Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: August 27, 2024
To Whom It May Concern,
RE: Fiona Taylor, Student # 20274221

I am writing in hopes of finally sorting out my academics. This is in relation to my courses for CHEM 112 (Fall/Winter 2022 – 2023), BIOL 103 (Winter 2024), PATH 120 (Spring 2024), and CHEM 113 (Spring 2024).
In fall/winter 2021 – 2022 and again in 2022 – 2023 I took CHEM 112. I completed the exams and wanted my lab grade to be carried over from the 2021 – 2022 academic year to the 2022- 2023 academic year. Since then, I have tried to get the aggregate mark for this course as I had completed more than 60% of the course and was experiencing extenuating circumstances. This is documented under the academic petition #10914.

In winter 2024, I took BIOL 103. I completed the exams and finished my assignments. However, I tried to submit the completed assignments after the due date, but before the winter semester was over, however the course instructors/coordinators would not accept them. I was told in an email from professor Moyes “we don’t have a way of dealing with reports handed in long after the original reports have been returned and marked”. This seems to contrast the experience I had when submitting assignments past the due date for PHAR 100. I submitted a late assignment for PHAR 100 and after I submitted the BIO tutorials/labs and they were accepted. While the TAs had finished marking the rest of the PHAR 100 assignments, it is my understanding that one of the course instructors marked mine. I feel that it is unfair to students with disabilities (such as myself) to have no way to “deal” with late assignments, especially considering that I would have had more time to study for my exams if I were not spending many hours working on these lab assignments for BIOL 103. I would like to have this work counted so that I can pass this course and move on academically.

For PATH 120 and CHEM 113 (both summer 2024 courses), I am requesting a late withdrawal. The reason for this is that it’s been a very bad summer: my uncle died by suicide toward the end of May, my father was hospitalized multiple times due to a heart condition. My grandfather was also in hospital (although a different one from my father) for several weeks, missing my uncle’s funeral. He has been in and out of the hospital numerous times this year. Unfortunately, these contributed to my mental health conditions being exacerbated and I became behind in the courses and found that I was unable to catch up.

Things are better now.

My father and grandfather are both out of the hospital. I have a therapist with whom I’m working to help manage my anxiety disorders. I’m being referred to a psychiatrist who will make sure my medications are the correct ones for me to take and treat me. I’ve now told my parents about all of this, which helps decrease my anxiety, and they are supportive of me returning to school.

As you can tell from my PHAR 100 course, I have the potential to do well academically.

I’m confident that these changes will add to my success at Queen’s and look forward to taking more courses and eventually graduating.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours truly,
Fiona Taylor
Student 20274221