Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean Dr. Johanne Bénard,

I am appealing to drop courses from Winter 2018: ENSC 321, ENSC 390, GPHY 304, STAT 263. I am also appealing to take 4th year courses away on letter of permission as well as requesting to allow the number of transferrable credits to be 24 units, the remaining credits required for me to graduate.

The extenuating circumstances are part of a chronic ongoing mental health condition for which I had been seeking regular treatment for the last few years. During the previous school year (fall2016/winter2017) I had an appeal accepted due to a relapse into a long major depressive episode believed to be caused by withdrawals from stopping the use of my previous medication too early. I had regular sessions with my Psychologist Dr. Irwin Altrows and by winter 2017, with the support of Dr. Suzanne Billing from the Student Wellness, I restarted the process of figuring out and taking medication for my condition. At the time I had thought that once I had restarted medication that I would be able to immediately resume my studies for Fall2017 & Winter 2018. I had also made the other changes that I had mentioned in the academic plan from that appeal. However, during the Fall of 2017 it soon became clear that it would take a lot longer and a lot more adjustments to my medications than I had thought. I continued to see Dr. Billing and go to Student Wellness for prescriptions and follow ups every 3 weeks the entire school year. Each time I had to report that I wasn¿¿t getting the positive reactions I had in the past. My ability to sleep, eat and take care of myself continued to deteriorate, even as we continued to adjust the medication. Due to my major depressive symptoms I found it increasingly difficult to focus, attend classes and complete assignments. In the fall semester I took steps in response to this deterioration by dropping courses and other commitments. I also requested and received a Verification of Illness form from Dr. Billing so that I could make arrangement for accommodation or support with Professors.

In the winter semester, my condition continued to deteriorate and while I continued to go to the Student Wellness for regular appointments, finding the correct balance of medication and dosages can take a long time as effects can take about three weeks to be felt. At that time, I had gotten a Verification of Personal Health condition for the winter semester as well, but by that time my condition had worsened to the point that my ability to communicate with my professors or take steps to drop courses the way I had previously was compromised. As I had to prioritize ensuring my physical health and spent much of my energy in managing that, my academic performance was severely impacted. By that time, I was completely unable to attend classes or do any of the course assignments.