Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Aegrotat Standing Petition

Student Name:Adison Emery
Student Number: 20519557
Course:ENGL 112
Term: Winter Term

I am writing to respectfully request Aegrotat (AG) standing for ENGL 112 during the Winter term.

I completed and passed more than 60% of the evaluated coursework in the class. However, because of extenuating circumstances beyond my control, I was unable to successfully complete the remaining course requirements. Throughout the term, I experienced significant health-related challenges connected to documented diagnoses of clinical depression, anxiety, and a learning disability. Although I do not normally disclose specific diagnoses, I am including this information to provide context for the academic difficulties I experienced during the course.

At the start of the term, I proactively reached out to the instructor to confirm my accommodations through Queen’s Student Accessibility Services. Throughout the course, I found myself needing to follow up multiple times regarding how accommodations would be implemented, particularly in relation to participation expectations and occasional absences. During the academic year, I also transitioned between two accessibility advisors. While both advisors were supportive, having to repeatedly explain my accommodations and circumstances added additional stress and administrative burden during a period when I was already struggling academically and personally.

One of the main challenges in this course involved participation-related requirements. An accommodation connected to participation was not consistently reflected in practice, and when I asked about alternatives for a participation-based component, I was advised that the original requirement would still need to be completed, with the option to meet further to discuss it. Repeatedly needing to re-advocate for accommodations that had already been approved became increasingly stressful and affected my ability to fully engage in the course. I had informed the instructor early in the term about my accommodations in relation to the group presentation component. In response, I was encouraged to attempt the assignment, as it involved limited public speaking, group work, and the option to read from a prepared script. While I understood this as encouragement and support, the barriers connected to participation still remained unresolved and continued to impact my ability to complete the requirement.

Across all other completed coursework, I consistently achieved grades in the 60–70% range. The most significant impact on my final grade came from the roundtable group presentation worth 15% and the participation component worth 15%, which together accounted for 30% of the course grade. Given my performance throughout the rest of the course, the final grade does not fully reflect my demonstrated academic performance during the term.

Despite these challenges, I continued to engage with the course, communicate with supports, and make efforts to meet course expectations throughout the term. Ultimately, due to the combination of health-related and accommodation-related barriers, I was unable to complete the remaining course requirements successfully.

Given that I completed the majority of the course and that the remaining work was impacted by documented extenuating circumstances beyond my control, I respectfully request consideration for Aegrotat standing.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Adison Emery
Student Number: 20519557