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Petition Type: New
ID: 180
Submitted: June 14, 2014 at 2:25:29 PM
First Name: Christina
Last Name: Hewitt
Student Number: 6338656
Degree Program: BA
Plan: Jewish Studies
Level of Study: 1

Petition Categories

Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years

Petition Letter

Petition Letter: Due to extreme discomfort and anxiety I was unable to attend the majority of my lectures during the 2013 ¿¿ 2014 academic year. Attending a lecture of a hundred or so students was intimidating and stressful, and as a result my grades suffered. Because I was unable to attend the lecture, I relied heavily on the online materials that I could access from my home, where I was better able to focus on my readings. When I was able to bring myself to attend class, I spent the majority of the lecture worried about sitting close to another student, whether or not they were watching me write, and generally unable to focus on the material being presented. This resulted in a poorer understanding of the material and thus an inability to perform well academically. In September I had registered for a full course load, but as attending class grew increasingly uncomfortable, I began to either drop courses (LING 100, SOCY 122), or avoid lectures entirely. Towards the end of the academic year, my family encouraged me to seek a professional opinion about my anxiety, as they could see I was still not achieving the academic performance I was capable of. After receiving the letter stating that I must withdraw, I decided that it was time to address the issue.

Academic Plan

Academic Plan: I have spoken with both an academic advisor and a counsellor to discuss how to move forward from here. If I were to return to Queen¿¿s this fall (2014), I would like to return on probation. I have found that I am more motivated to attend class, even if anxious, if there is a direct consequence for not attending ¿¿ such as a limited number of absences allowed in a course (PSYC 100). Probation is a last chance opportunity to remain at Queen¿¿s and would provide the motivation I need to succeed.
I also plan on retaking ENGL 200 to help raise my GPA to a minimum of 1.6. My grades for both essays were around a 70, however my inability to attend class on days when there was a quiz contributed to my D- in the course. SOCY 122 is another course I would like to take, as I was doing well before the fall exam. The course provides online narrated slides, and as a result, not as many students attend the live lecture. This, coupled with the smaller tutorial groups, would help me become comfortable with attending larger lectures. Smaller classes have worked well for me before, as I had done well when I attended St. Lawrence College, with classes around 30 people large (similar to a post secondary environment).
As for total course load goes, I would only like to take three courses a semester. Both ENGL 200 and SOCY 122 are full year courses, and I would like to take my third course online. This would provide a break from the lecture hall environment and allow me to work through some of my education in the comfort of my home. A smaller course load would also allow me to focus more energy on each class.
As a result of being asked to withdraw, I am now making use of the counselling services offered at Queen¿¿s. I have plans to meet occasionally with a counsellor to discuss my anxiety over the summer, and plan to continue speaking with someone when classes begin. I was also given information on Peer Mentoring, and do plan on connecting with a mentor to provide a weekly check in and support when necessary. Being held accountable throughout the year will encourage me to work through the anxiety and try to make the most out of my courses. An academic advisor also suggested I contact Learning Strategies in Stauffer if I ever needed help with group work or self-management.

Documentation

Professional Letter Detail: Letter from a counsellor.
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History

Originally submitted June 14, 2014 at 2:25:29 PM.

FieldReferenceOld ValueNew ValueNoteUserDate/Time
statusN/AReceivedPrepared for ReviewRhonda Sullivan2014-06-16 2:40:27 PM
statusN/APrepared for ReviewIncompleteHaley Everson2014-06-18 2:35:21 PM
statusN/AIncompleteIn ReviewHaley Everson2014-06-20 2:47:44 PM
statusN/AIn ReviewDeniedHaley Everson2014-07-14 9:14:12 AM
associate_deanN/AJ. Hugh Horton, Ph.D.Haley Everson2014-07-14 9:14:12 AM
decision_letterN/AN/ADecision letter sentHaley Everson2014-07-14 9:14:42 AM