Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Academic Appeal

Request:
Dear Dr. Jill Atkinson and Dr. Johanne Bernard Associate Deans of Arts & Science;
My name is Nicholas Irwin and my student I.D. is 10182184 for which I was enrolled in the Computer Science Program (Computing) in my first year during the academic year of 2015/2016. I would like to formally request for you to consider an appeal to waive the faculty¿¿s 21 day/one term deadline to which one can appeal for dropping courses for my entire academic year of 2015/2016. Please note I would like you to consider this appeal to waive the deadline for both fall and winter semesters of the 2015/2016 academic year.
Explanation:
My request for consideration of an appeal to the deadline to which one can appeal to drop courses is due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control that directly affected my academic performance, ability to perform activities of daily living, and my ability to appeal in the required deadline of both first semester and second semester of the academic year of 2015/2016. My extenuating circumstances were psychological challenges which severely affected my abilities to perform academic demands and meet any of the required deadlines for the entire academic year of 2015/2016. Please see both doctors¿¿ notes that I am presenting as medical documentation of my extenuating circumstances. Please note the reason why the doctor is not the same in both notes is because I turned 18 at which time my pediatrician then transferred me to an adult physician. I believe my living environment in residence contributed to some of my psychological challenges as I was only 17 years old when I left home to attend university. I did not turn 18 until November 20th. I was incapacitated and unable to function, attend classes, submit required assignments and meet any of the required deadlines for dropping courses as these challenges started September 14th, 2015. I was not mentally prepared for living on my own and for dealing with individuals of an all-boys residence. I do not feel that high school really prepared me for post-secondary education and what to expect during that time period. I became very withdrawn, experienced extreme anxiety and depression that just over whelmed me to the point I could not leave my dorm room rarely. I lost weight, did not shower and had lost all interest in my hobbies or socializing with any friends. All these psychological challenges were the extenuating circumstances combined that resulted in my ability to not be able to attend classes, poor academic performance and inability to meet all required deadlines for both fall and winter semesters.
I did see my pediatrician during the Christmas break to discuss medication for anxiety and depression. I was started on the medication and then immediately transferred and told I had to find an adult physician as I had turned 18 years old. Brockville at the time did not have an abundance of physicians that were accepting new patients and my pediatrician would no longer agree to see me anymore. The medication did not help me and I continued to have issues upon my return to school for the winter semester. There were no physicians in Brockville that would take on new patients and we did not have open clinics where people who had no physician could attend. I felt if only I could give the medication a longer period of time that it would begin to work but I was wrong as it did not work. In my second semester I did see a counselor a few times to just talk and an advisor to talk about how to do an appeal. I have ADHD and while I take medication for this I was unable to figure out strategies to benefit and meet the challenges of university. I lack the focus, concentration skills, lacked ability to follow instructions and meet deadlines and was unable to submit an appeal as a result of these extenuating circumstances beyond my control.
Future Plan:
Please refer to my detailed academic plan that outlines my goals and objectives. I am very highly motivated to return to school after taking the required one year period off I am more mature now as well and I have had the last year to seek medical attention, become healthy again, pay back the money I owed queens on my account and realized the value of education.