Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Manage Appeals

Petition Type: New
ID: 10554
Submitted: May 23, 2023 at 12:14:09 PM
First Name: NEHA
Last Name: HAIDER
Pronoun: SHE
Preferred Name: NEHA
Student Number: 20153067
Degree Program: BA
Plan: SOCIO
Level of Study: 3

Petition Categories

Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year

Petition Letter

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

I received an email regarding my academic year and how I have been asked to come back a year later. Without any warning or any notice beforehand I was told this. For two years, as my QSAS advisor is also aware I have been suffering from a traumatic brain injury which caused me to A) fracture my skull B) get contusions on the front and back of my brain C) tinnitus which is constant high-pitched ringing in my ears D) Due to the rewiring and the change in chemical balance in my brain I was considered depressed with my anxiety becoming more chronic. I was diagnosed with post concussion syndrome a year ago which sometimes goes after a few years or if no healing is happening I need to go to rehab. I went to many neurologist and they couldn't tell me what was going on until I came to Canada. For the last one year, I have been trying and trying to get back on track but my brain makes it hard for me. The reason I am saying this is because if it were in my control I wouldn't be in this situation and I hate not being in control. I can't focus, my brain doesn't feel like my brain. At times I lost all motivation to live and that impacts my studies a lot, I also took a lesser load because when my brain receives or works at a normal human level I feel extremely strained and start to hyperventilate. My body has to learn to how to deal with stress all over again. I have to teach my brain how to function the way it used to function. My antidepressants sometimes make me so immobilized, I lose all function, I do not want to get up at times especially with the nausea I deal with.
I went to therapy thinking It will help but my family was splitting and I didn't have time to focus on myself. My studies have been impacted to the extent to which I am making a difference now. I took five summer courses so that I can rectify and get back on track but I then received this email. I was not given any prior warning so I could plan accordingly. I have a whole plan and I know which courses to take in September too, I can't go back to Pakistan because of civil war and my parents are there too. Me studying is the only safe option I have so far, please give me another semester in September to get back on the right track because I want to make a change, I just need help and I hope you'll be willing to assist me and understand where I am coming from. The Changes I want to make is to speak to a concussion therapist, to strategically plan my academics with my advisor and to reach out for help. I didn't reach out for help at and I regret that, so here I am now asking if you can help me and give me another chance so I can prove to you and most importantly prove to myself that I can succeed.

Academic Plan

Academic Plan: My plan is I have to take thirty sociology credits and sixty electives, I am 70 percent done with the entire requirements. That is why I am taking five electives this summer, and with you permission in September Ill take five sociology courses to complete my credits. I want to talk to my professors more, I want to keep speaking to a counsellor in how I can manage my health and load. I know what I need to do to get my degree, its taking me longer than expected, but I know what resources to reach out to and use to assist me in my plan. I think the one thing that's going to help me is talking to a therapist who deals with brain injuries. I have been struggling with that the most in my life. I want to at least have sessions twice a week, this summer my courses I have, Ive made a schedule on how to even the load and get each and every task done.
After I am done with these courses, I am going to focus on my sociology courses, I need to take five more, so I will take three in the first semester of September 2023 and two sociology courses in the next semester with two more electives..
This is my plan to achieve my requirements for my degree, I will also go to workshops in order to learn more about what is it the professors really look for in our work, to help me curate a much better and needed way to working.

Documentation

Professional Letter: neha-2-0.pdf

Level 1 Status

Status: Denied

Level 2

Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 167
Submitted: June 15, 2023 at 11:14:33 PM
Relevant Petition: 10554
Appeal Grounds Details: Appeal Against decision dated 05.06.2023 by the Dean



Facts:


1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.


Grounds:
a) That The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8 lists out the requirements a request to waive a requirement to withdraw for one year, the relevant wording of which is copied here for ease of reference:
“..petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances have been temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to be a factor in academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived. A medical certificate or other official documentation that demonstrates the impact of the extenuating circumstances must be provided with the petition…”


Appeal Letter

Appeal Letter:
1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.



