Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

I am writing this appeal to request for aegrotat standing for my PHAR100 class, which I completed in the Fall 2015 semester.

On November 22, 2015, I was diagnosed with a concussion from an accidental head-butting incident. This concussion caused me to have a constant migraine spanning from the time of the incident until over two months after the injury occurred. This migraine blurred my vision, made me dizzy and sensitive to light, affected my concentration in class (causing me to leave in the middle of lectures) and affected my ability to look at any computer screens, which is where the majority of my study notes were located. My doctors strongly suggested that I rest and refrain from reading, looking at screens, exercise and all other physical stress until my migraines were completely gone. Reading and attending lectures caused my head to hurt more and so I took the doctor's advice in order to get better. As the exam dates approached, my headaches were not going away and I began to worry how I was going to study when I was not able to retain information, or allowed to read in general. This is when I decided to make appointments with my PHAR100 professor, William Racz, and with an academic advisor to discuss my options. Luckily, my injury occurred near the end of the semester, so I had completed all major assignments in the class. Writing a three-hour exam in a brightly lit gymnasium would have been impossible for me with the migraine I had at the time. Therefore, my professor suggested that he create an assignment for me to complete over the holiday rather than have me write the 50 final exam on December 17th. The assignment he made was worth 10 and allowed me to complete 60 of the in-class material to allow my application for aegrotat standing. Thus, I did not write the PHAR100 exam because I was not prepared for it due to my inability to concentrate from my concussion and because of the pain my migraines were causing me. My headaches began to go away on December 25th and so I was able to complete the assignment and submit it to my professor by December 29th, 2015.

Overall, I would like to appeal for aegrotat standing in my PHAR100 course since I was not able to complete the final exam due to my concussion. I took the appropriate resting steps in order to heal from my concussion as soon as possible and prevent my symptoms from worsening. Unfortunately, this inhibited my ability to study (due to the reading and concentrating components associated with studying) because of my severe migraines. This aegrotat standing would allow me to complete the course and graduate on time. I am a fourth-year student and thus graduating in the Spring with honors in Science (Biology) is my main academic goal, as I will be starting my Con-Ed 5th year in the Fall of 2016. For the future, I will take care of my head and if I were to get another concussion, I would take the same steps to heal as quickly as possible. I would also take the initiative to talk to my professors and advisors immediately to discuss my options, as I did for this injury.

Thank you,

Sarah Neville