Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 4558
Submitted: May 14, 2018 at 1:17:37 PM
First Name: Amelia
Last Name: Churaman
Student Number: 10140439
Email: amelia.churaman@gmail.com
Degree Program: BSc
Plan: Chemistry
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Code: MATH 112
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: FREN 250
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: I am appealing the requirement to withdraw for one year due to a consistent GPA below 1.6. My purposes and reasons for appealing this requirement are threefold: I have been hindered academically with a mental illness that is difficult to cope with despite vigourous treatment, I have been improving academically and believe that this trend will continue, and finally I will continue to take positive actions towards academic success. Firstly, I suffer from an illness known as severe anxiety disorder caused by environmental and situational triggers (primarily academic, and specifically from evaluations) as well as suspected Borderline Personality Disorder, symptoms of which include mood swings, and an affected attention span, in addition to the anxiety - all these symptoms have played a negative role in my academic career. However, I have taken steps to learn how to cope with and manage these symptoms, including taking appropriate medication, seeking counselling through HCDS and ongoing self-care and self-awareness mechanisms. Secondly, although my GPA has not improved by much over the years, there has been an upward trend. Recently, I have been experiencing stress regarding the looming requirement to withdraw as I had expected this, and thus two of my courses from this year suffered due to that. However, I believe that upon continuing to pursue my academic study habits, that I will keep improving and show positive achievement. Lastly, in addition to taking steps forward academically, I have also been taking steps forward in my personal and extracurricular life as well - including volunteering and being a trainer for Telephone Aid Line Kingston, a non-profit crisis line, as well as through volunteering in a research lab this Summer, and finally, participating in Departmental Student Council as an Events Coordinator. I believe that these activities help, instead of hinder, my academic life as they improve my overall quality of life in terms of personal goals.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: My GPA currently resides at a 1.600 from enrollment, and 1.49 cumulative. I believe that in continuing my academic efforts, I will be able to increase it even further. In appealing this requirement, and if this appeal is successful, I will pursue a 4th year project in the Jessop research group within the department of Chemistry working on Polystyrene Recycling from Switchable Hydrophilicity Solvents - a novel way to recycle a commonly used polymer. I am currently working in the lab as a volunteer and would like to make this work into a thesis so that next year I can continue to increase my GPA and academic achievement by taking courses that I am interested in, as well as courses required to complete my degree (CHEM 313 and 322). I have failed MATH 112 twice, and MATH 121, which are requirements to take CHEM 313 and 322, and I plan on retaking them in tandem with 313, with permission from the department, so that I can achieve my academic goals. In terms of ongoing extenuating circumstances, I plan to make ongoing meetings with a counsellor from HCDS to ensure that my BPD symptoms are managed, and I continue to stay on medication as I have found this to be very helpful. In terms of academic habits, I will continue to spend at least 4-5 hours a day on schoolwork, which I have been doing, including assignment work, homework, catching up on notes, etc. My main trigger for my anxiety includes evaluative components of courses, where my flight, fight, or freeze mechanism ensues. The main thing that occurs is that I freeze and panic. Generally, my actual course work (assignments, labs, etc) have all been decent in terms of academic standing, where my mental health fails me is for exams. I have previously reached out and asked for exam accommodations which did help, I was going to apply for extra accommodations but was not in a good place mentally and did not have the mental strength. However, this is also something I will pursue in the future for all upcoming exams.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: Letter from Professional from HCDS
Documentation Detail: Exam Accommodation Request/Confirmation
Decision Letters
Amendments to Appeal 4558
Relevant Petition: 4558
New Information: New Appeal Letter
