Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 4755
Submitted: June 13, 2018 at 11:12:07 PM
First Name: Oliver
Last Name: Douglas
Student Number: 20079487
Email: 17od@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: POLS
Level of Study: 1
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: I am writing to request an appeal my one-year withdrawal from the Faculty of Arts and Science, effective May 22, 2018.
In October, 2018 my mother was diagnosed with cancer. This affected my academics in the following ways:
1. My concentration was weak and I was distracted from studies
2. I lost motivation to attend class and to submit papers on time
3. In hind-sight, I was not in a good head space at all
4. I was away from home for the first time, and did not handle this stress well
These circumstances particularly affected my grades and attendance for DEVS 100 and ENGL 100.¿My effort and success in these classes were affected as I was struggling to balance my academics with stress from my home life. I neglected handing assignments at the due date and didn¿¿t take the proper amount of time and effort needed to succeed in my studies.
Since returning to Vancouver, and receiving your letter, I have come to realise the opportunity that I have come close to missing. I am determined to make amends, I am determined to do whatever it takes to get myself back on track with my academics and create an Academic Plan that will see me succeed at Queen¿¿s and reach my potential. I hope to do this without missing an academic year.
I am in a very different head-space about my mother¿¿s health, and I have learned that there is support available to me at Queen¿¿s, should I need it. If ever I feel the weight of stress going forward, I will reach out for help.
I am prepared and confident that when I return to studies at Queen¿¿s I will have the determination and support to improve my academics. I have learned what is needed and I understand the behaviour that will lead to succeed in my degree.
Attached is a letter from my mother (Sally Douglas) oncologist as documentation
In October, 2018 my mother was diagnosed with cancer. This affected my academics in the following ways:
1. My concentration was weak and I was distracted from studies
2. I lost motivation to attend class and to submit papers on time
3. In hind-sight, I was not in a good head space at all
4. I was away from home for the first time, and did not handle this stress well
These circumstances particularly affected my grades and attendance for DEVS 100 and ENGL 100.¿My effort and success in these classes were affected as I was struggling to balance my academics with stress from my home life. I neglected handing assignments at the due date and didn¿¿t take the proper amount of time and effort needed to succeed in my studies.
Since returning to Vancouver, and receiving your letter, I have come to realise the opportunity that I have come close to missing. I am determined to make amends, I am determined to do whatever it takes to get myself back on track with my academics and create an Academic Plan that will see me succeed at Queen¿¿s and reach my potential. I hope to do this without missing an academic year.
I am in a very different head-space about my mother¿¿s health, and I have learned that there is support available to me at Queen¿¿s, should I need it. If ever I feel the weight of stress going forward, I will reach out for help.
I am prepared and confident that when I return to studies at Queen¿¿s I will have the determination and support to improve my academics. I have learned what is needed and I understand the behaviour that will lead to succeed in my degree.
Attached is a letter from my mother (Sally Douglas) oncologist as documentation
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Academic Plan
In the 2018/19 academic year, I plan to retake my previously failed courses, ENGL 100, PSYC 100, and DEVS 100, and enlist in POLS 100. I am hoping to major in political science. I will be retaking ENGL 100, PSYC 100, and DEVS 100, I will apply myself fully, and finish what I started during the first and second semester of last school year.
I have set a personal goal to make an appointment with an academic advisor in the next school year, to hear their advice on which courses would suit my hopes to become a POLS major.
I am comfortable being a full-time student and this time around am planning to utilize Queen¿¿s academic and social resources to ensure that I stay on track with my academics.
A large factor to my failure in my first year at Queen¿¿s was my lack of motivation to seek help and to apply myself when I was overly stressed and focused on my family issues. Receiving the letter of withdrawal has been a wakeup call to me and I am determined to utilize all the resources at hand at Queen¿¿s to make sure I don¿¿t make the same mistakes and repeat my past failures. I plan to also meet up with an academic advisor regularly to make sure my grades are sufficient enough to major in POLS. I am confident that this is a reasonable and achievable academic plan that I am determined to follow in order to improve my academic standing at Queen¿¿s and excel.
This Academic Plan may require that I study for 5 years to achieve an undergraduate degree, and I am prepared to take that time.
In the 2018/19 academic year, I plan to retake my previously failed courses, ENGL 100, PSYC 100, and DEVS 100, and enlist in POLS 100. I am hoping to major in political science. I will be retaking ENGL 100, PSYC 100, and DEVS 100, I will apply myself fully, and finish what I started during the first and second semester of last school year.
I have set a personal goal to make an appointment with an academic advisor in the next school year, to hear their advice on which courses would suit my hopes to become a POLS major.
I am comfortable being a full-time student and this time around am planning to utilize Queen¿¿s academic and social resources to ensure that I stay on track with my academics.
A large factor to my failure in my first year at Queen¿¿s was my lack of motivation to seek help and to apply myself when I was overly stressed and focused on my family issues. Receiving the letter of withdrawal has been a wakeup call to me and I am determined to utilize all the resources at hand at Queen¿¿s to make sure I don¿¿t make the same mistakes and repeat my past failures. I plan to also meet up with an academic advisor regularly to make sure my grades are sufficient enough to major in POLS. I am confident that this is a reasonable and achievable academic plan that I am determined to follow in order to improve my academic standing at Queen¿¿s and excel.
