Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 12003
Submitted: June 11, 2024 at 3:07:33 PM
First Name: Alexandra
Last Name: Korakis
Pronoun: she/her
Preferred Name: Alex
Student Number: 20353080
Email: 21atk4@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: undeclared
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year, Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Code: PSYC 241
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PSYC 236
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: ENGL 104
Term: Fall
Year: 2023
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PHIL 153
Term: Fall
Year: 2023
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PSYC 271
Term: Fall
Year: 2023
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: ENGL 296
Term: Fall
Year: 2023
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PHIL 115
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: CLST 203
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PSYC 221
Term: Winter
Year: 2024
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Alexandra Korakis and I just finished my second year of studies at Queen's University. The reason I am writing to you today is to petition my requirement to withdraw for one year, as well as to try and have a late drop for the courses that I have failed both this year as well as in my second semester of my first year. The reason that I am requesting to to have these courses as a late drop is because over the past couple of years I have struggled with depression, but as of the past year and a half it had gotten significantly worse to the point where I found it very hard to get out of bed and live my daily lifestyle, nevermind completing my work for school. I spent time trying to figure out how to deal with this over the past year and a half with my therapist, but nothing seemed to work until a few months ago when I had started to take antidepressants as well as my therapy sessions. I started to take this medication in January and each month I have gotten significantly better so that now I am at a point that I am confident that I could get back to being the student that I used to be with completing my work in a very timely fashion, as well as not only passing but exceeding at my classes. Although I started to take this medication in January, I couldn’t see the full progress until recently. It started with me being able to get out of bed easier, then followed with me eating more properly and living a healthier lifestyle by going to the gym and having a daily routine. When I finally noticed the progress with my schoolwork it had been too late in the year for me to be able to catch up with everything in my classes, so all I could really do at this point was study my hardest for my exams and hope that would be enough, which it was not. I know that I did not handle this situation exactly properly at the time and I should have talked to the school early about my struggles, but now that I am in a much better place and have set a routine for myself that I have been following, I am confident that if you waive my requirement to withdraw I will exceed with my academics next year and prove that I am much better now, as well as why I deserve to stay in this program. As for how I am planning to catch up with the classes that I have failed and will hopefully be dropped, I am planning to take a couple of summer courses for the July - August time period that I will need to sign up for. I didn’t want to take any courses during the first summer time period because I wanted to be sure that I had some time to get into a healthy routine while feeling better that I could stick to without adding the stress of schoolwork on top of that to think about. And I am also planning on taking a 5th year to complete all of my necessary courses so that I don’t need to shove them all into a small timeframe and can really give my courses the necessary attention that they deserve. I really hope that you take my petition into consideration so that I have the chance to prove myself to the school next year because I do love my classes and would love a second chance to show what I am really capable of. I have also attached a letter from my therapist explaining what I have been going through this past year and a half, as well as steps that we have been taking to improve and my progress so far.
Thank you for your consideration,
Alexandra Korakis.
My name is Alexandra Korakis and I just finished my second year of studies at Queen's University. The reason I am writing to you today is to petition my requirement to withdraw for one year, as well as to try and have a late drop for the courses that I have failed both this year as well as in my second semester of my first year. The reason that I am requesting to to have these courses as a late drop is because over the past couple of years I have struggled with depression, but as of the past year and a half it had gotten significantly worse to the point where I found it very hard to get out of bed and live my daily lifestyle, nevermind completing my work for school. I spent time trying to figure out how to deal with this over the past year and a half with my therapist, but nothing seemed to work until a few months ago when I had started to take antidepressants as well as my therapy sessions. I started to take this medication in January and each month I have gotten significantly better so that now I am at a point that I am confident that I could get back to being the student that I used to be with completing my work in a very timely fashion, as well as not only passing but exceeding at my classes. Although I started to take this medication in January, I couldn’t see the full progress until recently. It started with me being able to get out of bed easier, then followed with me eating more properly and living a healthier lifestyle by going to the gym and having a daily routine. When I finally noticed the progress with my schoolwork it had been too late in the year for me to be able to catch up with everything in my classes, so all I could really do at this point was study my hardest for my exams and hope that would be enough, which it was not. I know that I did not handle this situation exactly properly at the time and I should have talked to the school early about my struggles, but now that I am in a much better place and have set a routine for myself that I have been following, I am confident that if you waive my requirement to withdraw I will exceed with my academics next year and prove that I am much better now, as well as why I deserve to stay in this program. As for how I am planning to catch up with the classes that I have failed and will hopefully be dropped, I am planning to take a couple of summer courses for the July - August time period that I will need to sign up for. I didn’t want to take any courses during the first summer time period because I wanted to be sure that I had some time to get into a healthy routine while feeling better that I could stick to without adding the stress of schoolwork on top of that to think about. And I am also planning on taking a 5th year to complete all of my necessary courses so that I don’t need to shove them all into a small timeframe and can really give my courses the necessary attention that they deserve. I really hope that you take my petition into consideration so that I have the chance to prove myself to the school next year because I do love my classes and would love a second chance to show what I am really capable of. I have also attached a letter from my therapist explaining what I have been going through this past year and a half, as well as steps that we have been taking to improve and my progress so far.