To the Associate Dean of Studies,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to appeal the requirement to withdraw for one year from Queen¿¿s due to my academic standing. I recognize the importance of this requirement for students at the University, however, I strongly believe that allowing me to re-enroll and continue my studies would be beneficial to me and that I would be able to improve for the following reasons. To begin, I have been subject to extenuating circumstances for the length of my academic career at Queen¿¿s. These circumstances mainly focus on my issues dealing with anxiety, which manifest themselves as trouble with time management, emotional stress, and ultimately having a difficult time adjusting as a student at Queen¿¿s. During my entire undergraduate career, I had quite a difficult time learning how to manage my time, and ultimately how to manage my learning of course material and developing good study habits. Subsequently, this would trigger feelings of anxiety which then led me to even worse time management skills. This led to quite a bit of emotional distress, and feelings of losing control of the situation at hand. Ultimately, this became a vicious cycle and I found it difficult to cope with the stress of it all. I did reach out for intermittent medical and counselling treatment at HCDS, but did not undergo diligent treatment until the beginning of my fourth year at Queen¿¿s (when I finally recognized I needed help) - where I was on consistent medication and found a counsellor who I had really bonded with. From here, I had reached out to QSAS for exam accommodations in my 2017 Fall term and found that it really helped with my stress. At this point, however, I did not realize how much I would benefit from these accommodations being ongoing and how it would help me in the long term, and did not reach out to QSAS again for my Winter term and unfortunately, did not succeed academically due to this. I decided to go back to counselling and this proved to be very helpful. In the future, I do plan on seeking out continuous counselling at HCDS, as well as continuing the medication prescribed to me, and finding time management and study habits that suit me well. In addition to this, I plan on taking a reduced course load to help with my time management, and seek out tutoring for any academic struggles I may face. In addition, I will register with QSAS for ongoing accommodations throughout the academic year. I have an incredible passion for Chemistry and for learning, this can be seen in my CHEM 397 lab course, where I succeeded due to the hands on, fast-paced nature of the lab. I wish to continue my studies in Chemistry, as I feel very grateful to have found a program that suits me and that impassions me, and a school that allows me to pursue this passion. I am currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Jessop group for green polymer chemistry, and I believe that I have found my career path due to this opportunity. Pending the decision of this appeal, I would like to enroll as a thesis student for this Summer and continue my research in this field. I am very grateful to Queen¿¿s, as the school has helped me gain insight into who I am as a student and as a person, and would appreciate greatly being able to return for my final year.
Thank you for your time and consideration for this appeal, and I hope to hear from you soon regarding your decision.
Regards,
Amelia Churaman
New Academic Plan
My academic plan is as follows, with the focus surrounding a reduced course load and ongoing academic support as needed.
Fall 2018
MATH 112 - This course has been quite difficult for me throughout my academic career at Queen's, however, I plan on finding a tutor from Peer Tutoring as of this Summer so that I have a headstart when I take it in the Fall. This is something I have not done prior and I believe it will benefit me. This course is a requirement for CHEM 313, which I plan on asking for permission to take in tandem from the department.
MATH 121 - Also a course that will require me to reach out for a tutor, and a requirement for CHEM 313.
CHEM 313 - Required course within the Chemistry department. I anticipate that the course material will be on the more difficult side for me to grasp - so I will also reach out for a tutor for this course.
Winter 2019
CHEM 322 - Spectroscopy. A required course from the department. I anticipate enjoying this course material, and creating diligent study habits from reviewing course work, and will reach out for academic support as needed.
CHEM 425 - Self Assembly and Materials. I anticipate enjoying this course as I have a research background in materials chemistry.
