Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom it May Concern:

Last semester I experienced a major depressive episode that began the second week of classes of September, after failing a placement test for the second year CISC courses. This prevented me from going to my classes. It got even worse at the beginning of November when a personal family problem occurred.

Around the 2nd week of November, when the midterms of BCHM315 was taking place, I realized there was absolutely no way for me to catch up in the course anymore even if I did have the energy to do so. In my other courses I believe I was doing okay, as CISC220 had video lectures and on days when I felt somewhat okay I watched them, and CISC102 was less than ideal, but I was passing the quizzes, for the most part. I forced myself to go into my labs in BCHM317 every week because otherwise I'd fail, and it was okay because I got to talk to people and it took my mind off of things.

I ended up talking to the course coordinator for BCHM315, Dr. Steven Smith, about dropping it, and he told me that I could hold off on the course. I also talked with a councilor at LaSalle to try to make myself to feel better. A week later, my parents got a phone call from my doctor, who received the results from my tri-monthly blood tests and they were told that I have hypothyroidism. I am now on medication for this, and it appears to be likely that it was the main source of my depression. I feel well for the most part now, which is surprising as I have been depressed for the majority of my life (Last semester was the absolute worst it has ever been).

I spoke with Dr. Smith recently about what I should do with BCHM315, because I am still planning on taking it as it is required for my major. Dropping the class and taking it next semester appeared to be the best course of option.

Thank you for considering my appeal and I hope for the best.
Vivian Ren