Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

I am appealing to drop the course HIST 243: The Crusades (Winter, 2016).

I have been suffering from severe mental illnesses over the past four years that have directly impacted my academic studies on numerous occasions. In an attempt to graduate on time, I enrolled myself in a full course load this academic year rather than the four classes per semester I had been taking throughout my time at Queen¿¿s. This proved to be too much to handle. During the winter semester my health declined drastically and though I tried to stay on top of my work, the combination of my declined health and the drastic changes in my medications rendered me unable to perform to my fullest ability in my courses. I am lucky to have majored in a small department where my professors know me on a personal level and I was able to work out alternative deadlines to assignments with them so my required courses were not affected by my decline in health. I am choosing to request to drop HIST 243: The Crusades because it was my elective and not a required course for my degree. Unfortunately, because it wasn't required, and under the circumstances, I was unable to become completely engaged in the class and instead had to dedicate as much focus and energy to my required courses as I possibly could.

Due to the fact that I was unable to take a full course load, I do not have the requirements to graduate this year (the end of my 4th academic year) and will therefore, be returning as a full-time student to Queen¿¿s University this coming academic year (2016/2017). I am confident after which, I will have the required credits to graduate. This upcoming academic year, I will only be enrolling in four courses per semester so I may be able to stay on top of my studies while continuing to deal with the daily challenges posed by my mental illness. I have been receiving regular counseling for the past three years, which I will continue to receive throughout the summer and 2016/2017 academic year. I will also continue to be monitored regularly by my psychiatrist, Dr. Simon O¿¿Brien.


I am confident that I will be academically successful for the remainder of my time at Queens University. With the help and support of medical professionals and through careful planning, I am certain I will achieve my degree. Thank you for taking the time to review my appeal.

Sincerely,

Felicia Myronyk
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