Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: June 6, 2019
Associate Dean,

I am appealing the Faculty of Arts and Sciences decision that I must withdrawal from academics at Queens for a year. I am also appealing to drop GPHY247 (Winter, 2019), GPHY228 (Winter, 2019), GPHY 207 (Winter, 2019) past the academic drop deadline.
Throughout my time at Queens University I have been experiencing an extenuating circumstance which has majorly impacted my academic performance. I have consulted several health-care professionals to help manage the mental illness I have been struggling with. My mental illness has caused me to experience daily intense depressive episodes, as well as severe anxiety attacks. This has made it incredibly difficult to socialize and communicate with peers, complete course work by deadline, attend certain labs, as well as go to in class lectures.
Due to my illness, I have been going through several medication changes, which has not only taken a major toll on my mental health, however has also began to affect my physical health. A health care professional prescribed me a new medication in January of 2019. While adjusting to this medication I experienced extreme fatigue, rapid weight loss, impaired vision, headaches, and nausea. These side effects of the medication made completing the task at hand in a timed manner incredibly difficult. Unfortunately, the side effects of this medication worsened my mental illness, and every day became a new battle. Approaching the end of the semester focusing on my health became my main priority. I am appealing to drop only three of my four courses. I feel I was successful in GPHY102 due to the layout of the course. The course load was evenly dispersed throughout the semester, so there wasn¿¿t a major pressure to complete majority of the course load as the end of the year approached. With the three courses I am looking to appeal, the layout was much different, and majority of assignments and course work was due towards the end of the Winter semester (when my condition worsened). I did not drop these courses by the deadline in week 8, this was due to the fact that was experiencing side effects of the medication and focusing on bettering my health became my main focus. I struggled with making the step towards seeking help from Student Wellness Services, I was very hesitant due to my past experiences in these settings. I felt incredibly anxious about opening up about the illness I have been experiencing, and how this illness has affected my academic performance (something in which I take great pride in). Although I have not completely resolved the health issue I have been experiencing, I have made many steps toward bettering my mental health and preparing an academic plan moving forward. I would like to waive the requirement to withdrawal for an academic year. I feel that moving forward in my academics while dealing with this extenuating circumstance I have recognized the importance to connect with student wellness. I have also registered with QSAS, I feel that with this help moving forward I have the connections to be able to made certain accommodations when needed in order to complete my degree successfully. Nearing the end of the winter semester I connected with Student Wellness Services and their counsellors. This has allowed me to work through the struggles I have been facing, and push me to create daily plans to help move through material on the bad days. I have been working with several doctors, and specialists since I have returned home for the summer. My hopes being to adjust to my medication changes over the summer months.
Moving forward I would like to maintain regular meetings with doctors and personal counsellors. I am considering taking a reduced course load in order to focus on continuing bettering my health. I feel a reduced course load will allow me to stay on top of material, while working with counsellors and doctors on regaining my health. I would love to retake these courses in the fall semester. I am incredibly interested in my direction of study, and I hope moving forward to investigate how the rapid change in climate since the industrial evolution is affecting health today. Please consider the steps I have made in order complete my academics in a successful manner moving forward. I appreciate your time and consideration.
Thank you,
Brooke Beausoleil
20052390