Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Part I: The Request

I am firstly appealing to the university to grant a late drop of HIST 209 (Winter, 2012) PHIL 271 (Winter, 2013), HIST 224 (Winter, 2013), GNDS 428 (Fall, 2013), and ENGL 237 (Winter, 2014) from my academic transcript. I am also appealing for aegrotat standing in ENGL 259 (Winter, 2016).

Part II: Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances

During my time at Queen¿¿s University, I have been in constant care for major depressive disorder. The care I receive has been largely effective at managing my mood and helping me maintain my academic commitments over the years. I often needed to request accommodations from professors in regards to assignments, for which I would obtain a Verification of Illness form from Health, Counselling and Disability Services; I have included copies of these forms here as supporting documents with my request to have my appeal heard after the 21-day deadline.
My documentation demonstrates that I have a history of my academic performance being considerably affected by my mental illness. This condition was out of my control, despite my best efforts to seek and follow medical help. I took advantage of medical aid offered through university services, having regular appointments with doctors to monitor my medication and on-going treatment with a personal counsellor. Part of my treatment was addressing my persistent suicidal thoughts, which affected my daily motivation and diminished what value I had for my education and myself.
Stress aggravated the severity of my illness and this grew with the prospect of completing my undergraduate studies. In the final semester of my fourth year (winter, 2013), I developed a great deal of anxiety about graduation and what would come after it. My illness sabotaged me from participating in my classes and completing my course work. My fear also prevented me from speaking to my professors; I was unable to articulate my trouble at the time and torn about what to do.
Even as I made arrangements to return to Kingston in the fall of 2013 and register for classes, my illness and shame that I felt attached to my failings prevented me from being able to address this matter. I had my doubts about returning to classes, that I did not feel prepared to succeed in another attempt at my studies, but was pressured by my parents to return immediately and ¿¿just do it¿. However, I continued to be plagued by the exact same mental obstacles in addition to a mounting guilt for not appealing my academics from the previous semester. This situation quickly became a source of great depression for me and made it impossible for me to succeed academically. I sought solace in employment, removed from my academic pressures. Once again pressured by my parents that I must return to my studies, I attempted once more in Winter 2014 to register for an online class to complete some of my requirements. This was not my wish as my depression was presenting me with great difficulty, it took everything I had just to maintain my performance at my employment, which did not have near the amount of challenge my academics did. It was a last minute decision during the add/drop period and one that I regret as I was completely unprepared to follow through on that commitment.
Over the last year I have seen a psychiatrist and undergone new medication to aid with my mood. This aided me in taking on classes this past semester to complete my degree requirements. However, I still required extensions to accommodate my mood disorder and I previously included documentation from my doctor stating this need. After receiving extensions on assignments for ENGL 259, I have completed 60 of the course work including the exam and my professor has supported my request for Aegrotat standing.

Part III: Future Plan

If my appeal is granted, I will have met my requirements to graduate with my Bachelor of Arts (Honours). I will apply to graduation in the Fall 2016. I also continue to have the support of my psychiatrist here in Kingston to help me manage my depression and anxiety.