Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3618
Submitted: June 13, 2017 at 11:43:34 PM
First Name: Thalia
Last Name: Tavares
Student Number: 10066356
Email: 12tvt@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: ENGL
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Code: ENGL 306
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dr. Johanne Bénard
Associate Dean (Admission & Recruitment) and Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Dear Dr. Bénard,
I am writing to appeal to drop ENGL 306 (2016-2017) and the faculty's subsequent decision requiring me to withdraw from my studies at Queen's University for the 2017-2018 academic year. In the winter semester of the 2015-2016 academic year, I began experiencing academic difficulties due to familial conflict and instability that triggered a clinical depressive episode. This episode impacted my day-to-day functioning, such that it disrupted my class attendance in addition to making coursework difficult to complete due to poor concentration and fatigue. Furthermore, my ongoing familial circumstances made it logistically difficult to access counselling and comprehensive medical treatment for my depression on a continuous basis. Consequently, I received a failing grade in two courses in the winter semester and one course in the summer semester. This meant that going into my third year of study, I had a low cumulative GPA, and was placed on academic probation.
However, I have made and continue to make gains in my coping skills and academic abilities and achievement, partially accomplished through having sought counselling in the spring and summer of 2016. In addition, the familial circumstances that triggered my depressive episode and interfered with my capacity to seek treatment have resolved and I have made personal adjustments to increase my independence and ensure future access to and continuity of psychological and medical treatment. These gains unfortunately have not sufficiently compensated for the poor grades I received when I suffered my depressive episode nor were they able to fully address the difficulties with class attendance I experienced that left me unable to pass ENGL306 past the deadline to drop the course. However, it would be unwise to follow through on the faculty's request that I withdraw from my studies for the coming year. Not only would it detract from the academic and motivational momentum I have currently established, it would indeed jeopardize my future academic career due to the resulting logistical and financial complications I would experience.
I have already taken and plan to take further action to ensure my academic success in what would be my final year of study. Firstly, I sought medical care from a physician who prescribed me a medication for my psychiatric condition, which I am presently taking. Secondly, I have sought and received a diagnosis from a clinical psychologist of depression with recurring episodes. This diagnosis is helpful to me in two ways (1) I will be able to disclose this diagnosis to the counsellor I will continue to see in Kingston, improving her ability to address the difficulties and challenges I experience in our counselling sessions (2) I will be able to register with Accessibility Services, which would allow me access to any academic accommodations needed to support my academic pursuits. Finally, I plan to retake two courses that I had previously failed in the 2017 fall semester- ARTH 226 and ENGL281. Improving my grades in these two courses and removing the ENGL 306 failing grade would serve to significantly improve my cumulative GPA.
Sincerely,
Thalia Tavares
Associate Dean (Admission & Recruitment) and Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services, First Floor Dunning Hall
Dear Dr. Bénard,
I am writing to appeal to drop ENGL 306 (2016-2017) and the faculty's subsequent decision requiring me to withdraw from my studies at Queen's University for the 2017-2018 academic year. In the winter semester of the 2015-2016 academic year, I began experiencing academic difficulties due to familial conflict and instability that triggered a clinical depressive episode. This episode impacted my day-to-day functioning, such that it disrupted my class attendance in addition to making coursework difficult to complete due to poor concentration and fatigue. Furthermore, my ongoing familial circumstances made it logistically difficult to access counselling and comprehensive medical treatment for my depression on a continuous basis. Consequently, I received a failing grade in two courses in the winter semester and one course in the summer semester. This meant that going into my third year of study, I had a low cumulative GPA, and was placed on academic probation.
However, I have made and continue to make gains in my coping skills and academic abilities and achievement, partially accomplished through having sought counselling in the spring and summer of 2016. In addition, the familial circumstances that triggered my depressive episode and interfered with my capacity to seek treatment have resolved and I have made personal adjustments to increase my independence and ensure future access to and continuity of psychological and medical treatment. These gains unfortunately have not sufficiently compensated for the poor grades I received when I suffered my depressive episode nor were they able to fully address the difficulties with class attendance I experienced that left me unable to pass ENGL306 past the deadline to drop the course. However, it would be unwise to follow through on the faculty's request that I withdraw from my studies for the coming year. Not only would it detract from the academic and motivational momentum I have currently established, it would indeed jeopardize my future academic career due to the resulting logistical and financial complications I would experience.
