Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 6944
Submitted: September 15, 2020 at 1:38:38 PM
First Name: Owen
Last Name: Stewart
Student Number: 20106409
Email: 17ogs@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: POLS
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: ANAT 100
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Les MacKenzie
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: September 15, 2020
Office of the Associate Dean (Academic)
Queen¿¿s University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Academic appeal of Anatomy 100 mark for Owen Stewart (student number 20106409)
I am writing this letter today to appeal a letter grade I received in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. Specifically, I am appealing my grade in Anatomy 100 in the hopes of having the existing D- converted to a credit standing. I am also requesting that, even though this request is late in terms of the appeal timeline, that it be considered because of the significant emotional stress I was experiencing at the time and, most importantly, that I was only recently informed by Queen¿¿s as to the unfolding impact this course mark has on my personal and financial well-being.
My personal and family circumstances have changed significantly over the past month because my Queen¿¿s Athletic scholarship, without any notice or correspondence from Queen¿¿s, was rescinded in mid-August (after it had been posted as ¿¿awarded¿ in the spring) and most significantly, my father has been diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer and will no longer be able to work. Both of these factors will explain the timing of this appeal and the significance of its impact on me.
My stress in the fall of 2019 while taking Anatomy 100
As background, it is important to note that my father has had cancer twice in the last two years. First in 2018, he underwent chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin¿¿s lymphoma. Then, beginning in August, 2019, as I was returning to Queen¿¿s Varsity football training camp, he began experiencing significant pain in his chest and was referred back to the BC Cancer Agency for consultations. During the fall of 2019, while taking the Anatomy course, my father was referred to numerous specialists and underwent many tests as doctors attempted to determine the cause of his pain. I was kept informed of his progress, and obviously, this caused me great worry and was challenging for me to manage, particularly during the Varsity football season, when I was balancing the full time practice and travel schedule. On top of that, I found that the online-only format for the anatomy course was more difficult for me to manage as I was struggling to balance the football scheduling, my emotional stress, and the organization required to keep on top of the material.
Reasons I did not submit appeal in the spring of 2020
I was aware that my anatomy mark put my athletic scholarship at risk so I consequently worked very hard in my second semester to make up for that. At the end of the second semester, prior to the deadline for the appeal, I watched carefully and did calculations to determine if my mark met the threshold. According to my calculations, I did in fact meet the 70 average. (I did not know how to convert that to a grade point average).
Also in the spring, after I returned home because of COVID-19, it was clear that my father¿¿s medical condition continued to deteriorate. In late spring 2020, and during the appeal timeframe, he was admitted to hospital. I considered appealing the Anatomy mark at that time but, as my calculations indicated that I met the threshold for the scholarship, I was working a demanding full-time summer job and because of my distractions with my father¿¿s illness, unfortunately I didn¿¿t. Further, I noticed in the spring that my scholarship indeed appeared on SOLUS as awarded so I was relieved and the need to appeal the mark to achieve the athletic scholarship was not necessary.
My scholarship was ¿¿rescinded¿ in August
Just last week, when I went onto pay my tuition, I noticed that my scholarship was no longer on SOLUS and in fact had been ¿¿rescinded¿. The date of this ¿¿rescindment¿ is August 10, 2020 (ironically this is the date my father underwent life-threatening surgery).
This rescindment came as a shock to me since it had been previously posted in SOLUS in the spring as awarded. I immediately called to enquire and was informed that in calculating my grade point average, they noted that I was 0.07 of a point short of the 2.7 grade point average threshold. This was shocking and incredibly disappointing and, to be honest, seems confusing since on earlier calculations, it was granted.
Further, the timing of finding out about the rescindment of the scholarship is surprising and difficult. As we had previously noted that the scholarship was listed on SOLUS, we made plans for me to return to Queen¿¿s and maintain my apartment in Kingston. If we had known that it would be taken away, other plans would have been considered; especially given the changing financial family circumstances due to my father¿¿s illness.
Impact of the scholarship rescindment
As investigations into my father¿¿s deteriorating health continued in the spring, the decision was made for him to undergo surgery to remove his esophagus. He had this surgery August 10th. As a result of this surgery, doctors confirmed that his diagnosis is progressed esophageal cancer and that they consider it to be terminal. Compounding this, as he was an independent consultant, his employment options are now permanently negatively affected. This, along with the late rescindment of the athletic scholarship (two weeks before school started) has significant implications. I had already accounted for the financial asset that was the scholarship. This scholarship was a key part of my ability to return, and was supposed to make it possible to afford access to education despite my father's health and family's financial situation. At the time of being notified of the rescindment of the scholarship, I had already made the decision and necessary plans to return to university, based on the financial asset that it represented.
Supporting documentation outlining my father¿¿s medical condition
I have requested our family¿¿s doctor to provide a letter outlining the details and timeline of my father¿¿s medical issues to support this academic appeal. Our doctor, Dr. Malcolm MacDonald in Vancouver has agreed to do so and he said he will be able to get me the letter by next week. In order to not delay your consideration of this appeal, I have forwarded this letter but will forward Dr. MacDonald¿¿s letter as soon as I receive it. If you need information from him in the meantime, his phone number in Vancouver is 604-261-6361. Please let me know if you would like more information or require further documentation.
Summary
Needless to say, it has been incredibly stressful and time for me and my family over the last year. Because of the stress I was undergoing during with my father¿¿s illness, with my full-time participation on the Varsity Football team at the time, I hope you can consider changing my Anatomy 100 to credit standing. If this is able to be done, I will be able to maintain my athletic scholarship. This would have a profoundly positive impact for me and my family for the reasons I describe above.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope you are able to consider my appeal within these compassionate circumstances.
