Petition Letter
Part I: The Request
I am appealing to the university to waive the 21-day appeal deadline.
Part II: Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances
During my time at Queen¿¿s University, I have been in constant care for major depressive disorder. The care I receive has been largely effective at managing my mood and helping me maintain my academic commitments over the years. I often needed to request accommodations from professors in regards to assignments, for which I would obtain a Verification of Illness form from Health, Counselling and Disability Services; I will include copies of these forms here as supporting documents.
My documentation demonstrates that I have a history of my academic performance being considerably affected by my mental illness. This condition was out of my control, despite my best efforts to seek and follow medical help. I took advantage of medical aid offered through university services, having regular appointments with doctors to monitor my medication and on-going treatment with a personal counsellor. Part of my treatment was addressing my persistent suicidal thoughts, which affected my daily motivation and diminished what value I had for my education and myself.
Stress aggravated the severity of my illness and this grew with the prospect of completing my undergraduate studies. In the final semester of my fourth year (winter, 2013), I developed a great deal of anxiety about graduation and what would come after it. This anxiety has continued to prevent me from returning to successfully complete my outstanding requirements and writing this appeal within a timely manner. I have continued to receive psychiatric care and personal counselling to assist me with managing my mood and overcoming my disability so that I may tackle this task. It is only now that I am in a healthy state to be able to address this appeal.
Part III: Future Plan
If my appeal to waive the 21-day deadline is granted, I will appeal for a late drop of my courses that were affected by the extenuating circumstance caused by my illness and an aegrotat grade for ENGL259 for which I have completed 60 of my coursework from this past semester. This will complete my requirements so I may graduate in the fall of 2016. I also continue to receive the support of my psychiatrist and personal counsellor that has helped me to finally address these steps to complete my undergraduate studies.
I am appealing to the university to waive the 21-day appeal deadline.
Part II: Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances
During my time at Queen¿¿s University, I have been in constant care for major depressive disorder. The care I receive has been largely effective at managing my mood and helping me maintain my academic commitments over the years. I often needed to request accommodations from professors in regards to assignments, for which I would obtain a Verification of Illness form from Health, Counselling and Disability Services; I will include copies of these forms here as supporting documents.
My documentation demonstrates that I have a history of my academic performance being considerably affected by my mental illness. This condition was out of my control, despite my best efforts to seek and follow medical help. I took advantage of medical aid offered through university services, having regular appointments with doctors to monitor my medication and on-going treatment with a personal counsellor. Part of my treatment was addressing my persistent suicidal thoughts, which affected my daily motivation and diminished what value I had for my education and myself.
Stress aggravated the severity of my illness and this grew with the prospect of completing my undergraduate studies. In the final semester of my fourth year (winter, 2013), I developed a great deal of anxiety about graduation and what would come after it. This anxiety has continued to prevent me from returning to successfully complete my outstanding requirements and writing this appeal within a timely manner. I have continued to receive psychiatric care and personal counselling to assist me with managing my mood and overcoming my disability so that I may tackle this task. It is only now that I am in a healthy state to be able to address this appeal.
Part III: Future Plan
If my appeal to waive the 21-day deadline is granted, I will appeal for a late drop of my courses that were affected by the extenuating circumstance caused by my illness and an aegrotat grade for ENGL259 for which I have completed 60 of my coursework from this past semester. This will complete my requirements so I may graduate in the fall of 2016. I also continue to receive the support of my psychiatrist and personal counsellor that has helped me to finally address these steps to complete my undergraduate studies.