Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Letter of Appeal

In the first 2 months of the fall semester I suffered from three throat infections back to back and one nasal infection. I also was experiencing extreme insomnia from chronic snoring due to an enlarged adenoid gland. I had lost the ability to breathe properly out of my nose and finally went to the hospital to see an ear nose and throat specialist. I met with doctor Edmund Jones, at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston, who told me I needed to have my tonsils and adenoids removed in order to prevent future throat infections, my chronic snoring and enlarged adenoid gland. In late November I got a call from the hospital saying the only available date they had for the surgery was December 2, 2014. I booked the surgery because it was necessary and the surgery becomes more dangerous the older you get. I had two exams scheduled on December 4, 2014 and December 11, 2014. I spoke to my professors about getting a later test date but they said no. I was told that in order to do it later than everyone else they would have to write a whole new exam. I took their decision as final and didn¿¿t think there was anyway around it. I felt I had no choice but to write the exams on the set date. I did have a note from my doctor stating the medical convalescence recommended was five to ten days after surgery. He also told me that while on the pain medication (morphine) it would be difficult to retain information. On December 2, 2014 I had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy surgery. I was given a prescription for morphine that I was to take every 4 hours for 10-12 days for the pain. I was also told to take Tylenol with it every 4-6 hours. I was not allowed to do physical activity for 10 days because the rise in my blood pressure could cause my cauterized throat to bleed. After the surgery I was on a liquid diet due to the pain and I lost 9 pounds in 7 days due to my post-surgery diet. I couldn¿¿t and eat, became very weak and bedridden. I tried my best to study and on December 4, 2014 I wrote my first exam while still on morphine. The pain, along with the morphine, lack of food, and lack of sleep (due to the pain and hunger) all contributed in making it extremely difficult to perform academically. On December 11, 2014 I wrote my last exam, again on morphine. I could not swallow solid foods until December 14, 2014. I am appealing to have my CLST 201, and CLST 306 courses dropped after the deadline because I feel that I had no other choice then to write the exams and preformed very poorly due to my dwindling health situation. Due to the surgery and the medication I was taking post-surgery I failed both of my exams. The surgery was something that was necessary for the betterment of my health and I had no control on the date the surgeon was available. It was beyond my control. I can supply a doctor¿¿s note as well as pictures to prove my claims. I will provide these documents to the Arts and Science office. I was unaware I could make an appeal for my situation until today (February 3, 2014) when my academic consular brought it up. I was unaware there was a way around the professors decision to have me write the exam on the set date, even after my sugary. Thank you for your consideration.
-Nicole Slikboer