To the Associate Dean of Studies,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to appeal the requirement to withdraw for one year from Queen¿¿s due to my academic standing. I recognize the importance of this requirement for students at the University, however, I strongly believe that allowing me to re-enroll and continue my studies would be beneficial to me and that I would be able to improve for the following reasons. To begin, I have been subject to extenuating circumstances for the length of my academic career at Queen¿¿s. These circumstances mainly focus on my issues dealing with anxiety, which manifest themselves as trouble with time management, emotional stress, and ultimately having a difficult time adjusting as a student at Queen¿¿s. During my entire undergraduate career, I had quite a difficult time learning how to manage my time, and ultimately how to manage my learning of course material and developing good study habits. Subsequently, this would trigger feelings of anxiety which then led me to even worse time management skills. This led to quite a bit of emotional distress, and feelings of losing control of the situation at hand. Ultimately, this became a vicious cycle and I found it difficult to cope with the stress of it all. I did reach out for intermittent medical and counselling treatment at HCDS, but did not undergo diligent treatment until the beginning of my fourth year at Queen¿¿s (when I finally recognized I needed help) - where I was on consistent medication and found a counsellor who I had really bonded with. From here, I had reached out to QSAS for exam accommodations in my 2017 Fall term and found that it really helped with my stress. At this point, however, I did not realize how much I would benefit from these accommodations being ongoing and how it would help me in the long term, and did not reach out to QSAS again for my Winter term and unfortunately, did not succeed academically due to this. I decided to go back to counselling and this proved to be very helpful. In the future, I do plan on seeking out continuous counselling at HCDS, as well as continuing the medication prescribed to me, and finding time management and study habits that suit me well. In addition to this, I plan on taking a reduced course load to help with my time management, and seek out tutoring for any academic struggles I may face. In addition, I will register with QSAS for ongoing accommodations throughout the academic year. I have an incredible passion for Chemistry and for learning, this can be seen in my CHEM 397 lab course, where I succeeded due to the hands on, fast-paced nature of the lab. I wish to continue my studies in Chemistry, as I feel very grateful to have found a program that suits me and that impassions me, and a school that allows me to pursue this passion. I am currently an undergraduate research assistant in the Jessop group for green polymer chemistry, and I believe that I have found my career path due to this opportunity. Pending the decision of this appeal, I would like to enroll as a thesis student for this Summer and continue my research in this field. I am very grateful to Queen¿¿s, as the school has helped me gain insight into who I am as a student and as a person, and would appreciate greatly being able to return for my final year.
Thank you for your time and consideration for this appeal, and I hope to hear from you soon regarding your decision.
Regards,
Amelia Churaman
New Academic Plan
My academic plan is as follows, with the focus surrounding a reduced course load and ongoing academic support as needed.
Fall 2018
MATH 112 - This course has been quite difficult for me throughout my academic career at Queen's, however, I plan on finding a tutor from Peer Tutoring as of this Summer so that I have a headstart when I take it in the Fall. This is something I have not done prior and I believe it will benefit me. This course is a requirement for CHEM 313, which I plan on asking for permission to take in tandem from the department.
MATH 121 - Also a course that will require me to reach out for a tutor, and a requirement for CHEM 313.
CHEM 313 - Required course within the Chemistry department. I anticipate that the course material will be on the more difficult side for me to grasp - so I will also reach out for a tutor for this course.
Winter 2019
CHEM 322 - Spectroscopy. A required course from the department. I anticipate enjoying this course material, and creating diligent study habits from reviewing course work, and will reach out for academic support as needed.
CHEM 425 - Self Assembly and Materials. I anticipate enjoying this course as I have a research background in materials chemistry.
Student Number: 10140439
Documentation
Professional Letter: Farah Letter Part 1.pdf
Document: Farah Letter Part 2.pdf
Documentation Detail: Letter of Support from Physician
Relevant Petition: 4558
Student Number: 10140439
Documentation
Professional Letter: Physician Letter-0.pdf
Professional Letter Detail: Letter of Support from Research Supervisor
Document: Farah Letter Part 1-0.pdf
Document: Farah Letter Part 2-0.pdf
History
Originally submitted May 14, 2018 at 1:17:37 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Prepared for Review | Carrie Roosenmaalen | 2018-05-15 11:03:45 AM | |
| status | N/A | Prepared for Review | Incomplete | Spring Forsberg | 2018-05-24 9:22:06 AM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2018-06-07 3:41:26 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted with Conditions | Spring Forsberg | 2018-06-19 10:11:18 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jill Atkinson, Ph.D. | Spring Forsberg | 2018-06-19 10:11:18 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Spring Forsberg | 2018-06-19 10:18:50 AM |