Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Alyssa Bailey
612 Second Avenue, South
Kenora, ON
P9N 1X5

January 30, 2024

Dr. Jenn Stephenson
Associate Dean (Academic)
Faculty of Arts and Science
Queen’s University
94 University Avenue, Dunning Hall
Kingston, ON
K7L 3N6

RE: Petition to Convert HIST 207 (Winter 2023) to Aegrotat Standing for Student #05864130

Dear Dr. Stephenson,

I’m writing this letter to respectfully request consideration for the conversion of my HIST 207 (Winter 2023) grade to aegrotat standing, due to extenuating circumstances that I experienced from the beginning of February to the end of August 2023. My HIST 207 grade is currently a C-, as I was ultimately unable to submit my final essay, worth 40% of my final grade. I have attached an OnQ screenshot which shows the assignments submitted and their accompanying grades.

I’m an Indigenous student registered with QSAS on the basis of a medical disability for which I receive academic accommodations. In early February 2023, I suffered a medical crisis, unrelated to my registered disability, which compounded the difficulties I might typically expect to encounter in meeting deadlines for HIST 207. My doctor provided a letter, dated February 14, 2023, confirming this “significant and unexpected” medical issue as one separate and distinct from the disability for which I’m registered. My condition worsened over the following weeks (and then months), at which point I also reached out to my Indigenous counsellor, Lisa Doxtator (Four Directions, Student Wellness Services), and my QSAS accessibility advisor, Cristina Cardelus, for advice in managing my academic responsibilities during this time.

In response to documentation submitted by Lisa, Cristina updated my academic accommodations to provide me with “extensions on assignments beyond 7 calendar days”, and although I struggled to meet the course deadlines, I was able to achieve good grades on my assignments and meet the course’s learning outcomes. Unfortunately, my progress was further hampered when my father then experienced his own medical emergency, necessitating hospitalization on April 12, 2023-- less than a week before the April 18 deadline of my final research paper. The concurrent stresses of this family emergency along with my own medical issues resulted in a situation where I was unable to complete my final assessment for HIST 207. Further, I was advised by both my medical doctor (Dr. Jennifer Rae) and my counsellor (Lisa Doxtator) that it was in my best interest—physically, mentally, and emotionally—to focus first-and-foremost on the health of myself and my family during this time.

I communicated with Professor Loucks via email throughout the semester and I’m incredibly grateful for the empathy, support, and flexibility she extended to me during this time. On April 28 I informed her that, given the extenuating circumstances, I would be unable to complete the final assessment and requested her support in applying for AG standing. She agreed to support my petition while also offering the option of submitting my final HIST 207 grade as “Incomplete”, providing me with the opportunity to potentially submit my final assessment over the summer, in order to receive a complete grade. Still eager to demonstrate my grasp of the material, I optimistically agreed to this latter option and the “Incomplete” paperwork was filed on May 1, 2023.

Over the following months, my father remained in hospital in a critical state, my grandfather passed-away on June 22, and a very close great-uncle slowly declined and died of cancer. As these accumulating stressors compounded over the summer, they took an increasing toll on my own already tenuous health and on August 1, 2023, I notified Professor Loucks that I would be unable to complete the final assessment for HIST 207. At this time, she once again agreed to support my petition to have my Incomplete grade converted to AG standing.

While my father remained hospitalized—at this point over 200 km away-- and while continuing to cope with my disability, I’m proud to report that I succeeded in achieving an A+ in EMPR 210 during the Fall 2023 semester and I remain steadfastly dedicated to completing my undergraduate degree. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to have my HIST 207 grade converted to AG standing to more accurately reflect my demonstrated learning from the course.

I thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Alyssa Bailey
Student #05864130