Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associates Dean,

My name is Justin Veri and I am a Bachelor of Music student here at Queen¿¿s. It is my request to appeal a course from the 2017 winter term. I am aware that the deadline to drop the course is past due. Consequently I want to appeal the deadline with the intention of dropping the course off my transcript.
Due to extenuating medical circumstances, from April to August, a deferral was granted to me for all course work in the past term. I was under a lot of stress last April and was hospitalized just before exams due to mental health reasons. Due to this unexpected turn of events, I had to drop out of everything I was involved in with little notice. After the incident in April I was hospitalized two more times throughout the summer. Once I was out of the hospital I was able to communicate with my professors in order to discuss a plan to finish up each course. Most of the remaining tasks that needed completing seemed manageable yet, work that included academic research and writing, were near impossible due the side effects of my prescription drugs. With the state of my health I was unable to successfully complete an essay in my music history course (musc205). Consequently this caused me to fail the course.
The deadline for the deferral was late August and I was not aware of the appeal process until this month. Given that the term of winter 2017 is over, the deadline to drop this course is no longer applicable.
While managing my mental health, the primary focus was to heal and forgo the stress of deadlines. In April, my normal functioning was completely impaired and it effected all aspects of my studies. It was decided that I needed on going professional help and medication in order to get me back on my feet. When I got out of the hospital I began attending regular psychotherapy and psychiatric appointments along with group therapy. It is definitely helping and I am slowly returning to regular day to day tasks and finally able to address these concerns that I am sharing with you now regarding my academic status.
Recently, my doctors and therapists have decided it is necessary for me to go to a specific residential program which will help with the continuum of issues related to my mental health. The goal is to keep me from relapsing. The program lasts six weeks and it is highly recommended that I go as soon as possible. What this means is that I am forced to take a leave of absence from my fourth year of studies at Queen¿¿s, September 2017. Completing the mental health program this fall will hopefully ensure my full recovery by next September. After the program I will obtain a full time job to assist in the financing of my education. While working, I will also be investing time in my musical practice. Throughout the year I will be receiving on-going therapy and learning new personal wellness skills. I believe that this focus will alleviate current stressors and hold me in good stead for next September.
It is my hope to have a clean slate on my transcript before attending school next fall. The course I wish to drop is a compulsory course for the program. Upon my return to Queen¿¿s, my intention is to repeat this history course in order to satisfactorily fulfill the requirements of my degree. With this plan of action, I am confident in sustaining my mental health for the future and successfully completing my education.

Thank you for your consideration, ¿¿¿¿Justin Veri
Student : 10155179