Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: December 1, 2014

Dear Associate Dean:

I have written this letter to request that three courses of mine (ARTH 215, HIST240B, and HIST 315) from the Winter 2014 term be dropped past the academic deadline, and to receive Credit Standing status for two others (HIST 241 from the Winter term, and ECON 239 from Fall 2013). During this term, having to cope with my own depressive episode and increasing pain from a longstanding hip injury left me unable to succeed academically to the best of my abilities.
The depressive episode manifested itself largely in the form of insomnia. Although I had experienced lesser difficulties sleeping in the preceding term, I stopped sleeping altogether in February 2014. The insomnia increased my anxiety, led to significant and persistent headaches, and made it much harder to concentrate. All of these factors had a direct impact on my school work. As incomplete work piled up around me and greater deadlines loomed, my symptoms only worsened as the term went on.
My ability to cope with the stresses of academic life was further reduced by the deterioration of my hip. Permanently affected by an injury suffered over six years ago, the chronic pain increased over the term and I would go on to have the hip fully replaced that summer. The pain itself, and the anticipation of the coming operation, supplied an additional source of anxiety for me, worsening my symptoms and making it even harder for me to achieve academically.
Overcoming my failings in the Winter 2014 term is of great importance to me. Through the assistance of a psychologist, Dr. McLean, I have come to a greater understanding of how my mental health impeded my performance and how to cope with anxiety in the future. Additionally, I am now certain to reach out for help from Queen¿¿s facilities should my symptoms re-emerge when I return to school in January and am convinced of my ability to succeed in the coming term.

With many thanks,


Austin MacDonald