- Extenuating circumstances
• That I got into a severe accident around the time of the end of 2020, which not only left me in a state of severe anxiety and distress, but it also affected my brain to the extent that it left me unable to focus on anything at all, after contusions to the brain.
(A medical diagnosis after the accident is attached herewith at as Annex B)
• Furthermore, it is essential to point out here that I have received not only a private diagnosis but also a medical diagnosis from the Queen’s Student Accessibility Services where they evaluated my mental health condition after asking my doctor and also provided documentation of my diagnosis. The relevant parts of the diagnosis are as follows;
- Diagnosis: Post-concussion syndrome
Depression/ Anxiety
- Level of severity: Severe
- Physical restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories but Nausea
- Thinking restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories
- Socio- Emotional: Serious to severe in all but one category
- Academic impacts: Serious to severe in all categories
- Comments: “needs more time to complete her tasks, difficulty concentrating”

(The medical diagnosis is attached herewith as Annex C)

b) I have not only explained the set of circumstances which describe what happened, but I have also presented medical evidence which is verified and attested by the University’s own student accessibility service. These circumstances indisputably fulfill the requirements set out in the rule mentioned above as; they are significantly extenuating circumstances; out of my control and affected my academic performance.
c) Furthermore, I have not only presented proof of my extenuating circumstances, but I have also shown an ability to progress and manage these problems in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes.
d) The decision dated 05.06.2023 is based on the fact of my regression in courses after my injury, I had to complete 30 credits for my sociology program and it took me a while but I have officially completed 15 after pushing forward. My doctor said this is only something that takes time, whereas the decision fails to account for the fact that the duration of this term represented the time where I was at my most vulnerable, I was struggling to focus not only on academics but also spheres of my social and private life, it was truly the most challenging time of my life to date. However, the disputed decision takes into account my performance solely for the time where I was at my worst and has failed to account for my term from January 2023 to May 2023, in which I took up the minimum requirement for 3 courses and passed each and every single one of them, a fact which can be attested by my grades, and submitted all my work. Furthermore, it is essential to mention that my ability to manage my courses is being adjudicated on the fact that I took on 5 courses for the current term and it is being represented as me being unable to manage my courses whereas I would argue that it only represents my progress and willingness to improve by keeping in mind a challenge which will motivate me to do even better.
e) I believe it is unequitable and unjust to single out my academic performance for the summer term without considering the genuine academic progress I have made over the past few months, after the mental work I have put into myself to find the motivation to complete my courses and pass, when that was a struggle of mine I did overcome.
f) I believe I have presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that I had significant extenuating circumstances which were out of my control, and they genuinely affected my academic performance. Not only that but by improving my grades I have shown a real ability to tackle my severe anxiety by really pushing myself to work really hard. It is significant to mention here that this last year represents the most challenging time of my life not only academically but in all aspects of my life, however, I have made genuine efforts to overcome my problems, be it personal, social, or academic and if I am given a chance to continue my year, I will be motivated to work even harder. A withdrawal from the university would not only set me back academically but would also lay waste to continuous hard-work I have put in to improve myself over the past year and if given the chance I only see myself improving from here.
g) This appeal sufficiently covers the reasons refusal listed out in the decision dated 05.06.2023 and therefore it is my request that I be granted a waiver for the requirement to withdraw for one year in line with guidelines provided in The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8.



Documentation

Select a decision letter template to generate and queue a decision letter using its content.

Level 2

Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 168
Submitted: June 15, 2023 at 11:14:40 PM
Relevant Petition: 10554
Appeal Grounds Details: Appeal Against decision dated 05.06.2023 by the Dean



Facts:


1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.


Grounds:
a) That The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8 lists out the requirements a request to waive a requirement to withdraw for one year, the relevant wording of which is copied here for ease of reference:
“..petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances have been temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to be a factor in academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived. A medical certificate or other official documentation that demonstrates the impact of the extenuating circumstances must be provided with the petition…”


Appeal Letter

Appeal Letter:
1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.