Thank you for your consideration,
Alexandra Korakis.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Course of study:
The courses that I am planning to register in this year would be multiple different psychology courses, such as the ones that I had failed over this past year. I really did enjoy taking these courses and feel that the material is something that I could really excel in now that I am in a much better place both mentally and physically. Other courses that I plan on registering in would be the sociology course that I had failed in first year, as well as maybe some philosophy courses. I feel that these are all courses that I could do well in while being in a better headspace because they are all courses that I am interested in, and I find that when I am interested in the material it makes the motivation to do work and go to class that much easier.
Full time versus part time status:
The plan as of right now would be to take 5 courses per semester. I feel that I will be able to complete all of these courses since I will not be taking an outside job and focusing my attention on my school work, with appropriate breaks so that my brain does not get too overwhelmed and I can do all of my work to the best of my ability. If any professors or anyone at the school feels that it would be better for me to start by taking 4 courses the first semester I come back and then turning that into 5 the second semester, I would be open to this as well so that I can set myself up for success in the best way possible.
Strategies for success:
This year I know a big factor that has gotten in the way of my success was my depression and not taking care of that properly as it got worse. When returning this year I am going to be sure to attend my therapy biweekly with check ins there of how I am doing on completing my assignments and finding ways with my therapist to keep myself motivating. Along these lines, I have also been taking antidepressants which have helped with my motivation, and I will continue to take these antidepressants daily to help with keeping my mood up and my motivation strong. I will also be spending my summer building a daily routine that works best for me to keep my motivation and mental health at the best place that it can be. This includes having a regular sleep schedule, daily meals around the same time which are healthy choices for me, and doing things that make me happy such as going to the gym daily, or having a bit of me time to read. Another way that I plan to have to help me succeed in my classes is to find other people in the class that I can be friends with who I can also use as a type of study group so that we can keep each other in check so that we are caught up on all the work, as well as studying for exams together or writing papers/doing assignments in the same place so that we can help keep each other from being distracted. I also think that another thing that I can do this year to help me succeed would be going to professors office hours so that I can ask any questions I might have about the material, or talk about due dates in advance if I think there is anything that might keep me from being able to meet a deadline.
The courses that I am planning to register in this year would be multiple different psychology courses, such as the ones that I had failed over this past year. I really did enjoy taking these courses and feel that the material is something that I could really excel in now that I am in a much better place both mentally and physically. Other courses that I plan on registering in would be the sociology course that I had failed in first year, as well as maybe some philosophy courses. I feel that these are all courses that I could do well in while being in a better headspace because they are all courses that I am interested in, and I find that when I am interested in the material it makes the motivation to do work and go to class that much easier.
Full time versus part time status:
The plan as of right now would be to take 5 courses per semester. I feel that I will be able to complete all of these courses since I will not be taking an outside job and focusing my attention on my school work, with appropriate breaks so that my brain does not get too overwhelmed and I can do all of my work to the best of my ability. If any professors or anyone at the school feels that it would be better for me to start by taking 4 courses the first semester I come back and then turning that into 5 the second semester, I would be open to this as well so that I can set myself up for success in the best way possible.
Strategies for success:
This year I know a big factor that has gotten in the way of my success was my depression and not taking care of that properly as it got worse. When returning this year I am going to be sure to attend my therapy biweekly with check ins there of how I am doing on completing my assignments and finding ways with my therapist to keep myself motivating. Along these lines, I have also been taking antidepressants which have helped with my motivation, and I will continue to take these antidepressants daily to help with keeping my mood up and my motivation strong. I will also be spending my summer building a daily routine that works best for me to keep my motivation and mental health at the best place that it can be. This includes having a regular sleep schedule, daily meals around the same time which are healthy choices for me, and doing things that make me happy such as going to the gym daily, or having a bit of me time to read. Another way that I plan to have to help me succeed in my classes is to find other people in the class that I can be friends with who I can also use as a type of study group so that we can keep each other in check so that we are caught up on all the work, as well as studying for exams together or writing papers/doing assignments in the same place so that we can help keep each other from being distracted. I also think that another thing that I can do this year to help me succeed would be going to professors office hours so that I can ask any questions I might have about the material, or talk about due dates in advance if I think there is anything that might keep me from being able to meet a deadline.
