Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Jack T. Thompson 10198580
Kinesiology Class of 2019
61 Cherry Blossom Crescent, Courtice, ON, L1E1G6
(905) 447-8940 15jtt@queensu.ca
May 23rd, 2017

TO:
Dr. Johanne Bénard ¿¿ Associate Dean of Studies
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Queens University


Dear Associate Dean Bénard,

I have recently completed my second year at Queens and unfortunately find myself obligated to file my second academic appeal due to extenuated mental health complications. I am appealing to drop the following courses after the academic deadline: PSYC 100, HLTH 252, and ANAT 316. As stated in my first appeal, I suffer from anxiety-induced panic disorder and chronic depression. My first appeal was approved during the fall of 2016, and with lifestyle changes and professional help I was able to alleviate myself of the burden that is my mental illness. Unfortunately, mental illness is a difficult fight, one of which I have found increasingly difficult over the past 6 months. Once I began to feel better, I ceased my interactions with health professionals. As such, my symptoms began to worsen and worsen until I was back to my lowest again. I have found it very difficult to seek help in Kingston as I am not comfortable sharing my issues with those who I am unaccustomed to; although I realize that it is necessary in order to resolve my health issues.

I have visited the clinic local to my home in Courtice and spoken with a General Practitioner about the return of my symptoms. I have set up appointments with a therapist and life counsellor in Courtice. I will be making weekly visits to a therapist throughout the summer. I have also found a job that has shortened my weekly hours from 40 to 16 in order to allow myself more time to enjoy activities such as soccer that I have been unable to partake in for the past two years. I believe that this extra time off will give me ample time to focus on my well-being.

As far as my plan for the coming school year, I hope to transfer from Kinesiology to a Bachelor of Science (Honours) as I do not find Kinesiology interesting or personally engaging. I have tried to be in contact with an academic advisor however I have engagements with both my work and family that have kept me from being able to call and set up an appointment at 9am. I am currently enrolled in 2 summer courses in an attempt to salvage my GPA. With the approval of this current appeal, I would appeal to drop these courses after the academic deadline in order to allow myself to recover from my mental illness during the summer. I am also willing to take an additional year at Queens in order to lower my course load throughout the years. I am willing to take any actions deemed fit by the university in order to continue my studies at Queens without the damages done during my time struggling with my mental health.

I will supply the referral given to me by the general practitioner I spoke with as documentation. If required, I will also supply a note from the psychological health professional and/or counsellor that I will be in contact with throughout the summer, as well as any documentation received over the course of the following weeks as I will be seeing my family doctor when she returns from vacation.

Thank you for your consideration, it is sincerely appreciated.

Jack Thompson