- Extenuating circumstances
• That I got into a severe accident around the time of the end of 2020, which not only left me in a state of severe anxiety and distress, but it also affected my brain to the extent that it left me unable to focus on anything at all, after contusions to the brain.
(A medical diagnosis after the accident is attached herewith at as Annex B)
• Furthermore, it is essential to point out here that I have received not only a private diagnosis but also a medical diagnosis from the Queen’s Student Accessibility Services where they evaluated my mental health condition after asking my doctor and also provided documentation of my diagnosis. The relevant parts of the diagnosis are as follows;
- Diagnosis: Post-concussion syndrome
Depression/ Anxiety
- Level of severity: Severe
- Physical restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories but Nausea
- Thinking restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories
- Socio- Emotional: Serious to severe in all but one category
- Academic impacts: Serious to severe in all categories
- Comments: “needs more time to complete her tasks, difficulty concentrating”

(The medical diagnosis is attached herewith as Annex C)

b) I have not only explained the set of circumstances which describe what happened, but I have also presented medical evidence which is verified and attested by the University’s own student accessibility service. These circumstances indisputably fulfill the requirements set out in the rule mentioned above as; they are significantly extenuating circumstances; out of my control and affected my academic performance.
c) Furthermore, I have not only presented proof of my extenuating circumstances, but I have also shown an ability to progress and manage these problems in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes.
d) The decision dated 05.06.2023 is based on the fact of my regression in courses after my injury, I had to complete 30 credits for my sociology program and it took me a while but I have officially completed 15 after pushing forward. My doctor said this is only something that takes time, whereas the decision fails to account for the fact that the duration of this term represented the time where I was at my most vulnerable, I was struggling to focus not only on academics but also spheres of my social and private life, it was truly the most challenging time of my life to date. However, the disputed decision takes into account my performance solely for the time where I was at my worst and has failed to account for my term from January 2023 to May 2023, in which I took up the minimum requirement for 3 courses and passed each and every single one of them, a fact which can be attested by my grades, and submitted all my work. Furthermore, it is essential to mention that my ability to manage my courses is being adjudicated on the fact that I took on 5 courses for the current term and it is being represented as me being unable to manage my courses whereas I would argue that it only represents my progress and willingness to improve by keeping in mind a challenge which will motivate me to do even better.
e) I believe it is unequitable and unjust to single out my academic performance for the summer term without considering the genuine academic progress I have made over the past few months, after the mental work I have put into myself to find the motivation to complete my courses and pass, when that was a struggle of mine I did overcome.
f) I believe I have presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that I had significant extenuating circumstances which were out of my control, and they genuinely affected my academic performance. Not only that but by improving my grades I have shown a real ability to tackle my severe anxiety by really pushing myself to work really hard. It is significant to mention here that this last year represents the most challenging time of my life not only academically but in all aspects of my life, however, I have made genuine efforts to overcome my problems, be it personal, social, or academic and if I am given a chance to continue my year, I will be motivated to work even harder. A withdrawal from the university would not only set me back academically but would also lay waste to continuous hard-work I have put in to improve myself over the past year and if given the chance I only see myself improving from here.
g) This appeal sufficiently covers the reasons refusal listed out in the decision dated 05.06.2023 and therefore it is my request that I be granted a waiver for the requirement to withdraw for one year in line with guidelines provided in The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8.



Documentation

Select a decision letter template to generate and queue a decision letter using its content.

Level 2

Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 169
Submitted: June 15, 2023 at 11:14:45 PM
Relevant Petition: 10554
Appeal Grounds Details: Appeal Against decision dated 05.06.2023 by the Dean



Facts:


1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.


Grounds:
a) That The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8 lists out the requirements a request to waive a requirement to withdraw for one year, the relevant wording of which is copied here for ease of reference:
“..petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances have been temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to be a factor in academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived. A medical certificate or other official documentation that demonstrates the impact of the extenuating circumstances must be provided with the petition…”


Appeal Letter

Appeal Letter:
1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.



- Extenuating circumstances
• That I got into a severe accident around the time of the end of 2020, which not only left me in a state of severe anxiety and distress, but it also affected my brain to the extent that it left me unable to focus on anything at all, after contusions to the brain.
(A medical diagnosis after the accident is attached herewith at as Annex B)
• Furthermore, it is essential to point out here that I have received not only a private diagnosis but also a medical diagnosis from the Queen’s Student Accessibility Services where they evaluated my mental health condition after asking my doctor and also provided documentation of my diagnosis. The relevant parts of the diagnosis are as follows;
- Diagnosis: Post-concussion syndrome
Depression/ Anxiety
- Level of severity: Severe
- Physical restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories but Nausea
- Thinking restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories
- Socio- Emotional: Serious to severe in all but one category
- Academic impacts: Serious to severe in all categories
- Comments: “needs more time to complete her tasks, difficulty concentrating”