I have already taken and plan to take further action to ensure my academic success in what would be my final year of study. Firstly, I sought medical care from a physician who prescribed me a medication for my psychiatric condition, which I am presently taking. Secondly, I have sought and received a diagnosis from a clinical psychologist of depression with recurring episodes. This diagnosis is helpful to me in two ways (1) I will be able to disclose this diagnosis to the counsellor I will continue to see in Kingston, improving her ability to address the difficulties and challenges I experience in our counselling sessions (2) I will be able to register with Accessibility Services, which would allow me access to any academic accommodations needed to support my academic pursuits. Finally, I plan to retake two courses that I had previously failed in the 2017 fall semester- ARTH 226 and ENGL281. Improving my grades in these two courses and removing the ENGL 306 failing grade would serve to significantly improve my cumulative GPA.
Sincerely,
Thalia Tavares
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: I am entering my final year of study to earn my Honours Bachelor of Arts. My upcoming coursework will consist of one English 300-level course and the five remaining 400-level English courses required to fulfill my English major. I will additionally enroll in six elective courses to be completed throughout the fall, winter and summer semesters of the 2017-2018 academic year. I will be re-taking two electives that I have previously failed - ARTH226 and ENGL281. Since I have already attempted these courses I will possess a clearer expectation of the coursework as well as a working knowledge of the material which will allow me to succeed. I thus intend to graduate in the fall of 2018 following completion of this coursework.
I have taken several measures to ensure future academic success. Firstly, having been examined by Dr. Nevine Mahrous examined I've been provided with a prescription for escitalopram to alleviate my psychiatric symptoms. Moreover, I have been added to a wait list for a psychiatric consultation to further investigate and/or treat my medical issues. I subsequently made an appointment with Tracy Anselmo-Matthews, a clinical psychologist associate, who was able to provide a diagnosis of having depression with recurring episodes. With this diagnosis, I will be able to register with the university's Accessibility Services office, which will allow me to receive the academic support I need for the challenges I experience with regular class attendance and completing assignments in a timely manner. I intend to meet with the Accessibility Services counselor to which I am assigned, and discuss which accommodations he/she deems necessary. Ongoing consultation with Accessibility Services should facilitate communication with my professors regarding my unique needs and any challenges I may experience as the academic year progresses. Furthermore, my official diagnosis enables me to seek improved services from other professionals, such as my counselor Marlow Gilles, my academic advisors, and learning strategists, as it provides a useful characterization of the particular difficulties I face.
In regards to failing ENGL306, I discussed the factors that hindered my success with my professor, who cited my absenteeism from class as the main reason for having failed the course. This discussion has further impressed upon me the importance of regular class attendance in addition to the importance of meeting deadlines for administrative action. I expect adherence to my medication to help in regards to my absenteeism, such that my daily sleep and overall functioning should improve, thereby enabling me to attend all my classes on a more consistent basis. In regards to meeting deadlines, I will take note and monitor any relevant dates more closely as well as communicate with my professors well in advance of these deadlines, such that if I am at risk of failing a course, I will be able to drop the course in time.
I have taken several measures to ensure future academic success. Firstly, having been examined by Dr. Nevine Mahrous examined I've been provided with a prescription for escitalopram to alleviate my psychiatric symptoms. Moreover, I have been added to a wait list for a psychiatric consultation to further investigate and/or treat my medical issues. I subsequently made an appointment with Tracy Anselmo-Matthews, a clinical psychologist associate, who was able to provide a diagnosis of having depression with recurring episodes. With this diagnosis, I will be able to register with the university's Accessibility Services office, which will allow me to receive the academic support I need for the challenges I experience with regular class attendance and completing assignments in a timely manner. I intend to meet with the Accessibility Services counselor to which I am assigned, and discuss which accommodations he/she deems necessary. Ongoing consultation with Accessibility Services should facilitate communication with my professors regarding my unique needs and any challenges I may experience as the academic year progresses. Furthermore, my official diagnosis enables me to seek improved services from other professionals, such as my counselor Marlow Gilles, my academic advisors, and learning strategists, as it provides a useful characterization of the particular difficulties I face.
In regards to failing ENGL306, I discussed the factors that hindered my success with my professor, who cited my absenteeism from class as the main reason for having failed the course. This discussion has further impressed upon me the importance of regular class attendance in addition to the importance of meeting deadlines for administrative action. I expect adherence to my medication to help in regards to my absenteeism, such that my daily sleep and overall functioning should improve, thereby enabling me to attend all my classes on a more consistent basis. In regards to meeting deadlines, I will take note and monitor any relevant dates more closely as well as communicate with my professors well in advance of these deadlines, such that if I am at risk of failing a course, I will be able to drop the course in time.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: Off Campus Physician's Note
Documentation Detail: Letter from my counselor