Petition Letter
August 31, 2023
Dr. Jenn Stephenson
Associate Dean (Academic)
Dunning Hall, 94 University Avenue
Queen’s University, Kingston ON
K7L 3N6
Dear, Dr. Stephenson:
RE: Request for late drop of incomplete and failed courses due to extenuating circumstances – ID 20365889
My name is David Lucchesi. I am an undergraduate student in Arts and Science. I am writing to request a late drop of two incomplete courses from my transcript in order to restore my academic standing both with the university and OSAP. I was unable to attempt these courses because of remarkable extenuating circumstances that abruptly interrupted my studies.
Specifically, starting on November 23, 2022, I encountered a severe family crisis that involved legal proceedings with exponential financial costs. This led to my development of anxiety and a level of stress that I cannot fully express. This overwhelming crisis displaced any interest I had to continue with my studies. To provide some context, at the time when my family started to go through this challenge, I was already struggling with the stress and low motivation from serious racial profiling that I faced almost immediately upon my move into residence at Queen’s on September 3, 2022. The racially motivated issues had already forced me into a very poor mental state from around September 10, 2022, and I was struggling to muster even a modicum of the motivation with which I moved to Queen’s - just to get to classes, all of which I was failing by this point. My distress continued throughout October and November, and on November 22, 2022, I filed a human rights complaint that my brother and I wrote together about the racial profiling, at the Queen’s University Human Rights Office. In October and November, I reached out to my on-campus psychologist, academic advisor, and the residence life staff for support to formulate a plan to get my academics back on track. After careful consideration of all the options, I decided it was best that I withdrew from my fall 2022 term courses and retake them starting in the summer and next fall terms. I intended to start over and conquer the winter 2023 term and decided I would stay on campus, including over the Christmas Holiday break in order to get a head start on the reading and assignments for the new term. I applied and was approved to stay in residence for the winter break, and started by making a very comprehensive study, exercise, nutrition, and counselling schedule by which I intended to be guided throughout the winter term. I knew my winter term would have been successful.
Unfortunately, my plan to get back in control of my academics could not materialize. My family crisis escalated around December 1, 2022. This instantly pushed my academic recovery plan off my radar. I realize now that I suffered a mental breakdown merely from the shock of the situation. This breakdown diminished my capacity to make sound decisions, and took me away from my studies until June, at which point, I had already missed the entire winter term of studies, had missed every deadline to drop courses, and did not know what to do. I needed to use my summer break to reflect, regroup, and create a way forward, and as such, decided against summer school as I had previously planned.
I started a therapy program and although I still struggle episodically with stress, I am learning new techniques, tools, and resources to manage it successfully. I am requesting a late drop of the failed courses from my transcript, but beneath that, what I am requesting is another chance to prove that I can do what I was so excited to do when I came to Queen’s – excel.
Respectfully,
David Lucchesi
Student ID 20365889
ACADEMIC PLAN
Return to Studies
I have been working very closely with the ACT team to create a successful return to studies plan. I will take a full course load for the 2023-2024 academic year. I will repeat my first year and have already selected and submitted my study plan to ACT for action.
Mental Health
I have been attending therapy twice monthly since June 8th, 2023. I want to work with a more experienced psychologist/social worker and will start therapy at a new location the week of September 5th, 2023. I will continue with my mental health program for as long as I need it.
OSAP
I have applied for OSAP to fund my studies. I have been placed on academic probation by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities – which administers OSAP – until Queen’s financial aid office advises them that I am in fact, enrolled in full time studies for the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, I have already signed and submitted to OSAP, a required declaration that I improve my academics throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. I already reached out to Queen’s student financial services with this information and am awaiting a response.
Dr. Jenn Stephenson
Associate Dean (Academic)
Dunning Hall, 94 University Avenue
Queen’s University, Kingston ON
K7L 3N6
Dear, Dr. Stephenson:
RE: Request for late drop of incomplete and failed courses due to extenuating circumstances – ID 20365889
My name is David Lucchesi. I am an undergraduate student in Arts and Science. I am writing to request a late drop of two incomplete courses from my transcript in order to restore my academic standing both with the university and OSAP. I was unable to attempt these courses because of remarkable extenuating circumstances that abruptly interrupted my studies.
Specifically, starting on November 23, 2022, I encountered a severe family crisis that involved legal proceedings with exponential financial costs. This led to my development of anxiety and a level of stress that I cannot fully express. This overwhelming crisis displaced any interest I had to continue with my studies. To provide some context, at the time when my family started to go through this challenge, I was already struggling with the stress and low motivation from serious racial profiling that I faced almost immediately upon my move into residence at Queen’s on September 3, 2022. The racially motivated issues had already forced me into a very poor mental state from around September 10, 2022, and I was struggling to muster even a modicum of the motivation with which I moved to Queen’s - just to get to classes, all of which I was failing by this point. My distress continued throughout October and November, and on November 22, 2022, I filed a human rights complaint that my brother and I wrote together about the racial profiling, at the Queen’s University Human Rights Office. In October and November, I reached out to my on-campus psychologist, academic advisor, and the residence life staff for support to formulate a plan to get my academics back on track. After careful consideration of all the options, I decided it was best that I withdrew from my fall 2022 term courses and retake them starting in the summer and next fall terms. I intended to start over and conquer the winter 2023 term and decided I would stay on campus, including over the Christmas Holiday break in order to get a head start on the reading and assignments for the new term. I applied and was approved to stay in residence for the winter break, and started by making a very comprehensive study, exercise, nutrition, and counselling schedule by which I intended to be guided throughout the winter term. I knew my winter term would have been successful.
Unfortunately, my plan to get back in control of my academics could not materialize. My family crisis escalated around December 1, 2022. This instantly pushed my academic recovery plan off my radar. I realize now that I suffered a mental breakdown merely from the shock of the situation. This breakdown diminished my capacity to make sound decisions, and took me away from my studies until June, at which point, I had already missed the entire winter term of studies, had missed every deadline to drop courses, and did not know what to do. I needed to use my summer break to reflect, regroup, and create a way forward, and as such, decided against summer school as I had previously planned.
I started a therapy program and although I still struggle episodically with stress, I am learning new techniques, tools, and resources to manage it successfully. I am requesting a late drop of the failed courses from my transcript, but beneath that, what I am requesting is another chance to prove that I can do what I was so excited to do when I came to Queen’s – excel.
Respectfully,
David Lucchesi
Student ID 20365889
ACADEMIC PLAN
Return to Studies
I have been working very closely with the ACT team to create a successful return to studies plan. I will take a full course load for the 2023-2024 academic year. I will repeat my first year and have already selected and submitted my study plan to ACT for action.
Mental Health
I have been attending therapy twice monthly since June 8th, 2023. I want to work with a more experienced psychologist/social worker and will start therapy at a new location the week of September 5th, 2023. I will continue with my mental health program for as long as I need it.
OSAP
I have applied for OSAP to fund my studies. I have been placed on academic probation by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities – which administers OSAP – until Queen’s financial aid office advises them that I am in fact, enrolled in full time studies for the 2023-2024 academic year. Additionally, I have already signed and submitted to OSAP, a required declaration that I improve my academics throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. I already reached out to Queen’s student financial services with this information and am awaiting a response.