Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 4493
Submitted: April 30, 2018 at 12:12:32 AM
First Name: Ashley
Last Name: Concessio
Student Number: 10146057
Email: 13aec17@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSCH
Plan: BIOL
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Bénard,
I am appealing to drop CHEM 281, which was taken in Fall 2017. My mother was diagnosed with breast metastasis in her bones in 2014 before I entered university. Her condition was stable until June 2017 when it spread to her lungs and liver. Her health rapidly declined, which put stress on myself and my family. As I entered my fourth year, I was dealing with many different stressors that affected my academic performance in CHEM 281. The main source was my mother's illness and having to cope with it while I was away from her and any other family. It was a constant worry and took a severe toll on my mental health. I also tried to go home as often as I could. These factors took time and energy away from a course that requires many hours of focus.
Another source of stress was from my independent capstone thesis project. My supervisor had high expectations and my project had an enormous learning curve. To generate results, my experiments required over 30 hours in the lab each week in addition to large deliverables like presentations and proposals. This severely limited the time I could spend practicing organic chemistry problems and completing virtual labs on time. Not being able to adequately practice meant that heavily weighted midterms and the final were extremely challenging. Moreover, I often had to miss lectures because I could not leave an experiment unattended. Although I hired a tutor within the first month to help improve my understanding of the content and keep me on track, it was not enough to pass the course. I realized that I had to make changes in order to succeed, so I lightened my winter course load, opted to take a fifth year to complete my degree requirements, and sought personal counselling.
My mother's cancer is an ongoing extenuating circumstance that requires a plan for success. This summer, I am staying home to spend time with her and retaking CHEM 281 online. As previously mentioned, I am taking a fifth year to accommodate a lighter course load. I am also continuing personal counselling on a regular basis and have an appointment with my family physician to discuss medication for my mental health. By taking these steps, I will be equipped to cope with the stress that coursework and my personal life bring. If I continue with this plan, I expect to excel in my courses and graduate.
Sincerely,
Ashley Concessio
I am appealing to drop CHEM 281, which was taken in Fall 2017. My mother was diagnosed with breast metastasis in her bones in 2014 before I entered university. Her condition was stable until June 2017 when it spread to her lungs and liver. Her health rapidly declined, which put stress on myself and my family. As I entered my fourth year, I was dealing with many different stressors that affected my academic performance in CHEM 281. The main source was my mother's illness and having to cope with it while I was away from her and any other family. It was a constant worry and took a severe toll on my mental health. I also tried to go home as often as I could. These factors took time and energy away from a course that requires many hours of focus.
Another source of stress was from my independent capstone thesis project. My supervisor had high expectations and my project had an enormous learning curve. To generate results, my experiments required over 30 hours in the lab each week in addition to large deliverables like presentations and proposals. This severely limited the time I could spend practicing organic chemistry problems and completing virtual labs on time. Not being able to adequately practice meant that heavily weighted midterms and the final were extremely challenging. Moreover, I often had to miss lectures because I could not leave an experiment unattended. Although I hired a tutor within the first month to help improve my understanding of the content and keep me on track, it was not enough to pass the course. I realized that I had to make changes in order to succeed, so I lightened my winter course load, opted to take a fifth year to complete my degree requirements, and sought personal counselling.
My mother's cancer is an ongoing extenuating circumstance that requires a plan for success. This summer, I am staying home to spend time with her and retaking CHEM 281 online. As previously mentioned, I am taking a fifth year to accommodate a lighter course load. I am also continuing personal counselling on a regular basis and have an appointment with my family physician to discuss medication for my mental health. By taking these steps, I will be equipped to cope with the stress that coursework and my personal life bring. If I continue with this plan, I expect to excel in my courses and graduate.
Sincerely,
Ashley Concessio
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: A letter from my personal counsellor, Hannah Peck, will be sent directly to the Faculty Office.