Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7618
Submitted: April 28, 2021 at 2:41:15 PM
First Name: Carter
Last Name: Smith
Student Number: 10091646
Email: carter.smith@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: BIOL-PSYC
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Code: PSYC 203
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Daryl Wilson
Code: COMM 375
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Request aegrotat (AG) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: David Detomasi
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to appeal for aegrotat standing in two courses, COMM 375 and PSYC 203.
On April 3rd, 2021, there was a significant fire at my family home in Toronto. The fire destroyed everything, including my computer, coursework in progress, study materials, and workspace. Since the fire, my family and I have lived in temporary accommodation (including hotels) where I have had almost no privacy or ability to do my studies. Recently, I moved to Halifax to stay with a friend while my family has remained in Toronto to sort out longer-term accommodations.
I previously appealed to drop two courses in light of these circumstances, COMM 221 and ECON 111. I intended to reduce my academic workload to try and complete my remaining classes. Despite my best efforts, I no longer feel able to do so.
On April 15th, I was granted Academic Consideration with a high level of severity in appreciation of these circumstances for the period of April 3rd - April 30th. The description of this consideration to my instructors states: During the verified timeline, the student will be unable to fulfill all or most academic obligations. Despite being granted this consideration, I was determined to do my best to fulfill my remaining course obligations and graduate. Just 24-hours after the fire at my house, I presented a significant team project in COMM 375. My team was very understanding, but I didn't want to let them down, and so I completed my slides, my section of the paper and presented from a hotel room with several family members in front of my laptop. I explained my situation to my COMM 375 instructor via email but never received a response. In PSYC 203, I chose to write the final exam 10-days after the fire because I felt it was important to demonstrate my willingness to make an effort to complete the last required course of my undergraduate degree.
In COMM 375, the only outstanding coursework is a term paper worth 30. In PSYC 203, there are two remaining assignments, collectively worth 35 of my final grade, that I have not completed.
This ordeal has been extremely challenging in many ways, but probably most so regarding my mental well-being. The uncertainty of the future the fire has introduced into my life has made it very difficult, if not impossible, to take care of my mental health and finish my classes simultaneously.
I have three chronic disabilities for which I receive academic accommodations through QSAS. Even before the fire, I had tried to get an appointment with my QSAS Advisor, Jeanette Parsons, earlier in the semester to seek advice. I was experiencing challenges with my course load and mental health and wondered if additional accommodations (including increasing my extra account on tests) would help. QSAS told me that Jeanette had left Queen's, and I would have to be reassessed by a new advisor and was asked for my availability for an appointment more than a month away. I am currently seeking mental healthcare through my psychiatrist and have booked the soonest available appointment on May 27th.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also complicated my completion of remaining work in these courses. Shortly after the fire, Ontario went on a complete lockdown. Social distancing and isolation requirements have kept me from friends and family that are a massive part of my support system. For me, finding longer-term accommodations meant temporarily relocating to Halifax. Relocating took me away from my family and suggested I had to quarantine myself for 2-weeks, then Nova Scotia went into a complete lockdown.
Before the fire, my plan for the spring was to complete my undergraduate degree, graduate, and get a job. I am looking forward to starting a full-time position (remotely) at CIBC on May 3rd. I expect to be working from 8 AM to 8 PM consistently, so I don't believe I would have the capacity to complete my outstanding coursework after starting this professional role.
After a long and challenging undergraduate journey, I am looking forward to graduating and the opportunities that it brings. This appeal is not the way I wanted to finish, but I believe it is necessary for my difficult situation.
Thanks for your consideration.
Carter Smith
I am writing to appeal for aegrotat standing in two courses, COMM 375 and PSYC 203.
On April 3rd, 2021, there was a significant fire at my family home in Toronto. The fire destroyed everything, including my computer, coursework in progress, study materials, and workspace. Since the fire, my family and I have lived in temporary accommodation (including hotels) where I have had almost no privacy or ability to do my studies. Recently, I moved to Halifax to stay with a friend while my family has remained in Toronto to sort out longer-term accommodations.
I previously appealed to drop two courses in light of these circumstances, COMM 221 and ECON 111. I intended to reduce my academic workload to try and complete my remaining classes. Despite my best efforts, I no longer feel able to do so.
On April 15th, I was granted Academic Consideration with a high level of severity in appreciation of these circumstances for the period of April 3rd - April 30th. The description of this consideration to my instructors states: During the verified timeline, the student will be unable to fulfill all or most academic obligations. Despite being granted this consideration, I was determined to do my best to fulfill my remaining course obligations and graduate. Just 24-hours after the fire at my house, I presented a significant team project in COMM 375. My team was very understanding, but I didn't want to let them down, and so I completed my slides, my section of the paper and presented from a hotel room with several family members in front of my laptop. I explained my situation to my COMM 375 instructor via email but never received a response. In PSYC 203, I chose to write the final exam 10-days after the fire because I felt it was important to demonstrate my willingness to make an effort to complete the last required course of my undergraduate degree.
In COMM 375, the only outstanding coursework is a term paper worth 30. In PSYC 203, there are two remaining assignments, collectively worth 35 of my final grade, that I have not completed.
This ordeal has been extremely challenging in many ways, but probably most so regarding my mental well-being. The uncertainty of the future the fire has introduced into my life has made it very difficult, if not impossible, to take care of my mental health and finish my classes simultaneously.
I have three chronic disabilities for which I receive academic accommodations through QSAS. Even before the fire, I had tried to get an appointment with my QSAS Advisor, Jeanette Parsons, earlier in the semester to seek advice. I was experiencing challenges with my course load and mental health and wondered if additional accommodations (including increasing my extra account on tests) would help. QSAS told me that Jeanette had left Queen's, and I would have to be reassessed by a new advisor and was asked for my availability for an appointment more than a month away. I am currently seeking mental healthcare through my psychiatrist and have booked the soonest available appointment on May 27th.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also complicated my completion of remaining work in these courses. Shortly after the fire, Ontario went on a complete lockdown. Social distancing and isolation requirements have kept me from friends and family that are a massive part of my support system. For me, finding longer-term accommodations meant temporarily relocating to Halifax. Relocating took me away from my family and suggested I had to quarantine myself for 2-weeks, then Nova Scotia went into a complete lockdown.
Before the fire, my plan for the spring was to complete my undergraduate degree, graduate, and get a job. I am looking forward to starting a full-time position (remotely) at CIBC on May 3rd. I expect to be working from 8 AM to 8 PM consistently, so I don't believe I would have the capacity to complete my outstanding coursework after starting this professional role.
After a long and challenging undergraduate journey, I am looking forward to graduating and the opportunities that it brings. This appeal is not the way I wanted to finish, but I believe it is necessary for my difficult situation.
Thanks for your consideration.
Carter Smith
Documentation
Professional Letter: Letter re- Fire-2.pdf
Document: Letter-9.pdf
Documentation Detail: Letter from Physician Re: Long Term Disabilities