(The medical diagnosis is attached herewith as Annex C)

b) I have not only explained the set of circumstances which describe what happened, but I have also presented medical evidence which is verified and attested by the University’s own student accessibility service. These circumstances indisputably fulfill the requirements set out in the rule mentioned above as; they are significantly extenuating circumstances; out of my control and affected my academic performance.
c) Furthermore, I have not only presented proof of my extenuating circumstances, but I have also shown an ability to progress and manage these problems in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes.
d) The decision dated 05.06.2023 is based on the fact of my regression in courses after my injury, I had to complete 30 credits for my sociology program and it took me a while but I have officially completed 15 after pushing forward. My doctor said this is only something that takes time, whereas the decision fails to account for the fact that the duration of this term represented the time where I was at my most vulnerable, I was struggling to focus not only on academics but also spheres of my social and private life, it was truly the most challenging time of my life to date. However, the disputed decision takes into account my performance solely for the time where I was at my worst and has failed to account for my term from January 2023 to May 2023, in which I took up the minimum requirement for 3 courses and passed each and every single one of them, a fact which can be attested by my grades, and submitted all my work. Furthermore, it is essential to mention that my ability to manage my courses is being adjudicated on the fact that I took on 5 courses for the current term and it is being represented as me being unable to manage my courses whereas I would argue that it only represents my progress and willingness to improve by keeping in mind a challenge which will motivate me to do even better.
e) I believe it is unequitable and unjust to single out my academic performance for the summer term without considering the genuine academic progress I have made over the past few months, after the mental work I have put into myself to find the motivation to complete my courses and pass, when that was a struggle of mine I did overcome.
f) I believe I have presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that I had significant extenuating circumstances which were out of my control, and they genuinely affected my academic performance. Not only that but by improving my grades I have shown a real ability to tackle my severe anxiety by really pushing myself to work really hard. It is significant to mention here that this last year represents the most challenging time of my life not only academically but in all aspects of my life, however, I have made genuine efforts to overcome my problems, be it personal, social, or academic and if I am given a chance to continue my year, I will be motivated to work even harder. A withdrawal from the university would not only set me back academically but would also lay waste to continuous hard-work I have put in to improve myself over the past year and if given the chance I only see myself improving from here.
g) This appeal sufficiently covers the reasons refusal listed out in the decision dated 05.06.2023 and therefore it is my request that I be granted a waiver for the requirement to withdraw for one year in line with guidelines provided in The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8.



Documentation

Select a decision letter template to generate and queue a decision letter using its content.

Level 2 Amendments

Appeal Type: Level 2 Amendment
ID: 170
Submitted: June 15, 2023 at 11:19:58 PM
Relevant Petition: 10554
New Information:
Student Name: Neha Haider
Student Email: 18nh20@queensu.ca
20153067


Appeal Against decision dated 05.06.2023 by the Dean


Facts:


1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.


Grounds:
a) That The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8 lists out the requirements a request to waive a requirement to withdraw for one year, the relevant wording of which is copied here for ease of reference:
“..petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances have been temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to be a factor in academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived. A medical certificate or other official documentation that demonstrates the impact of the extenuating circumstances must be provided with the petition…”


- Extenuating circumstances
• That I got into a severe accident around the time of the end of 2020, which not only left me in a state of severe anxiety and distress, but it also affected my brain to the extent that it left me unable to focus on anything at all, after contusions to the brain.
(A medical diagnosis after the accident is attached herewith at as Annex B)
• Furthermore, it is essential to point out here that I have received not only a private diagnosis but also a medical diagnosis from the Queen’s Student Accessibility Services where they evaluated my mental health condition after asking my doctor and also provided documentation of my diagnosis. The relevant parts of the diagnosis are as follows;
- Diagnosis: Post-concussion syndrome
Depression/ Anxiety
- Level of severity: Severe
- Physical restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories but Nausea
- Thinking restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories
- Socio- Emotional: Serious to severe in all but one category
- Academic impacts: Serious to severe in all categories
- Comments: “needs more time to complete her tasks, difficulty concentrating”

