Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Monday, April 4, 2016
Dear Associate Dean (Studies),

I am appealing to drop GNDS 215, taught by Professor Melissa Houghtaling, which is a three-unit course in the winter term of 2016.

My name is Molly Schaefler and I am a second year art history major. I decided to take GNDS 215 as a winter term elective. I was recently in and out of Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto for an unexpected medical emergency for about three weeks. It began over reading week and I was not able to come back to school until early-mid March. This being said, I was admitted into the hospital February 23rd and the course drop deadline without an academic penalty was February 26th. Seeing as I was unable to keep up with schoolwork, as I was advised by my team of doctors to take it extremely easy and not to induce stress, I was unable to keep up with a lot of my courses. Which then led to myself not being able to be up to date with work and unable to drop GNDS 215. Most of my professors were extremely understanding of my situation and I was eventually able to catch up with extensions and makeup assignments. However, because GNDS 215 was an elective that required numerous readings and tutorials that I was unable to attend due to my illness and medications, I fell behind in readings and was not quite caught up. Ever since I returned from being in the hospital I found that my grades in this particular class dropped severely. After being put on heavy medication that reduced my ability to do any type of physical activity, including walking to and from my classes, which would leave me exhausted and unable to complete work for that day. Specifically, in GNDS 215, attending tutorials and lectures with iClicker questions, was difficult for me once I returned due to the mediation I was on making me extremely exhausted and often dizzy.

As my health is still an issue, it is slowly starting to get better and I believe I will be able to complete a six-unit course in the spring/summer session of 2016. Although it will not be GNDS 215, I would definitely be interested in retaking it in either my third or fourth year as an elective. I met with an advisor when I initially returned and we thought I would be able to catch up with extensions and some makeup assignments, which I did but ever since I have been back my grades have severely dropped in GNDS 215. That being said, my advisor suggested I apply for an academic appeal and take a lighter course load to maintain my stress levels. In third and fourth year, I plan on taking at least one online course per semester so I do not have to worry about the extra walking to and from campus that strongly affects my health and working ability.

Attached are two letters from my family physician and from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre where I was admitted.