Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: August 23, 2016

Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

I am appealing to drop the courses GNDS 280, SOCY 227, SOCY 276 and DRAM 211 past the academic deadline. All of these courses were from the winter term of 2016.

I was dealing with undiagnosed bipolar disorder over the course of the 2015-2016 academic year which directly impacted my academic studies on numerous occasions. Being undiagnosed left me unable to emotionally handle the stresses of my course load and I ultimately failed all of my classes. Being undiagnosed and in a manic state also left me unaware that there was anything wrong with the way I was behaving and unwilling to reach out for help. During the winter semester my health declined drastically and I stopped eating and was sleeping a maximum of one night every three days. At this point I was forced into a medical appointment and treatment, where I was started on a medication which made me physically ill and impaired my thinking. Throughout this time I was not only incapable of staying on top of my course work, but I was also struggling to focus enough to even appeal my classes. This was an extremely difficult time for me, and my fluctuating mental health combined with my body adjusting to new medications rendered me unable to perform to my fullest ability in my courses.

Due to my continued struggles with my mental health, I am planning on taking a reduced course load for my remaining time at Queen's. This upcoming academic year, I will only be enrolling in three courses for the first 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 few months, which I will continue to receive throughout the 2016/2017 academic year. I will also continue to be monitored regularly by the Queen's Student Health team consisting of a medical doctor, a counsellor and a psychiatrist.

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 believe I will be able to keep my academics from falling behind in my future classes. Thank you for taking the time to review my appeal.

Sincerely,

Hailey Wilkinson
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