Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Board of studies,

Thank you in advance for considering this appeal.

As a way of introduction, I am a third year Queens Science student, majoring in Biology and am also the starting running back for the Gaels football team.

I am currently writing an appeal regarding three separate issues that relate to my 2016/17 second academic year. Firstly, I am asking for a credit standing in BIO 243 and CHEM 281 from the fall of 2016. As well I am appealing for a late drop of CHEM 282 from winter 2017.

During the spring and summer of 2015, prior to my first semester at Queens university, I was diagnosed with clinical depression and anxiety. Hopelessness, lack of focus, insomnia, worthlessness and anxiety have coloured my university experience, and affected my ability to perform on all levels.

Despite treatment, including counselling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication, I became more unwell, following two critical events during the summer and fall of 2016. This further reduced my ability to concentrate, study and manage my course load.

The first of these events involved a suicide within my friend group; it occurred during the summer of 2016, affecting my first semester. The second event was the end of a five year relationship with my girlfriend; this happened over the Christmas break, affecting my second semester. Already stressed, under confident and depressed, my school work suffered further.

As a varsity athlete, I was also trying to balance my athletic schedule, but did not want to stop playing football as I was worried about eliminating something that actually gave me joy during a very difficult time. My coaches were equally concerned as I occasionally missed practice and lacked focus. I was lucky that they continued to support me.

In the fall of 2016, as I began struggling in BIO 243 and CHEM 281, I went to see an accessibility services advisor, Jason Harris, from the Student Wellness Centre. Unfortunately it was too late to significantly help with exams. My final grades reflected this. For this reason Im asking for credit standing in these classes.

During the 2017 winter term, my physician, Dr Fulford, altered my antidepressant medications and added an anxiety medication in an attempt to help my illness. Additionally I saw both the athletic services coordinator, Sara Ali and a psychological counsellor through student services. I was able to get some accommodations, not available during my previous term, but accommodations such as note taking were not available in CHEM 282. Ultimately, I chose to drop BIOL 206 from my course load but kept organic chemistry after a few visits to the academic advisor. I hoped my grades would increase with the reduced work load. Unfortunately despite my best efforts at the time I failed chemistry 282. I am currently enrolled to repeat this class in the upcoming semester with a lab exemption. I would appreciate having my failing grade removed from my transcript as I am hoping to significantly improve my mark this semester.

I am feeling much better now and my outlook for the future has significantly improved. I have since put in place a support system which I hope will allow me both academic and athletic success in the future. This includes ongoing help from an academic advisor, an accessibility services advisor, a counsellor and multiple tutors. This support has already started to improve my grades, as reflected by my fall 2017 marks. I aspire to go on to complete a post graduate degree and ultimately attend medical school.

Thank you again for considering my requests.

Yours respectfully,

Jacob Puskas
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