(The medical diagnosis is attached herewith as Annex C)

b) I have not only explained the set of circumstances which describe what happened, but I have also presented medical evidence which is verified and attested by the University’s own student accessibility service. These circumstances indisputably fulfill the requirements set out in the rule mentioned above as; they are significantly extenuating circumstances; out of my control and affected my academic performance.
c) Furthermore, I have not only presented proof of my extenuating circumstances, but I have also shown an ability to progress and manage these problems in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes.
d) The decision dated 05.06.2023 is based on the fact of my regression in courses after my injury, I had to complete 30 credits for my sociology program and it took me a while but I have officially completed 15 after pushing forward. My doctor said this is only something that takes time, whereas the decision fails to account for the fact that the duration of this term represented the time where I was at my most vulnerable, I was struggling to focus not only on academics but also spheres of my social and private life, it was truly the most challenging time of my life to date. However, the disputed decision takes into account my performance solely for the time where I was at my worst and has failed to account for my term from January 2023 to May 2023, in which I took up the minimum requirement for 3 courses and passed each and every single one of them, a fact which can be attested by my grades, and submitted all my work. Furthermore, it is essential to mention that my ability to manage my courses is being adjudicated on the fact that I took on 5 courses for the current term and it is being represented as me being unable to manage my courses whereas I would argue that it only represents my progress and willingness to improve by keeping in mind a challenge which will motivate me to do even better.
e) I believe it is unequitable and unjust to single out my academic performance for the summer term without considering the genuine academic progress I have made over the past few months, after the mental work I have put into myself to find the motivation to complete my courses and pass, when that was a struggle of mine I did overcome.
f) I believe I have presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that I had significant extenuating circumstances which were out of my control, and they genuinely affected my academic performance. Not only that but by improving my grades I have shown a real ability to tackle my severe anxiety by really pushing myself to work really hard. It is significant to mention here that this last year represents the most challenging time of my life not only academically but in all aspects of my life, however, I have made genuine efforts to overcome my problems, be it personal, social, or academic and if I am given a chance to continue my year, I will be motivated to work even harder. A withdrawal from the university would not only set me back academically but would also lay waste to continuous hard-work I have put in to improve myself over the past year and if given the chance I only see myself improving from here.
g) This appeal sufficiently covers the reasons refusal listed out in the decision dated 05.06.2023 and therefore it is my request that I be granted a waiver for the requirement to withdraw for one year in line with guidelines provided in The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8.







Documentation

Appeal Type: Level 2 Amendment
ID: 171
Submitted: June 16, 2023 at 10:38:51 AM
Relevant Petition: 10554
New Information:
Student Name: Neha Haider
Student Email: 18nh20@queensu.ca
20153067


Appeal Against decision dated 05.06.2023 by the Dean



Facts:


1. For context to the scenario, it is essential to provide a brief outline of the facts at hand.
2. I was informed by the faculty on 23-05-2023 that I would be required to withdraw from my academics for a period of one year and that this was due to my academic performance. (A copy of the decision is attached herewith as Annex A)
3. Consequently, I filed a petition letter challenging the decision and got a decision dated 05.06.2023 denying my petition on the grounds that;
I. My petition did not demonstrate that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes;
II. That the decision of the faculty is justified in that I have demonstrated a lack of awareness of how to manage my academics as I registered in 15.0 units in the summer term.
4. Therefore, I am filing this appeal under The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science.


Grounds:
a) That The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8 lists out the requirements a request to waive a requirement to withdraw for one year, the relevant wording of which is copied here for ease of reference:
“..petition requesting that a requirement to withdraw be waived must clearly demonstrate how significantly extenuating circumstances, beyond the student’s control, affected their academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances have been temporary, the student should indicate and document how the circumstances have been overcome and why the student is confident that they will not continue to be a factor in academic performance. In cases where the extenuating circumstances are ongoing rather than temporary, the student should also indicate and document how these personal challenges will be managed if the requirement to withdraw is waived. A medical certificate or other official documentation that demonstrates the impact of the extenuating circumstances must be provided with the petition…”