Yours truly,
Owen Stewart
20106409
Office of the Associate Dean (Academic)
Queen¿¿s University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Academic appeal of Anatomy 100 mark for Owen Stewart (student number 20106409)
I am writing this letter today to appeal a letter grade I received in the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. Specifically, I am appealing my grade in Anatomy 100 in the hopes of having the existing D- converted to a credit standing. I am also requesting that, even though this request is late in terms of the appeal timeline, that it be considered because of the significant emotional stress I was experiencing at the time and, most importantly, that I was only recently informed by Queen¿¿s as to the unfolding impact this course mark has on my personal and financial well-being.
My personal and family circumstances have changed significantly over the past month because my Queen¿¿s Athletic scholarship, without any notice or correspondence from Queen¿¿s, was rescinded in mid-August (after it had been posted as ¿¿awarded¿ in the spring) and most significantly, my father has been diagnosed with terminal esophageal cancer and will no longer be able to work. Both of these factors will explain the timing of this appeal and the significance of its impact on me.
My stress in the fall of 2019 while taking Anatomy 100
As background, it is important to note that my father has had cancer twice in the last two years. First in 2018, he underwent chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin¿¿s lymphoma. Then, beginning in August, 2019, as I was returning to Queen¿¿s Varsity football training camp, he began experiencing significant pain in his chest and was referred back to the BC Cancer Agency for consultations. During the fall of 2019, while taking the Anatomy course, my father was referred to numerous specialists and underwent many tests as doctors attempted to determine the cause of his pain. I was kept informed of his progress, and obviously, this caused me great worry and was challenging for me to manage, particularly during the Varsity football season, when I was balancing the full time practice and travel schedule. On top of that, I found that the online-only format for the anatomy course was more difficult for me to manage as I was struggling to balance the football scheduling, my emotional stress, and the organization required to keep on top of the material.
Reasons I did not submit appeal in the spring of 2020
I was aware that my anatomy mark put my athletic scholarship at risk so I consequently worked very hard in my second semester to make up for that. At the end of the second semester, prior to the deadline for the appeal, I watched carefully and did calculations to determine if my mark met the threshold. According to my calculations, I did in fact meet the 70 average. (I did not know how to convert that to a grade point average).
Also in the spring, after I returned home because of COVID-19, it was clear that my father¿¿s medical condition continued to deteriorate. In late spring 2020, and during the appeal timeframe, he was admitted to hospital. I considered appealing the Anatomy mark at that time but, as my calculations indicated that I met the threshold for the scholarship, I was working a demanding full-time summer job and because of my distractions with my father¿¿s illness, unfortunately I didn¿¿t. Further, I noticed in the spring that my scholarship indeed appeared on SOLUS as awarded so I was relieved and the need to appeal the mark to achieve the athletic scholarship was not necessary.
My scholarship was ¿¿rescinded¿ in August
Just last week, when I went onto pay my tuition, I noticed that my scholarship was no longer on SOLUS and in fact had been ¿¿rescinded¿. The date of this ¿¿rescindment¿ is August 10, 2020 (ironically this is the date my father underwent life-threatening surgery).
This rescindment came as a shock to me since it had been previously posted in SOLUS in the spring as awarded. I immediately called to enquire and was informed that in calculating my grade point average, they noted that I was 0.07 of a point short of the 2.7 grade point average threshold. This was shocking and incredibly disappointing and, to be honest, seems confusing since on earlier calculations, it was granted.
Further, the timing of finding out about the rescindment of the scholarship is surprising and difficult. As we had previously noted that the scholarship was listed on SOLUS, we made plans for me to return to Queen¿¿s and maintain my apartment in Kingston. If we had known that it would be taken away, other plans would have been considered; especially given the changing financial family circumstances due to my father¿¿s illness.
Impact of the scholarship rescindment
As investigations into my father¿¿s deteriorating health continued in the spring, the decision was made for him to undergo surgery to remove his esophagus. He had this surgery August 10th. As a result of this surgery, doctors confirmed that his diagnosis is progressed esophageal cancer and that they consider it to be terminal. Compounding this, as he was an independent consultant, his employment options are now permanently negatively affected. This, along with the late rescindment of the athletic scholarship (two weeks before school started) has significant implications. I had already accounted for the financial asset that was the scholarship. This scholarship was a key part of my ability to return, and was supposed to make it possible to afford access to education despite my father's health and family's financial situation. At the time of being notified of the rescindment of the scholarship, I had already made the decision and necessary plans to return to university, based on the financial asset that it represented.
Supporting documentation outlining my father¿¿s medical condition
I have requested our family¿¿s doctor to provide a letter outlining the details and timeline of my father¿¿s medical issues to support this academic appeal. Our doctor, Dr. Malcolm MacDonald in Vancouver has agreed to do so and he said he will be able to get me the letter by next week. In order to not delay your consideration of this appeal, I have forwarded this letter but will forward Dr. MacDonald¿¿s letter as soon as I receive it. If you need information from him in the meantime, his phone number in Vancouver is 604-261-6361. Please let me know if you would like more information or require further documentation.
Summary
Needless to say, it has been incredibly stressful and time for me and my family over the last year. Because of the stress I was undergoing during with my father¿¿s illness, with my full-time participation on the Varsity Football team at the time, I hope you can consider changing my Anatomy 100 to credit standing. If this is able to be done, I will be able to maintain my athletic scholarship. This would have a profoundly positive impact for me and my family for the reasons I describe above.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope you are able to consider my appeal within these compassionate circumstances.
Yours truly,
Owen Stewart
20106409
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: Doctors Letter