Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean (Studies),

I am writing to appeal for aegrotat standing (and a subsequent grade change) in CISC 490 from the winter 2017 term, a course that was an IN that rolled over to an F, due to extenuating health circumstances.
I am diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and am registered through Accessibility Services. Due to my condition, I experience significant fatigue, anxiety, and intermittent pain that have negatively affected my studies. In the winter 2017 term, I was enrolled in CISC 490 (fuzzy logic) with Professor Dawes. Throughout most of the term, I was able to complete the required material. However, many assignments were due at the end of the course, at the same time I was scheduled to undergo a major surgical procedure at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. The stress and anxiety of the impending surgery, in addition to the other coursework and exams I had at the time, made it difficult to complete the final work for CISC 490. I spoke to my professor about the situation, and he felt it best to give me an incomplete and the work would come in after my surgery and recovery.
I was optimistic about finishing the work during the summer months. However, though the surgery was mostly a success, some minor complications after-the-fact arose, in addition to anxiety surrounding the course material. I met with my surgeon, Dr. Helen MacRae, and my psychiatrist, Dr. Michael J. Monaghan, throughout the following months in pursuit of getting to a stable state. The overall recovery took much longer than anticipated and bled into the school year, where new course material arose with new deadlines of their own. The school year presented new health challenges that were unexpected, and it has been a difficult time due to the number of courses needed to be completed in preparation for graduation.
In speaking to my professor, he was comfortable with me delivering the material to him at any point throughout the year. After many failed attempts to complete some of the work due to anxiety, I spoke with my professor in the spring term to discuss aegrotat standing. My professor agreed and said that he would be fine with allowing me aegrotat standing.
The work has been given to my professor and graded accordingly. My professor is in support of a grade change and aegrotat standing to accurately reflect the overall completed work and quality of said work, and is fully aware of the situation at hand and understands why extra time was needed.
Other items to note in regards to my transcript are the outstanding grades in COMM 621 (rolled over from an IN to an F) and the incompletes in DRAM 501 and MUTH 331. As mentioned before, my recovery was a longer process than anticipated, and the surgery resulted in less than optimal health throughout the past year. For COMM 621, all coursework aside from the exam has been completed, as I was quite ill last exam term (began to write the exam and became violently ill in the midst of writing) and my professor's decision was to have me write the exam during this most recent exam period with the winter term class. Due to other course exams and suboptimal health in April and May, I am scheduled to write this exam and complete the course this June. In regards to the two INs, the MUTH 331 work has been submitted and a change of grade is in process as the work is currently being graded; DRAM 501 has been negotiated with my professor to be completed in June and July following my June surgery (hopefully the final of my three needed surgeries due to my condition). Though these other courses are not a part of this appeal, I was advised by an academic advisor in the ArtSci Faculty to explain the situation with these courses as to complete the narrative of my transcript at this time.
I do hope this appeal will be granted and compassion will be given in regards to the extenuating circumstances that have affected my studies. I have been in close contact with the ArtSci Faculty to ensure I meet my requirements to be able to graduate this spring, and have been seeking support from my team of doctors in addition to Accessibility Services at Queen's. My future academic plans include a Master's of Arts at the University of Toronto where I have already begun discussions with my department's graduate advisor and the school's accessibility services to ensure that I plan as best as possible a way to successfully complete my studies given the challenges I face with my health, with the new knowledge I have gained this past year as to my limitations as a student. The main priority is to manage my course load, and take a slightly reduced load wherever possible as to not become overwhelmed and result in anxiety.
Thank you for your time in reading this appeal. More information can be provided above and beyond what has been submitted if need be.

Sincerely,
Amanda Baker