Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dr. Dorit Naaman
Associate Dean, Academic
Dunning Hall
Queen’s University
artsci.naaman@queensu.ca

Dear Dr. Naaman,

I am writing to petition for academic consideration to drop courses past the official course drop dates
and for which I received a failing grade (the courses are listed below).

Please know that I do not take this request lightly and I do not see this process as a way out of bad
marks.

In 2018, I experienced a traumatic, personal incident involving violation of my safety. For several years I
ignored what happened but the impacts were significant both academically and personally. As a result, I
was dealing with serious mental health challenges, including symptoms of depression and post-traumatic
stress, which contributed to my erratic academic performance. This was coupled with ongoing issues
with previously diagnosed ADHD, for which I had also failed to seek support.

This past year, I sought medical help, counselling, and ADHD coaching to address the issues I had ignored
for so long. While seeking this help, I also made the deliberate effort to remain engaged and productive
and volunteered in a residence for seniors living with significant physical and mental challenges, worked
with children in an inner-city art camp and worked evenings in a restaurant. As a result, I have
strengthened my ability to manage challenges effectively and I am confident that I have both the
foundation and motivation necessary for academic success and believe that going forward I can
significantly exceed the performance I had during my second semester of first year, where I completed all
5 courses for which I was registered.

Please see the attached letters from Dr. Siegi Schuler and Dr. Susan Brunt to support my petition.

The courses from the 2024/2025 academic year I would like to petition are:

Winter 2025
- ARTH 260
- ARTH 274
- HIST 109
- PHAR 100

Fall 2024
- HIST 299
- POLS 261

Thank you for your consideration, and please let me know if you require any additional information.

Sincerely,

Michael Selby
20278313