Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Melina Selvaratnam, student number 10181125 and I am in my final year of my degree. The course POLS 483 with Professor Celia Romulus final examination was my last deliverable for completion of all my requirements in the academic planner to graduate and complete my degree program. On April 23rd my father was admitted to Brampton Civic Hospital in critical condition due to suffering from a heart attack. I notified my professor the same day as well as spoke to a clinic nurse and Deb Bruce¿¿s counsellor from QSAS Intake Coordinator and Accessibility Advisor. I am a student with a permanent disability registered with QSAS. I was not able to complete the examination on time and even though I have been granted the option to submit the examination at a later date I am not in the mental state to focus on a final examination when now my father¿¿s health condition has significantly aggravated due to low oxygen levels he has been in the ICU after they completed the surgery for his heart complications, but he is struggling to breathe on his own without a ventilator (Not covid related). I have been spending time with my mother trying to make sure she does not neglect her health as we are not able to even see my dad currently due to covid restrictions. I am the only person in my family who is able to look after my mother and father. Due to covid restrictions and lockdown in Toronto we are also not able to see my father which has been affecting me mentally even further creating stress and added anxiety which is an exacerbation of my disability. Given the circumstances I am in, I would like to appeal for an AG (Aegrotat) status in this course as I am not sure if or when my father will be ok. He is currently fighting for his life to be able to breathe on his own without the ventilator which has put us all off and has upset us at home. I have completed more than 60 of the course work and have been actively engaged in POLS 483 even attended help sessions to inquire more about my journal entry assignments which have now been graded. Professor Romulus and Deb Bruce have also provided me with support in an AG standing application due to the given circumstances that I could not have prevented or knew about prior to writing or working on this final take home essay examination. I have maintained a passing grade in POLS 483 prior to going to write the final take home essay examination and given my current family situation and my father¿¿s health I am mentally not able to cope to be able to think or process writing the final paper for this course. I was in communication with my Professor and Deb Bruce as soon as this incident happened. This is the final course I require to complete my degree and I have been a studious individual. This situation is beyond my control and I am sorry for troubling you during final assessment reports, I did not expect for this to happen at all and have become overwhelmed by if my father will make it alive or not. I thank you for your help and guidance. I truly enjoyed this course overall. I would truly appreciate it if you can help process my application for an AG standing in POLS 483. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Cordially,
Melina
10181125