Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Jonathan Flamand
Student 10149767


Dear associate dean,

Following discussions with my academic advisor, I would like to kindly request to remove my grades from the previous academic year due to the continuation of extenuating circumstances.

2016 Fall: ARTH 120A/FILM 110A/HIST 121A/HIST 124A
2017 Winter: FILM 110B/FILM 226/FILM 236

I am also providing details of the circumstances below along with a solid plan to ensure success going forward.


Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances:

I have been battling personal events beyond my control over the last 4 years, which have had a direct impact to my personal life and academic performance. I have been suffering from depression and anxiety. I have taken a number of significant steps to treat my condition and also developed a strong and detailed plan to ensure academic success going forward. The psychological challenges were compounded and made worst due to more recent family problems whereby my parents have divorced at the beginning of the 2016-2017 academic year. I am including a detailed assessment from my family doctor, which explains the overall diagnostic and the related effect on my academic performance.

The particular condition began during the last year of high school and became much worst over the last two calendar years. My ability to focus on schoolwork was affected so badly that I could not operate in a proper setting. Despite the medication prescribed by my physician, I was not able to cope. I also had significant difficulties operating in my personal life outside of school too.

Please note that while I was coping with my deteriorating condition, I did not feel at that time capable of pursuing an academic appeal and solely focused on my medical recovery. I hope that my appeal can now be considered despite the timeframe.

In order to address my situation, I have continued to be followed by my physician and a councillor. I also took the last two semesters off in order to be followed more closely and work on the rectification of my condition. I have moved back with my father and feel extremely well supported now. From a mental health perspective, it is night and day compared to last year, very significant positive progress has occurred.



Future plan

I am confident that I am now ready to resume and complete my studies, but in order to have a successful transition; I will pursue the next term via the online approach with a lighter course load to begin. I have in fact already signed up for the DEVS 100 (Canada in the Third World) class starting during the Summer 2018 term in May.

I believe my plan to reintegrate at the right pace and with the correct course load starting with the online approach will ensure achieving academic success all the while being supported by family and continuing my progress with my physician and councillor. I am totally driven to achieve success and graduate from the great school that Queen¿¿s is. I understand that hard work, focus and a strong drive will be required and I am absolutely ready for it. I will also plan to continue regular consultations with my academic advisor along the way.

Finally, I would like to thank you for considering this request. I will not let you down and feel that I¿¿m finally equipped and prepared to complete my studies and graduate within the next two years.



All the best,


Jonathan Flamand