Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Academic Associate Dean of Queens Arts and Science,

My name is Mary Burt and I am a third-year sociology major at Queens University. I am appealing to drop the following courses from the Fall 2018 and Winter 2019 academic terms: HIST 246, SOCY 210, SOCY 227, SOCY 235, and SOCY 273. I am requesting to drop these courses due to my extenuating circumstances during the 2018-2019 terms to which I was unable to execute adequate academic performance resulting in 0 credits from stated courses above. During the 2018-2019 school year, I had just entered my second year at Queens University, meaning I had left residence and had moved into my own house off campus. At the beginning of the 2018 fall term I had begun to display symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as unknowingly battling with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Unaware of these mental illnesses, I did not drop my courses within the deadline provided and did not realize that my mental health would begin to spiral beyond my control. These extenuating circumstances prevented me from attending classes and tutorials as well as debilitated my ability to hand assignments in on due dates and complete applicable quizzes and tests. Living on my own in isolation within a negative environment created an unstable mindset for myself and had a major effect on my education and performance. After receiving my grades from the fall 2018 term, I was not surprised, but did not know why I was unable to perform academically and that my mental health and disorders where not only existing but playing a major hand in my downward spiral. Heading into my winter 2019 term, I assumed that I would be able to get a handle on my studies and that the previous term was a mere adjustment period for myself moving into my own home and regulating my time management and mental stability. That was not the case. At the early stages of the winter 2019 term, I had a firm belief that I would be able to overcome my mental instability and correct my GPA, therefore I did not see it being reasonable to drop my courses and take time off school to manage my mental health. Unfortunately, I spiraled out of control, resulting in my failing of three courses. At the end of the term, I sought out professional help where I learned that I was experiencing depression and anxiety throughout my entire second year at Queens as well as had a severe case of adult ADHD. After learning this information, I then took the necessary steps to handle and deal with these extenuating circumstances by seeing a registered psychotherapist as well as completing a psychoeducational assessment and reaching out to Queens Student Wellness to discuss and create accommodations to ensure I was going to be able to reach my full potential in my academics here at Queens University. With receiving appropriate medication and support, I have now taken all of the appropriate steps to better myself and am able to perform academically in my courses. With that being said, I am now working hard in my studies and am appealing to drop the following courses taken in fall 2018 to winter 2019: HIST 246, SOCY 210, SOCY 227, SOCY 235, and SOCY 273 because they do not reflect my work ethic or best efforts due to my circumstances explained above. I am currently retaking my 200 level classes that are necessary to my sociology degree plan to compensate for last year and have all of the tools to do so such as an academic accommodation letter, frequent appointments with my therapist as well as medication to treat my ADHD. I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this appeal letter and appreciate your consideration. I have also attached documentation to support my extenuating circumstances.