Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: BIOL 205 APPEAL LETTER
Dayna Goren 20013346
Position: Student
Faculty: Arts and Science
Date: March 21, 2018

Dear Associate Dean (Studies):

I am appealing to have my BIOL 205 mark changed to a credit (CR) on my transcript based on extenuating circumstances.

I am a second-year student at Queen's having arrived with a challenging academic and social background. At the age of 10, I was diagnosed with having Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD), dyscalculia, and General Anxiety Disorder. I have been on medications for anxiety since the age of 10. From grade five onwards, I was provided with an individualized education plan, (IEP) to assist with helping me achieve academic success. These accommodations continue, although to a lesser extent, while at Queen's.
Briefly, people with NVLD
-A difficulty with higher-level language skills such as figurative, ambiguous, and inferential language.
-NVLD students are detail-oriented, they may get lost in detail and have difficulty organizing and prioritizing
ideas.
- Problems with identifying main ideas, which interferes with test-taking.
The following links can provide you with a fuller understanding of this disorder and some of the challenges I face as a student.
https://childmind.org/article/what-is-non-verbal-learning-disorder/
http://www.smartkidswithld.org/first-steps/what-are-learning-disabilities/nld-overview/

Health, social, emotional and academic issues are challenges in my life. With strong continual love and support from my family, doctors, teachers, tutors, and therapists, I have become more confident in my abilities as a student and as a person.

One of the main areas I struggle with is reading and understanding social cues. Consequently, I have been bullied by girls most of my life and the bystanders have been just that.

In my new off-campus home, one of the roommates (from a different province and whom I did not know) began bullying me and excluding me from socializing with the other roommates. After many talks with my other housemates in regard to my feelings, there was still no guiding principles of respect. I did not receive the support and decency of my other roommates. The lack of consideration and my disappointment from my housemates reached an intolerable level at the end of November and early December. I was incapable of independently finding a remedy to live comfortably in my own home. I would stay on campus late and come home to just go to bed to avoid confrontation. I was unfocused, depressed, and sleep deprived. The verbal abusive behavior towards me and the indifference from my roommates concerned my parents so much that they contacted the office of the Ombudsman for advice.

I am very proud to be a student at Queen's. I have worked very hard to get here; however, I no longer have the strong support network and academic accommodations that I had up to grade 12. I have attached an email from Gail MacAllister of the Office of the University regarding options discussed to assist in trying to cope with and mediate my housing situation. I was somewhat more prepared for my other exams, however, I struggled with studying for BIOL 205 due to the nature of the material and not seeking out the extra help I needed. My very poor grade reflects that.

I have learned so much from this experience. I must be more aware of the risks that prevent me from being successful at school and in my life and seek out academic support systems to help me going forward. Next year, the bully and another roommate are moving. I am hopeful that next year will be more peaceful, fun and academically successful.

Sincerely,

Dayna Goren
20013346