Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean of Studies,

I am writing this letter of appeal to review the honours degree sanction that was placed on my transcript. I hope to achieve this by having two of my winter 2017 grades re-evaluated and awarded as a pass or as a credit standing grade. I would also like to appeal to have my summer 2017 CHEM 281 course late dropped. I understand that I did not meet the requirements to maintain an average of 1.90 to avoid the honours degree sanction; however, I am now presenting the circumstances as to why I did not. It was beyond my control as to why my academic performance had not met the required standards. Late in the winter 2017 semester, I was finally mentally and intellectually evaluated as I was struggling during my entire academic duration at Queen¿¿s. I soon found out that I was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. These two tests were the only diagnoses that were announced, as it was mainly an academic focused assessment.

For the past six to seven years that I have been with Queen¿¿s, I have experienced a wide spectrum of circumstances that have either become more aggravated over the course of my stay with Queen¿¿s or more strained over the course of my personal life. On occasion, I suffer from severe migraines from lack of sleep and stress, which makes studying and sleeping very difficult. During peak periods of the semester and during exams, I suffer from insomnia, panic attacks in my sleep due to academic pressures, and lack of appetite. At best, I would function with two to four hours of uninterrupted sleep and one meal a day. I found it difficult to work full time, providing at-home care for my mentally challenged siblings, all while and trying not to overcompensate for my lack of academic security. My unhealthy sleeping and eating habits caused me to suffer from extreme bouts of depression and aggravated anxiety.

When I received notice of my assessment, I contacted accessibility services right away to best plan how to complete the academic semester with as little emotionally caused setbacks as possible. I¿¿ve been working over the course of the summer and a little of the end of my winter term with an accessibility services worker, Tess Grant. I have also been in periodic contact throughout the course of my academic duration with the academic advisors Jane Mullins and Spring Forsberg. I searched for services available on campus to help deal with the fear of being on academic probation, to help with dealing with the fear of being forced to withdraw for three years, as well as to help deal with the irrational stresses and compulsive urges to perfect all that I do. In my attempts to increase my CGPA, I honed my compulsive organization skills more on the planning of how to execute a higher GPA, rather than effectively accomplishing a higher CGPA. In my efforts to try to keep up with my own academic standards, I lost sight of my own physical and mental health.

The specific extenuating circumstances I wish to address for the winter 2017 PGHY 210 and MATH 121 courses are as follows: I received aid from accessibility services late in the academic term, as I was on a long waiting list for psychological and intellectual assessment. Thus, I missed the deadline for my MATH 121 exam memory aid. I performed well throughout the course assignments, but tested unsatisfactory on the midterm and the overall 60 final exams. I have a very poor working memory, which I require an aid in studying course materials so that it remains present in my long-term memory. As for my PGHY 210 exam, I had to write my exam a day early to meet my arranged exam accommodations. I prepared myself mentally and emotionally to write a day ahead (Monday April 24th) of my scheduled peers to avoid the larger exam environment. I arrived at my exam, only to find out that my proctor forgot my exam at her house. I contacted Susan Earle from distance and continuing studies to have the exam rescheduled for a later date. However, I took off time from work for the exam dates I was given. I was unable to meet the rescheduled exam time of Wednesday April 27th, 2017 after work due to a family emergency. The exam was further pushed back to the morning of Saturday April 29th, 2017. I did not study between the extended exam period, nor did I sleep any better knowing I had to write it later than expected. Writing later than expected forced me to have to write my exam at my proctor¿¿s home, an unfamiliar and uncomfortable experience. Also, having to recall information I have not reviewed for almost a week had me troubled enough in my unknown environment. I rushed the exam just so I could exit the proctors home, I was uncomfortable writing there, but found myself persuaded into it by the said fact that it was safe, and that other students have written there before.

As for CHEM 281, I was warned that I was taking too many units for the summer term. I tried to take the final credits needed to complete my online science degree, as they were only offered in the summer terms. I ended up dropping PHYS 118, PHAR 270 and CHEM 285 to avoid jeopardizing my CGPA any further. However, I kept CHEM 281 with the hopes of boosting my GPA. Chemistry is one of my best courses on my transcript. I¿¿m requesting to late drop the course because I had family interferences that caused me to miss a few of deadlines due to court date meetings and reoccurring police involvement. When I sought an extension from my professor, it was declined and I was told that regardless of whatever extenuating circumstances arose, I had enough time to conduct all the assignments. I live in a household that has one of two parents and three siblings, suffering from mental illnesses or disorders. At times, it can be mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. I concluded that trying to collect myself over the past couple of months, I needed a break. I have not taken an academic break since my academic withdrawal in 2013 and thus decided to take the break to tend to my mental health, to better prepare my mental stamina and coping mechanisms for the upcoming fall semester. I have reached out to receive private counselling and behavioural therapy.

Should this appeal be granted, my plan would be to continue to receive both academic and psychological counseling. I would continue to speak with academic advisors to figure out my options, my goals, and methods of achieving them. I will continue to seek help for all other matters related to my anxiety and mental health. I will continue my academic tutoring to help me edit or review my work, and to ensure that I am fully understanding all that I am being taught. Instead of taking five courses a semester, I will take on three at a time. If necessary, I would be willing to become a part time student so that I can focus on my studies more attentively and on my individual and family issues as well. Before returning in the fall, if accepted, I would devise a plan with the counselors to work out a routine or plan that works best for me, to help me succeed, and to remain in school until I complete and attain my much-needed diploma.


Thank you,

Samantha Atkinson