Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: Dear Dean,

I have had some challenges with my health this year which were not entirely expected. My vision problems and COVID-19 type of symptoms began somewhere between the Summer Term 2020. and the Winter term 2021.

In the summer of last year (2020), there were symptoms of vision strain and irritation with bowel pain. Visits to the Doctor proved there were no legions in the bowel. However, there was eye haemorrhaging in the right eye. I visited various doctors to check my body and they were not sure about the diagnosis. As a result, it was difficult to concentrate on the text during the first year. Thus, I enclose the medical certificates for certain relevant periods of time. Also, when starting studies there were vision problems and bowel discomfort for approximately 6 months while studying at university with a combined effect.

Unfortunately, the provinces of Canada were in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic which meant it was not possible to obtain a medical report immediately or on the day of the exam.

Over Christmas 2020 and Easter 2021, I was off-sick during a period where one usually prepares key assignments and examinations. Although I hoped to take the deferred examinations, I was not able to do this with continuing vision problems and some environmental intrusions at home on a daily basis.

I would like the opportunity to take the examinations that were suspended in a cycle of not attending examinations or omitted coursework in one particular case. I believe that I completed at least 60% of the coursework in the incomplete courses.

There seems to be a discrepancy with the information provided by the Dean in the last appeal. I know that I have completed the learning objectives and the coursework with midterms. Therefore, my secondary request is that my courses, where appropriate, are averaged to give the course grade for the Summer Term and other courses that required only the final.

The courses are PHAR 100, PHAR 370, PHGY 215, and PHGY 216.

However, I found the course BCHM 270 is particularly difficult to complete under the circumstances of my vision and health problems. Therefore, I would like to opportunity to complete the final and/or missing parts at a later date.

Finally, the GLPH 385 was missing a final essay in the course assessment. The instructor informed me by email that she would have accepted the essay if she had a doctor's note. I was unable to provide a note because my doctor's office was not open to the public through certain weeks of the pandemic including December 2021. I did obtain a note for the December period after January 2021 which I showed her and she said this could have been admissible had it arrived sooner. Thus, I request that my essay be included in my final grade for this credit also.

I have agreed to sit my final exam for CHEM 281 and accept the average mark for MICR 270 with the instructors.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Edwards