Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Appeals Office,

I am writing to initiate an appeal with respect to the World Religions in Media course I was enrolled in during Fall 2019. I am asking for a late withdrawal. Unfortunately because of the serious insomnia I suffer from I wasn¿¿t able to make the final exam on December 11, 2019. I obtained a doctor¿¿s note with respect to this and had submitted it to my accommodations advisor, Jay Harris. I have started a different treatment more recently which is helping me.

Because of my condition, as you will note from the included QSAS Disability Verification Form for mental health/psychiatric disability, I could not regulate my sleeping/waking hours. In order to keep a morning appointment I would try to keep up all night. Sometimes I succeeded in keeping the appointment but at other times I would fall asleep in the early morning and sleep through the day and the cycle would begin all over again. All of this resulted in exhaustion and depression and an inability to concentrate. This impacted my learning and attendance.

I am requesting that I be allowed to have a late withdrawal from the Religions course without penalty. As you can see, Dr. Haq, my doctor, has submitted a mental/psychiatric disability report to Queens outlining a series of disability conditions affecting me, and in particular during the Fall 2019 term. As I have stated, I have had on-going serious insomnia resulting from underlying generalized anxiety/depression. This has detrimentally affected my learning and concentration and is demonstrated by missed assignments and an inability to follow through on my Religion and Sociology courses in the fall of 2019.

I did, however, see my doctor over the holidays. She changed my medication and my condition improved somewhat during the Winter 2020 term. This was reflected In my getting all of my sociology assignments in during this term and achieving significantly improved grades. This has been very important for me. I¿¿m hopeful of continuing with a sociology major, notwithstanding the impact of the Coronavirus virus. I have stayed in Kingston during this very difficult period so that I can make a commitment to my academics. I am also enrolled in an on-line summer course, Introduction to Literary Study. I am hopeful that my improved performance will continue as will my mental health.

I am concerned that because of my anxiety/depression, and insomnia, I not be prejudiced in that I wasn¿¿t able to give my best on the Religions course. I therefore apply to be allowed a penalty free withdrawal from the Religions course.

I am resubmitting the original doctor¿¿s note and the disability report for your consideration. My accommodations advisor, Jay Harris is also willing to support my appeal. If there is any other documentation that you need, please let me know.

Sincerely,
Melanie Travassos