Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 10587
Submitted: May 29, 2023 at 5:40:49 PM
First Name: Sabrina
Last Name: Jegede
Pronoun: She
Student Number: 20048120
Email: 16soj@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: DEVS
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr Jenn Stephenson,
I am writing this letter to petition the faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's for one year due to a recent change in circumstances that has improved my academic capabilities. I have struggled through my time at Queen's due to a lack of proper treatment for my disability. Since my diagnosis in 2020, I have spent the past three years trying numerous medications that either had no effect or caused adverse side effects, causing a strain on my academic progress and my mental health. However, I continued working with my family doctor to find the right one. Following another failed medication, I went back home to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 17-18th of February (the winter reading break) and immediately worked with my doctor to try a new medication which worked and led to a massive productivity increase in the last two months of the semester.
Since starting this medication, I was not only able to complete my assignments and readings and improve my attendance but also actively communicated with my professors when I needed help. These were all areas I had struggled with previously and hurt my GPA. The difference has been night and day and immensely encouraging in pursuing my degree, which I thought would be almost impossible. However, I realised that this medication was not magic. I still needed to reflect on my academic plan and be realistic about my goals. For instance, while my attendance improved, it could be better especially given my rough start to the semester. So in March, I reached out to an academic advisor (over Zoom) to discuss my options as I considered becoming an online student. She told me being an online student in the honours program would be difficult due to seminar courses being in-person, but switching to the general program would allow for that. As I had completed my other requirements, all I had left were electives which I could take online. I had not been aware of this option but it fit my needs perfectly. Unfortunately, due to requesting other reports since then, I do not have the what-if report from that specific date, but I hope the report from the 1st of May is sufficient as it shows the summer courses I was considering at the time and how I was basing them on the general program.
I am writing this letter to petition the faculty's decision that I must withdraw from Queen's for one year due to a recent change in circumstances that has improved my academic capabilities. I have struggled through my time at Queen's due to a lack of proper treatment for my disability. Since my diagnosis in 2020, I have spent the past three years trying numerous medications that either had no effect or caused adverse side effects, causing a strain on my academic progress and my mental health. However, I continued working with my family doctor to find the right one. Following another failed medication, I went back home to Halifax, Nova Scotia on the 17-18th of February (the winter reading break) and immediately worked with my doctor to try a new medication which worked and led to a massive productivity increase in the last two months of the semester.
Since starting this medication, I was not only able to complete my assignments and readings and improve my attendance but also actively communicated with my professors when I needed help. These were all areas I had struggled with previously and hurt my GPA. The difference has been night and day and immensely encouraging in pursuing my degree, which I thought would be almost impossible. However, I realised that this medication was not magic. I still needed to reflect on my academic plan and be realistic about my goals. For instance, while my attendance improved, it could be better especially given my rough start to the semester. So in March, I reached out to an academic advisor (over Zoom) to discuss my options as I considered becoming an online student. She told me being an online student in the honours program would be difficult due to seminar courses being in-person, but switching to the general program would allow for that. As I had completed my other requirements, all I had left were electives which I could take online. I had not been aware of this option but it fit my needs perfectly. Unfortunately, due to requesting other reports since then, I do not have the what-if report from that specific date, but I hope the report from the 1st of May is sufficient as it shows the summer courses I was considering at the time and how I was basing them on the general program.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Since then, I planned to switch from the honours program to the general program as soon as it was possible. I also decided to forgo summer employment and take online courses in the summer and fall semesters. Additionally, I planned to return home to Halifax, where I find I am most grounded, least distracted and with a good support system, also giving me access to my family doctor who could not treat me when I was out of province. I am happy to report that I have followed through with this plan. I returned to Halifax on the 27th of April and enrolled in a few summer courses that have been going well I have also been proactive in researching online fall courses and have a list of the ones that fit me best. However, I failed to change to the general program as the change period began the same day I received the requirement to withdraw.
If this petition and plan are deemed acceptable, I would like to continue following it. In addition to this plan, I have been making use of many effective learning strategies to aid my study. These strategies include creating a spreadsheet with all my due dates, having post-it notes with my closest deadlines which I go over at the end of each academic week and setting several reminders for due dates. I also follow a schedule in which I participate in my hobbies after completing my work. Additionally, I have spoken to an academic advisor to ensure I am on the right track and reached out to my accessibility coordinator to update my accommodations to better reflect the type of classes I am taking.
Lastly, I would like to end this letter by being completely frank. My time at university has been rough, and if this suspension had come during any of my previous years or even before February, I would have been relieved. But for the first time in my academic career, I have been productive, able to reach out for help and have confidence in my ability to do well. I had begun implementing a more realistic academic plan that fit my capabilities before the requirement to withdraw and I made a big turnaround with two months left in the semester and have remained on this path in my summer courses. I hope I can show what I can do with more time. Thank you for considering this petition.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Jegede
If this petition and plan are deemed acceptable, I would like to continue following it. In addition to this plan, I have been making use of many effective learning strategies to aid my study. These strategies include creating a spreadsheet with all my due dates, having post-it notes with my closest deadlines which I go over at the end of each academic week and setting several reminders for due dates. I also follow a schedule in which I participate in my hobbies after completing my work. Additionally, I have spoken to an academic advisor to ensure I am on the right track and reached out to my accessibility coordinator to update my accommodations to better reflect the type of classes I am taking.
Lastly, I would like to end this letter by being completely frank. My time at university has been rough, and if this suspension had come during any of my previous years or even before February, I would have been relieved. But for the first time in my academic career, I have been productive, able to reach out for help and have confidence in my ability to do well. I had begun implementing a more realistic academic plan that fit my capabilities before the requirement to withdraw and I made a big turnaround with two months left in the semester and have remained on this path in my summer courses. I hope I can show what I can do with more time. Thank you for considering this petition.
Sincerely,
Sabrina Jegede
Documentation
Professional Letter: Dr letter_Sabrina Jegede.pdf
Decision Letters
History
Originally submitted May 29, 2023 at 5:40:49 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Incomplete | Kerri Andrews | 2023-05-29 5:46:33 PM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Kerri Andrews | 2023-06-01 1:57:53 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted | Kerri Andrews | 2023-06-13 2:19:59 PM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Kerri Andrews | 2023-06-13 2:19:59 PM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Kerri Andrews | 2023-06-13 2:20:41 PM |