Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am petitioning the Faculty??s decision that I may receive Aegrotat Standing (AG) for all of my courses that ran and/or finished in the winter term; these courses include: ANAT 100, BIOL 102, ENGL 200, and PHGY 170.

In BIOL 102, ENGL 200, and PHGY 170 I have completed all of the coursework except for the final written exam. In ANAT 100 I have completed all of the coursework with the exception of two graded closed-book evaluations. I have been working closely with my GP and it is best recommended to seek academic consideration (i.e., alternative assessments and/or reweighing completed course assessments) for the remaining written closed-book exams/tests. Unfortunately, this medically supported request was denied at the discretion of all four of my professors.

Today it is with heavy grievance that I write to inform you of the extenuating health-related circumstances, beyond my control, I am facing that have impaired my academic abilities in the winter term.

Unexpectedly, in February my physical health deteriorated rapidly. Extreme exhaustion, constant fatigue, brain fog, impaired memory, dizziness, lightheadedness, and severe shortness of breath characterized my life??first, interfering with my physical capabilities, and then extending to my positions held both in my workplace employment (forcing me to take a leave of absence) and academic studies. In mid-March, my extremely poor condition prompted an immediate visit to my doctor. March 21st I was rushed to the emergency department at the local hospital for a blood transfusion to temporarily treat a life-threatening condition. Confirmation of my medical condition rationalized the academic struggles I had been (and still are) experiencing that have negatively affected my academic performance. From the beginning of its onset to the present day, my medical condition interferes with memory recall, leaving me with an attention deficiency in the processing and remembering of information. Thus, due to my unexpected medical condition, my inability to remember learnt and new information has severed my academic performance for assessments that are largely dependent upon memory recall. Due to my ongoing memory loss, and with the support of my general practitioner (GP), writing these closed-book exams/tests leaves me at a disadvantage because of the neurophysiological disruption my medical condition has plagued me with. Therefore, writing these exams/tests will not display the fullness of my academic comprehension of the learnt course material, because of the nature of the assessment which tests memory. Diagnosis and treatment of my medical condition is ongoing, with the cause currently unknown and requiring frequent monitoring.

Should my appeal for AG standing be granted, presently my future academic plans are largely dependent upon the diagnosis. Should the diagnosis return with further extenuating circumstances, I will re-evaluate my plans for the Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 terms; both of which will likely continue with a reduced course-load of Arts & Science Online courses supported with QSAS accommodations.


Thank you for taking the time to read my appeal for AG; I greatly appreciate your patience and understanding during this unknown and unprecedented time.

Sincerely,

Brooke Cudahy