This Academic Plan may require that I study for 5 years to achieve an undergraduate degree, and I am prepared to take that time.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Sally Douglas BCCancerAgncey.pdf
Professional Letter Detail: Letter detailing my mums condition
Decision Letters
Amendments to Appeal 4755
Relevant Petition: 4755
New Information: After I returned home to Vancouver from Queen¿¿s, my family shared news of another major upcoming surgery for my mother. I was thrown by this news, and withdrew for a while. I did not tell my family of your letter sent May 22 as I did not want to put further anxiety onto them.
I told my family about your letter on 12 June. As soon as I was able to speak with them about my circumstances, and my academic failure at Queen¿¿s, I could finally receive their input and counsel. I had a burden lifted off my shoulders, and I had the support of my family back. It was in speaking with them (my parents, my brothers) that I realized how much I had let myself down. I know that I am capable of achieving academic success at Queen¿¿s and I know that my failure to date is entirely if my making.
June 12 was a turn around day for me. It was the day that I put myself back in the driver¿¿s seat of my life. For the first time, I could see my future clearly, and I am excited about making it a reality. I understand that I have many challenges ahead, but I have learned that I do not have to go it alone, and when I reach out and share my anxiety, I have a network of friends and family to support me.
After this, I submitted my appeal letter as soon as possible.
My Mum had lung surgery on 15 June, she is recovering well.
Thank you for considering this appeal. I understand I have not followed protocol. It is my greatest hope that I have a chance to return to Queen¿¿s in the fall and get to reach my real potential.
I told my family about your letter on 12 June. As soon as I was able to speak with them about my circumstances, and my academic failure at Queen¿¿s, I could finally receive their input and counsel. I had a burden lifted off my shoulders, and I had the support of my family back. It was in speaking with them (my parents, my brothers) that I realized how much I had let myself down. I know that I am capable of achieving academic success at Queen¿¿s and I know that my failure to date is entirely if my making.
June 12 was a turn around day for me. It was the day that I put myself back in the driver¿¿s seat of my life. For the first time, I could see my future clearly, and I am excited about making it a reality. I understand that I have many challenges ahead, but I have learned that I do not have to go it alone, and when I reach out and share my anxiety, I have a network of friends and family to support me.
After this, I submitted my appeal letter as soon as possible.
My Mum had lung surgery on 15 June, she is recovering well.
Thank you for considering this appeal. I understand I have not followed protocol. It is my greatest hope that I have a chance to return to Queen¿¿s in the fall and get to reach my real potential.
Student Number: 20079487
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Relevant Petition: 4755
New Information: After I returned home to Vancouver from Queen¿¿s, my family shared news of another major upcoming surgery for my mother. I was thrown by this news, and withdrew for a while. I did not tell my family of your letter sent May 22 as I did not want to put further anxiety onto them.
I told my family about your letter on 12 June. As soon as I was able to speak with them about my circumstances, and my academic failure at Queen¿¿s, I could finally receive their input and counsel. I had a burden lifted off my shoulders, and I had the support of my family back. It was in speaking with them (my parents, my brothers) that I realized how much I had let myself down. I know that I am capable of achieving academic success at Queen¿¿s and I know that my failure to date is entirely if my making.
June 12 was a turn around day for me. It was the day that I put myself back in the driver¿¿s seat of my life. For the first time, I could see my future clearly, and I am excited about making it a reality. I understand that I have many challenges ahead, but I have learned that I do not have to go it alone, and when I reach out and share my anxiety, I have a network of friends and family to support me.
After this, I submitted my appeal letter as soon as possible.
My Mum had lung surgery on 15 June, she is recovering well.
Thank you for considering this appeal. I understand I have not followed protocol. It is my greatest hope that I have a chance to return to Queen¿¿s in the fall and get to reach my real potential.
I told my family about your letter on 12 June. As soon as I was able to speak with them about my circumstances, and my academic failure at Queen¿¿s, I could finally receive their input and counsel. I had a burden lifted off my shoulders, and I had the support of my family back. It was in speaking with them (my parents, my brothers) that I realized how much I had let myself down. I know that I am capable of achieving academic success at Queen¿¿s and I know that my failure to date is entirely if my making.
June 12 was a turn around day for me. It was the day that I put myself back in the driver¿¿s seat of my life. For the first time, I could see my future clearly, and I am excited about making it a reality. I understand that I have many challenges ahead, but I have learned that I do not have to go it alone, and when I reach out and share my anxiety, I have a network of friends and family to support me.
After this, I submitted my appeal letter as soon as possible.
My Mum had lung surgery on 15 June, she is recovering well.
Thank you for considering this appeal. I understand I have not followed protocol. It is my greatest hope that I have a chance to return to Queen¿¿s in the fall and get to reach my real potential.
Student Number: 20079487
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC