Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To: Dr. Bénard
Re: Academic Appeal ¿¿ Amanda Cannella (Student 0621-0005)

a. The Request

I am requesting for the above changes to be reviewed for consideration.

b. Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances
For my adult life I have had a severe chronic pain disorder called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome which necessitates constant pain management. In my second year at Queen¿¿s I was put on a regimen of opiates to manage the pain which caused my academic success and mental health to, unfortunately, decline for several years as a side effect of their pain relief. This is reflected in the quickly degrading performance seen between my first and subsequent years in my transcript, up until the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 years. I believe that the difficulties of navigating my disability in general, and the specific and severe difficulties of effectively managing it without compromising my academic ability or quality of life, merits sincere consideration as regards my request for appeal.

With my disability accommodations, I was permitted to defer certain assignments beyond the due date(s) as it took a considerable amount of effort to complete assignments while I was under the influence of the opioid medications. Deferred assignments started impacting my ability to work on the courses I was later enrolled in, despite my best efforts to keep up. It took three years to complete the two term papers for ENGL 200, which, as it is a prerequisite for upper-year courses, was one of my primary concerns. It took this long largely due to the pain management regime interfering with my ability to work, as well as effecting my ability to make clear decisions regarding my academic affairs up until my position changed throughout the year of 2015.

I have since been focused on improving my academic standing through my coursework but have also been struggling psychologically with the enormity and unorthodox nature of this appeal. After two years of successful terms, this seemed like an opportune time to request such an extensive revision to my transcript, and I was hesitant to submit this appeal until I had proof of improvement.

I have attended psychiatric counselling regularly as well as a pain management specialist, as well as made every possible effort to speak to professors about extensions and other alternative arrangements, but freely admit that the effect of my pain regimen for much of my undergraduate career left me unable to work to my fullest ability.

c. Future Plan
As of the fall of 2015 I have transitioned successfully to a non-opioid pain management regimen which has left me feeling considerably better and able to successfully complete my degree. I have attained a 3.53 GPA for the 2016-2017 school year under a full disability course load, which represents a significant improvement over past years and is, I hope, indicative of my future progress. I have also met with Dr. Chris Bongie of the Department of English to evaluate my plan for degree completion with an English major, which is on track to be completed in time to graduate in Spring 2018. I hope that these improvements demonstrate both the efforts I have made so far and further solidifies the merits of my appeal.

Thank you very much for your time in considering my appeal.
Best,
Amanda Cannella