Documentation
Professional Letter: A Korakis - Appeal letter.pdf
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 274
Submitted: July 5, 2024 at 9:30:12 PM
Relevant Petition: 12003
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 241, Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 236, Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: ENGL 104, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PHIL 153, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 271, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: ENGL 296, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PHIL 115, Fall/Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: CLST 203, Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 221, Winter 2024
Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 241, Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 236, Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: ENGL 104, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PHIL 153, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 271, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: ENGL 296, Fall 2023
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PHIL 115, Fall/Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: CLST 203, Winter 2024
Drop a course after the academic deadline: PSYC 221, Winter 2024
Appeal Grounds
Appeals to the Board of Studies must include a letter based on one or more of the Grounds for Appeal (Appeal Regulation 3.4). What are the grounds you are basing your appeal on?
- The Associate Dean's decision did not follow the rules of procedural fairness. A breach of procedural fairness includes such things as the Associate Dean failed to:
- Make a reasonable decision in your appeal. A “reasonable” decision is one that is based on evidence, thought out and supported by facts and logical inferences from the facts. To be reasonable, the decision must contain adequate reasons for the conclusions.
Appeal Grounds Details: I feel as though the Associate Dean did not take into consideration the full extent that I have gone to manage my extenuating circumstances in a way which will allow me to be successful in future classes. I feel that the Associate Dean only took into consideration the fact that I have going to therapy to deal with my circumstances, which I have been doing since 2017, but I have not been going to therapy for this same reason the whole time. I also feel that they did not take into consideration the fact that I have been taking antidepressant medication to help with my circumstances, as well as developing a daily routine to help keep myself successful.
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you today to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my request to Waive the petition Deadline for for the 2023 winter term as well as dropping my courses after the academic deadline. As well as my requirement to withdraw for the upcoming academic year. The reason that I am appealing this decision is because I don’t think the Associate Dean fully understood the situation I have been dealing with over the past year, as well as me not explaining it in the best way to its full extent. In my email from the Associate Dean, they said that they do not think that I have demonstrated that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that will allow me to be successful in my future classes. While I understand partly where that is coming from, I don’t think they fully understand the steps that I am taking. I stated in my last appeal letter that I had been going to therapy since 2017, I have not been going for my depression that whole time. I definitely could have made this more clear in my first letter, which is why I would like to rectify this now. When I first started to go to therapy it was to deal with issues of my parents divorces, as well as issues with my abusive father. It wasn’t until about the end of 2022 that I had started to deal with the symptoms of depression, and started to get help for that in my therapy. I think it is also important to mention this time around that part of the reason I started to develop depression in my first year was because like everyone else I was learning to deal with life away from my parents, but also at this time I had started to get bullied by another student in my dorms. After moving out of the dorms and living with my real friends in second year I had started to get over this, but at this point my symptoms with depression were too severe, and I had not realized it until it was too late in that semester. I also think that in my first petition letter the Associate Dean did not take into consideration the fact that I had started medication to deal with my depression, as well as setting up a daily routine that has been very helpful at keeping me motivated. I started taking the antidepressants in January this year, but the results of this medication did not all happen at once. As I said in my last letter, it started to take a serious effect with helping me deal with my depression about a month in when I started to notice that I was able to leave my room a lot more, as well as start to make myself proper food. It wasn’t until the end of the semester that I noticed the change in my motivation for school, but by this time it was too late. Also while being home for the summer, I have gotten into a daily routine of going to bed and waking up earlier, as well as going to the gym, which I have noticed has really helped with my mental health and my motivation which I feel I will be able to keep up during the upcoming school year to help my keep that motivation and good mental health intact. Because of the circumstances that I have dealt with over the past year and a half, I have not been able to fully focus on my schoolwork since I was not in the right headspace. I am confident that by continuing all of these steps that I have put into place to help me deal with the depression that I had started to experience about 2 years ago, I will be able to go back to the good student I once was, and be able to have a great year this upcoming school year. I plan on taking 5 years of studies minimum so that I don’t overwhelm myself when I go back to school and can give all of my courses the necessary attention that they deserve. I really hope that you take my appeal into consideration so that I have the chance to prove myself to the school next year because I do love my classes and would love a second chance to show what I am really capable of. I have also attached a more in depth letter from my therapist explaining my situation and the steps that we have been taking.
