Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academic),

My apologies, it seems I sent the unfinished version of this email yesterday.

Thank you for your initial response to my petition. Previously, I did not understand what documentation I could have provided aside from a doctor's note. I cannot book an appointment due to prolonged wait times. However, I have gone through emails and my transcript which demonstrate the difficulties I have experienced with the University. These experiences significantly impacted my ability to perform academically, so I have attached the documentation in a folder in hopes you will reconsider your decision (as per your response letter).

First, I attached an email chain between myself and Dr. John Burge, Professor of MUSC 191 (“NOVEMBER 2020”). In the email, I reach out for help from Dr. Burge. He responded with a Zoom link to go over the assignments. In this Zoom meeting, he mentioned the possibility of a dyslexia diagnosis. He advised me to drop the course (as the University extended the drop date due to COVID) and seek a formal diagnosis (which has yet to be had).

In December, I found out my first accommodations advisor, Michelle Vieria, was no longer working at Queen's (I have attached my original Letter of Accommodation, which was created in October). I am unable to find any email exchanges between us. Unfortunately, I didn’t find out who my new Accommodation Advisor was until May when an incident occurred with a Professor. The second document, (“MAY 13 2021”), is an exchange between myself and Dr. Robert May, Department of English. Although the conversation with him ends without a response, he had reached out to my new accommodation advisor Angel Varrette, who in turn emailed me to explain my accommodations to me. I cannot find this email, but it was the first time I heard from her. Later that month, Queens Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) alerted me about my advisor change (“MAY 2021”).

In August 2021, I contacted the new Professor of MUSC 191, Cecilia Livingston, over concerns with course content regarding issues from the previous year to determine a plan for success (“AUGUST 2021”). We had the meeting and discussed the upcoming year, but never addressed the core issue. Instead, during class, she told me I needed to “start the assignments earlier”, which does not address the core issue.

At this point (February 2022) I reached out to Angel, seeking help to advocate for my learning needs since I was failing assignments, despite understanding the new material each week. I also should note I had a tutor- Emma Patterson. I have no emails with her as she was a peer, but have included a screenshot of money being transferred to her.
I was told by Angel “I will reach out to your instructor in MUSC 191B to arrange a time to meet with her to explore options re your weekly assignments. I will include you on the meeting invite, but there is no pressure to attend…” (“FEBRUARY 2022”, pg 2). This meeting invite never occurred, despite me verbally telling my advisor in the meeting sited^, that I was the bridge between her, and the course instructor.

I then contacted Kim Gudlauski, the Music Advisor, and asked her to take me out of the Bachelor of Music program. I later dropped out of Con-ed and into a Bachelor of Arts General (“SSR_TSRPT_UN” pg 1). I knew I wouldn’t be able to continue in the Education program (due to insufficient GPA requirements) despite deferring my 2nd-year practicum (“PRACDeferral”).
Additionally, disclosed on my transcript are some other courses affecting my GPA that are in the process of being resolved:

MUSC 121 Applied Study: There is a missing grade that is being resolved (Highlight-Yellow, Pg 1)
CLST 102 Intro to Greek Civ: in the process of a late drop, as directed by Alan Jeans (Highlight-Pink, Pg 2) (“OCTOBER 2022”, “RE_QSAS SUPPORT”)
HIST 283 Women & Gender - North America: in the process of a late drop, as directed by Alan Jeans (Highlight-Pink, Pg 2) (“OCTOBER 2022”, “RE_QSAS SUPPORT”)
LLCU 244 Music&Culture in Latin America: this is an incomplete course, as I am still working on the last final assignment (Highlight-Yellow, Pg 2)
MUSC 171 Social History Popular Music: this is also incomplete, as I am currently completing an assignment and a few tests.

During my third year, I had a couple of mishaps and reached out to Alan Jeans (of QSAS) for help. He was helpful and devised a plan that allowed me to complete my semester (“OCTOBER 2022”, “RE_QSAS SUPPORT”). Unfortunately, at this point, my GPA was unsalvageable. In December 2022, Allan told me about the Late Drop option. This information would have been beneficial when I was struggling with MUSC 127 ( it is hard to pass ear training without theory). See the document entitled “RE_QSAS SUPPORT”.

I am actively taking courses, and I am in the middle of exams and final assignments to both catch up in and finish courses. I have had an Accommodation Advisor change for a third time (“JUNE 2023 QSAS”), which has been helpful but I also question why I am only now- as Queens is putting me on a required absence - learning of all the supports available too me such as a Learning Strategist (“JUNE 2023SASS”). I understand it is my responsibility to avail myself of all of the support offered by the school, but between 4 advisors and 3 full years of struggle, I was never told about this.

For the next couple of years of my degree, I have put in place a few things to help me be more successful. Kim Gudlauski has agreed to meet with me on a biweekly basis to help keep me on track. I am in the middle of fixing some of the grades on my transcript, and I’m seeking help from healthcare professionals. I hope you will reconsider.


Thanks,
Sarah.
20229099