Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear the Associate Dean - Studies

I am appealing to request credit standing for the course COMM 211, taken during the Fall term of 2015.

I am appealing because of my psychological problems during the 2015 fall semester which hindered me from completing COMM 211 to the best of my ability. My extenuating circumstances, anxiety related issues, began during the winter term of 2015 and somewhat hindered my ability to give presentations in class, however still allowing adequate ability. Through the summer, and compounding because of ill timed life events (recovery from surgery and a breakup), I began to be unable to partake in any social situations, eventually finding sitting in class to be an anxiety ridden experience. Through the term I tried many ways to overcome my anxiety, for a couple months eating as healthy as possible, working out most days and starting my day by 7:30 am. The anxiety still developed to be progressively worse, leading to a midterm in this course which I could not hold my train of thought at all and found it hard to develop simple ideas. I did well on certain portions on the midterm, until the anxiety was triggered, leading to an overall poor grade. Quizzes were not an issue, but in the midterm I could not remember much of what I had learnt. The term continued and I still did well on quizzes, however, once the final exam was reached I found the same issue. I could not form sentences, meaning I could not think through any ideas I had, and I was unable to remember large portions of what I had studied. I talked to the professor and she was responsive, however there was not much that could be done.

During the period of taking COMM 211 (fall 2015) I was also enrolled in two fourth year political science courses and one first year pharmacology course. The two political science courses caused a large amount of anxiety, and although they were extended at the end of the term, I am still unable to work to the best of my ability so I am going to be dropping them for these same issues. The first year pharmacology course I was able to get through, being a distance course many aspects were much easier to me, but writing the final exam in the array of students I think I could have done much better had I not had my issues.

After the fall term I was originally planning to drop courses for this winter 2016 term, however I thought if I tried to push through, it would get better. I dropped a heavily involved politics course in the beginning of the term, but later on was able to garner the strength to make it through an hour long presentation in another politics course, a feat I am proud of being the first and only successful presentation I have had this 4th year of study. I am currently working on personal cognitive behavior therapy as well as physiotherapy for my shoulder surgery and torn ligament in my knee in order to attempt to gain control of my anxiety. Since being less caught up on my anxiety and attempting to move past it rather than through it I have found that there has been some improvement. I am currently typing this letter in a library full of people, a situation that gave me great anxiety only a couple months ago.

Thank you for your consideration,

Alex Wyatt

Also: the attached documentation was given to Professor Haglund originally, one of my political science professors, in the issue of the aforementioned two political science courses.