Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing an appeal for an extension of an incomplete grade in the course PSYC 271 that I took during the Summer 2020 semester.

On July 15, 2020, my closest friend and housemate at Queen¿¿s University passed away unexpectedly and suddenly due to a brain tumor. At the time, I was taking PSYC 271. I submitted a request for academic consideration under the bereavement category and I was granted a 2-week grace period, where I did not need to complete course work. Near the end of this 2-week period, I tried to get back to my course work; however, I was not able to focus. I found myself mindlessly taking notes and when I tried to push myself to study for more than two hours a day, I would feel sad, unmotivated and a lack of interest in daily activities. I submitted a request for academic consideration under the personal category. I was granted a 3-month grace period, meaning that I would not have to write my exam until the end of September. I have been seeing a Queen¿¿s counsellor, and I am continuing to see one. Counselling has been helpful in giving me a space to speak about my friend and my emotions, as well as learning how to continue living my life without my friend at my side. At this time, I do not feel like I am able to study for or write my PSYC 271 exam. Over time, the association between the course and my friend¿¿s passing has weakened; however, the association is still too strong for me to study PSYC 271 material. I am currently enrolled in five courses this term, and I feel like I am able to focus on them, as they are interesting, and I do not associate them with my friend. I believe that PSYC 271 is a course that I would have done well in and I believe that by deferring the exam to Spring 2021, I will be able to complete the exam to the best of my ability.

Kiley MacGowan