Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To: Associate Dean (Academic)
From: Yuanyuan Zhai
Student Number: 20365522
Program: BA (Economics)
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to formally petition for permission to late drop five courses from my first year at Queen’s University (2022-2023): MUSIC 104, MUSIC 105, SPAN 111, ECON 110A, and ECON 110B. In conjunction with this request, I am also asking for permission to waive the standard submission deadline for my petition to late drop courses from the 2022-2023 academic session.
I am requesting to drop these specific courses because my academic performance during my first year was severely compromised by a combination of debilitating mental health issues and medical complications. While I have recently achieved a significant academic turnaround, the grades from that period remain on my transcript, inaccurately reflecting my academic potential.
My difficulties began almost immediately upon starting my first year in September 2022. As an international student, I faced extreme isolation and stress which rapidly deteriorated my mental health. This situation was compounded in October 2022 when I contracted COVID-19 and was forced to isolate alone. The physical toll of the virus, combined with my existing vulnerability, triggered a downward spiral in my daily functioning. Following the infection, I suffered from