Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Atkinson, Associate Dean (Studies),

Name is Eva Stein and I am a second-year student taking English as a major and with a minor in Philosophy. I am appealing the Faculty¿¿s decision that I receive Aegrotat standing in the three courses in which I have exams this semester (April, 2018), ENGL 200B-002, ENGL 237-001, and SPAN 111-002. The exam for ENGL 200B is worth 15 and those for ENGL 237 and SPAN111 are each worth 30. I have completed all other requirements in these classes.

In the summer of 2016, I was diagnosed with De Quervain¿¿s Tenosynovitis in my right wrist, my dominant hand, and had surgery the following November. I then had physiotherapy for many months and through QSAS was given the accommodation of a scribe for my exams in December of 2016 while I was studying at the Bader International Study Centre. I was able to complete my exams using a typing accommodation both in April of 2017 and this past semester (December, 2017). Until a month ago, my hand had been steadily improving, but now my level of pain has increased, I am unable to handwrite, and typing has become very difficult; for instance, I completed this letter by dictating to my computer and it was very time-consuming and tedious.

Considering my previous experience using a scribe for exams and the nature of these particular exams, I do not feel that I will be able to perform my best work through dictation. The exams that I completed with a scribe were certainly not my best work and my marks suffered. I feel that using a scribe now will similarly lower my marks. In addition, both of my English exams require a fair amount of writing and this is difficult to complete orally. Also, completing the Spanish exam with a scribe would be very challenging as Spanish is already not my first language and so having to spell out every word, etc., would make the matter significantly harder. Furthermore, studying has proven to be quite tough without the ability to write or type.

I have met with my doctor in Toronto who has informed me that the issues with my tendons were not solved with the surgery I had and so I will need to undergo further treatment. I am currently taking anti-inflammatory medication, but it does seem like my hand will be in the right condition to type exams in the near future. As of now, there is no prediction of when my hand will be in better shape¿¿considering appointment availability as well as physical healing time¿¿and so I am hesitant to request a deferral for my exams.

The doctor¿¿s note I have submitted is from my physiotherapist in London, England, from when I was in the U.K. at the BISC. My condition has worsened since then, as my QSAS advisor, Bonney Hunt, will be able to explain.

With the support of my professors and QSAS, I have kept up with my schoolwork until this point but now feel that this appeal is necessary. My goal is to sort out my situation so that by next semester I can either continue my studies with a typing accommodation or without any accommodation. I am planning on using this summer to get my injury under control and will be beginning treatments as soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your attention to my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Eva Stein

Student ID: 20005124
eva.stein@queensu.ca