- Extenuating circumstances
• That I got into a severe accident around the time of the end of 2020, which not only left me in a state of severe anxiety and distress, but it also affected my brain to the extent that it left me unable to focus on anything at all, after contusions to the brain.
(A medical diagnosis after the accident is attached herewith at as Annex B)
• Furthermore, it is essential to point out here that I have received not only a private diagnosis but also a medical diagnosis from the Queen’s Student Accessibility Services where they evaluated my mental health condition after asking my doctor and also provided documentation of my diagnosis. The relevant parts of the diagnosis are as follows;
- Diagnosis: Post-concussion syndrome
Depression/ Anxiety
- Level of severity: Severe
- Physical restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories but Nausea
- Thinking restrictions: Serious to severe in all categories
- Socio- Emotional: Serious to severe in all but one category
- Academic impacts: Serious to severe in all categories
- Comments: “needs more time to complete her tasks, difficulty concentrating”

(The medical diagnosis is attached herewith as Annex C)

b) I have not only explained the set of circumstances which describe what happened, but I have also presented medical evidence which is verified and attested by the University’s own student accessibility service. These circumstances indisputably fulfill the requirements set out in the rule mentioned above as; they are significantly extenuating circumstances; out of my control and affected my academic performance.
c) Furthermore, I have not only presented proof of my extenuating circumstances, but I have also shown an ability to progress and manage these problems in a way that would allow me to be successful in future classes.
d) The decision dated 05.06.2023 is based on the fact of my regression in courses after my injury, I had to complete 30 credits for my sociology program and it took me a while but I have officially completed 15 after pushing forward. My doctor said this is only something that takes time, whereas the decision fails to account for the fact that the duration of this term represented the time where I was at my most vulnerable, I was struggling to focus not only on academics but also spheres of my social and private life, it was truly the most challenging time of my life to date. However, the disputed decision takes into account my performance solely for the time where I was at my worst and has failed to account for my term from January 2023 to May 2023, in which I took up the minimum requirement for 3 courses and passed each and every single one of them, a fact which can be attested by my grades, and submitted all my work. Furthermore, it is essential to mention that my ability to manage my courses is being adjudicated on the fact that I took on 5 courses for the current term and it is being represented as me being unable to manage my courses whereas I would argue that it only represents my progress and willingness to improve by keeping in mind a challenge which will motivate me to do even better.
e) I believe it is unequitable and unjust to single out my academic performance for the summer term without considering the genuine academic progress I have made over the past few months, after the mental work I have put into myself to find the motivation to complete my courses and pass, when that was a struggle of mine I did overcome.
f) I believe I have presented sufficient evidence to demonstrate that I had significant extenuating circumstances which were out of my control, and they genuinely affected my academic performance. Not only that but by improving my grades I have shown a real ability to tackle my severe anxiety by really pushing myself to work really hard. It is significant to mention here that this last year represents the most challenging time of my life not only academically but in all aspects of my life, however, I have made genuine efforts to overcome my problems, be it personal, social, or academic and if I am given a chance to continue my year, I will be motivated to work even harder. A withdrawal from the university would not only set me back academically but would also lay waste to continuous hard-work I have put in to improve myself over the past year and if given the chance I only see myself improving from here.
g) This appeal sufficiently covers the reasons refusal listed out in the decision dated 05.06.2023 and therefore it is my request that I be granted a waiver for the requirement to withdraw for one year in line with guidelines provided in The Academic Regulations for the Faculty of Arts and Science 3.3.1.8.







Documentation

History

Originally submitted May 23, 2023 at 12:14:09 PM.

FieldReferenceOld ValueNew ValueNoteUserDate/Time
statusN/AReceivedIn ReviewSpring Forsberg2023-05-24 1:39:39 PM
statusN/AIn ReviewDeniedSpring Forsberg2023-06-05 10:48:33 AM
associate_deanN/AJenn Stephenson, Ph.D.Spring Forsberg2023-06-05 10:48:33 AM
decision_letterN/AN/ADecision letter sentSpring Forsberg2023-06-05 10:49:40 AM
statusN/AReceivedGrantedPamela Briand2023-08-29 11:50:03 AM
decision_letterN/AN/ADecision letter sentPamela Briand2023-08-29 11:50:59 AM
statusN/AReceivedGrantedPamela Briand2023-09-25 1:52:19 PM
statusN/AReceivedGrantedPamela Briand2023-09-25 1:52:31 PM