Thank you for your consideration,
Alexandra Korakis
I am writing to you today to appeal the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my request to Waive the petition Deadline for for the 2023 winter term as well as dropping my courses after the academic deadline. As well as my requirement to withdraw for the upcoming academic year. The reason that I am appealing this decision is because I don’t think the Associate Dean fully understood the situation I have been dealing with over the past year, as well as me not explaining it in the best way to its full extent. In my email from the Associate Dean, they said that they do not think that I have demonstrated that my extenuating circumstances are being managed in a way that will allow me to be successful in my future classes. While I understand partly where that is coming from, I don’t think they fully understand the steps that I am taking. I stated in my last appeal letter that I had been going to therapy since 2017, I have not been going for my depression that whole time. I definitely could have made this more clear in my first letter, which is why I would like to rectify this now. When I first started to go to therapy it was to deal with issues of my parents divorces, as well as issues with my abusive father. It wasn’t until about the end of 2022 that I had started to deal with the symptoms of depression, and started to get help for that in my therapy. I think it is also important to mention this time around that part of the reason I started to develop depression in my first year was because like everyone else I was learning to deal with life away from my parents, but also at this time I had started to get bullied by another student in my dorms. After moving out of the dorms and living with my real friends in second year I had started to get over this, but at this point my symptoms with depression were too severe, and I had not realized it until it was too late in that semester. I also think that in my first petition letter the Associate Dean did not take into consideration the fact that I had started medication to deal with my depression, as well as setting up a daily routine that has been very helpful at keeping me motivated. I started taking the antidepressants in January this year, but the results of this medication did not all happen at once. As I said in my last letter, it started to take a serious effect with helping me deal with my depression about a month in when I started to notice that I was able to leave my room a lot more, as well as start to make myself proper food. It wasn’t until the end of the semester that I noticed the change in my motivation for school, but by this time it was too late. Also while being home for the summer, I have gotten into a daily routine of going to bed and waking up earlier, as well as going to the gym, which I have noticed has really helped with my mental health and my motivation which I feel I will be able to keep up during the upcoming school year to help my keep that motivation and good mental health intact. Because of the circumstances that I have dealt with over the past year and a half, I have not been able to fully focus on my schoolwork since I was not in the right headspace. I am confident that by continuing all of these steps that I have put into place to help me deal with the depression that I had started to experience about 2 years ago, I will be able to go back to the good student I once was, and be able to have a great year this upcoming school year. I plan on taking 5 years of studies minimum so that I don’t overwhelm myself when I go back to school and can give all of my courses the necessary attention that they deserve. I really hope that you take my appeal into consideration so that I have the chance to prove myself to the school next year because I do love my classes and would love a second chance to show what I am really capable of. I have also attached a more in depth letter from my therapist explaining my situation and the steps that we have been taking.
Thank you for your consideration,
Alexandra Korakis
Documentation
Document: A Korakis - Appeal letter 2.pdf
History
Originally submitted June 11, 2024 at 3:07:33 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:22:11 PM | |
| professional_letter | N/A | A Korakis - Appeal letter.pdf | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| appeal_category | N/A | Drop a course after the academic deadline, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year | Drop a course after the academic deadline, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year, Waive the 21-day or one term deadline | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | |
| course | SOCY 122 | SOCY 122 | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| term | SOCY 122 | Fall/Winter | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| year | SOCY 122 | 2023 | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| appeal_category_per_course | SOCY 122 | Drop a course after the academic deadline | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| course | PHIL 151 | PHIL 151 | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| term | PHIL 151 | Winter | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| year | PHIL 151 | 2023 | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| appeal_category_per_course | PHIL 151 | Drop a course after the academic deadline | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-12 4:25:13 PM | ||
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-24 8:54:47 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-24 8:54:47 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Kerri Andrews | 2024-06-24 8:57:29 AM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 274 | 21atk4 | 2024-07-05 9:30:12 PM | |
| status | N/A | Received | ADA Amended Decision | July 9 - ADA ammended decision with new documentation and allowed all course drops and removal of the RTW1 | Libby Hearn | 2024-07-09 12:39:03 PM |