Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 4234
Submitted: February 11, 2018 at 6:53:11 PM
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Sinclair
Student Number: 10193876
Email: mark.sinclair@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: POLS, HIST minor
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: POLS 391
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PHIL 293
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Mark Sinclair
10193876
Mark.sinclair@queensu.ca
Dr Jill Atkinson
Associate Dean, Studies
Student Services, Dunning Hall
Queen¿¿s University, Kingston
Dear Dr Atkinson,
I am writing to request that the University retroactively remove me from POLS 391 and PHIL 293, two courses in which I received a failing grade this past semester (FALL 2017.) I believe that the circumstances outline below show that there were sufficient factors preventing me from succeeding in these courses that it is reasonable to remove them from my academic record.
Beginning in the middle of September I began to struggle with mental health issues, specifically the onset of anxiety and depression. These conditions made it extremely difficult for me to attend class, in addition to lessening my motivation and ability to complete coursework. In recognition of my difficulties in the semester, I removed myself from an elective course, hoping that a course load of 4 courses would be more manageable. Unfortunately, as the semester continued, I fell further and further behind on coursework as it accumulated. I found myself continually unable to beat my anxiety and get to class, or to complete coursework. At the time, I did not seek help for my condition due to a lack of recognition of my own symptoms. In mid November, I came to the realization that my own stigmatic views on mental health were clearly preventing me from reaching out to find help, but even after the realization that I needed help my anxiety rendered me unable to reach out to those who may have helped. At the conclusion of the semester, I had 3 term papers due in short order, as well as several examinations, both in class and formal. It reached the point where I barely finished the first of three papers, enabling me to pass one of my other courses. Due to the arrangement of the deadlines, I was unable to complete the term papers for POLS 391 and PHIL 293, the two courses I had found most difficult. In combination with earlier failings in the semester, this inability to complete the papers resulted in my failure of both of the courses.
In recognition of my ongoing struggles, I have only registered in 4 courses for this semester so that I am more able to cope with the workload; I plan to register in some elective courses over the summer in order to graduate on time this coming spring. I have also reached out to Queen¿¿s mental health services and am beginning a course of medication to help with my anxiety issues. I have also registered in an assistance programme through an insurance carrier that will provide me with additional counselling services on a regular basis. I believe that the combination of these steps will help me avoid my past mistakes and move toward a more stable state of mental health so that I can return to my previous standards of academic success.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Mark Sinclair
10193876
Mark.sinclair@queensu.ca
Dr Jill Atkinson
Associate Dean, Studies
Student Services, Dunning Hall
Queen¿¿s University, Kingston
Dear Dr Atkinson,
I am writing to request that the University retroactively remove me from POLS 391 and PHIL 293, two courses in which I received a failing grade this past semester (FALL 2017.) I believe that the circumstances outline below show that there were sufficient factors preventing me from succeeding in these courses that it is reasonable to remove them from my academic record.
Beginning in the middle of September I began to struggle with mental health issues, specifically the onset of anxiety and depression. These conditions made it extremely difficult for me to attend class, in addition to lessening my motivation and ability to complete coursework. In recognition of my difficulties in the semester, I removed myself from an elective course, hoping that a course load of 4 courses would be more manageable. Unfortunately, as the semester continued, I fell further and further behind on coursework as it accumulated. I found myself continually unable to beat my anxiety and get to class, or to complete coursework. At the time, I did not seek help for my condition due to a lack of recognition of my own symptoms. In mid November, I came to the realization that my own stigmatic views on mental health were clearly preventing me from reaching out to find help, but even after the realization that I needed help my anxiety rendered me unable to reach out to those who may have helped. At the conclusion of the semester, I had 3 term papers due in short order, as well as several examinations, both in class and formal. It reached the point where I barely finished the first of three papers, enabling me to pass one of my other courses. Due to the arrangement of the deadlines, I was unable to complete the term papers for POLS 391 and PHIL 293, the two courses I had found most difficult. In combination with earlier failings in the semester, this inability to complete the papers resulted in my failure of both of the courses.
In recognition of my ongoing struggles, I have only registered in 4 courses for this semester so that I am more able to cope with the workload; I plan to register in some elective courses over the summer in order to graduate on time this coming spring. I have also reached out to Queen¿¿s mental health services and am beginning a course of medication to help with my anxiety issues. I have also registered in an assistance programme through an insurance carrier that will provide me with additional counselling services on a regular basis. I believe that the combination of these steps will help me avoid my past mistakes and move toward a more stable state of mental health so that I can return to my previous standards of academic success.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Mark Sinclair
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: Letter from Doctor RE: medical condition