Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,

Thank you for your time in considering this appeal.

In fall 2021, several interrelated issues causing severe anxiety and stress compounded to such an overwhelming extent that I was unable to complete the coursework in ARTH 275 and ARTH 410, resulting in my failure of those classes. Given the circumstances that I will explain below, I respectfully request that both ARTH 275 and ARTH 410 (fall 2021) be dropped from my transcript.

It is necessary to provide a little context relating to the previous (winter 2021) term and summer. At the end of winter 2021, I began to experience a debilitating level of anxiety due to the isolation and uncertainty of the successive lockdowns, coupled with stress over some financial uncertainty and my desire to perform well academically. I had difficulty with focusing and with processing and retaining information, grew very restless and irritable, and developed an extremely erratic sleep schedule that left me exhausted and discouraged. Towards the end of term I contacted Student Wellness Services, and was granted academic accommodations and directed to a counsellor (Shannon Gendron) who was helping me to find strategies to address and work through these difficulties. I met with her a few times through the end of term and early summer, and then met with her again throughout fall 2021.

I spent the summer finding my feet and was hopeful about a successful return to school for my final year. However, circumstances changed abruptly immediately before my return to school. My family has been under a great deal of stress for a while, due to some on-going financial and non-critical but long-term health concerns. Then, in late August, my eldest sister's life partner was diagnosed with brain cancer, which was very upsetting for him and for those close to him. Given my concern over various family members' well-being, I was both under unexpected stress and reluctant to add to their burdens by seeking support from them for my own problems.

I tried to focus on my studies, but was soon struggling with anxiety again. I had difficulty focusing and was easily exhausted. Assignments took me twice as I expected to complete, and left me completely drained. Therefore, I fell behind on assignments, and I began to miss class because I was ashamed of my failure to keep up. ARTH 410 and ARTH 275 proved especially challenging because they both had many readings and numerous research assignments with very precise instructions, which was overwhelming. ARTH 410 also had more assignments in the second half of term, increasing the pressure as time went on (especially with late work pending).

I did not drop any of my courses before the drop deadline because at the time I mistakenly thought that I needed to maintain an 80% course load to be considered a full-time student by the NSLSC. I was also trying not to delay my graduation date, and aimed to finish the term, if not to my usual standards. Beyond meeting with Ms. Gendron to seek strategies to address my anxiety, I also met with Professor Behan (who taught both courses) to discuss catching up. Although we initially discussed strategies to help me finish the courses, Professor Behan later suggested that I should consider filing an appeal for a late drop, when it became clear that I might not overcome the problems that I was experiencing.

Ultimately, of course, I did not manage to complete the work required for these courses. Since then, I have modified my plans to accommodate the problems that I have been experiencing. I decided to face a later graduation date and earlier debt repayment, and reduced my course load to two classes this past term (winter 2022), both of which I have managed to complete, although I still await final grades. I intend to take a year to work, to address some of my financial uncertainty and to give myself time to rest from academic pursuits and re-find my feet. My remaining courses could be completed online, if need be, although I hope to return to campus to complete my final semester in fall 2023.

I understand that, given the long-term nature of some of the issues mentioned, my appeal may seem inappropriate on the grounds that I should have better anticipated their continuing impacts. However, this has been an unusually tumultuous period unlike anything I have ever experienced before, even before matters were complicated by my brother-in-law's diagnosis, and I did not realize the full extent of its impact on me. I hope that I have demonstrated that I tried to do my best under challenging circumstances, and that my failure in these courses reflects the strain of these circumstances rather than my deficiencies as a student.

Thank you again for your time in considering this appeal.

Sincerely,
Liesel Pella