic functioning, and the fact that I could not reasonably act within standard timelines, I respectfully request that retroactive Credit Standing be granted for this course.
Thank you for your time and consideration.