Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: 20118355
Bertucci, Andrea Isabella
Queens University BA

Board of Studies Appeal
To Waive the Requirement to Withdraw for (1) Year:

Dear Board of Studies, Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.?Associate Dean (Academic),?The University Ombudsperson, as well as who this letter, and documentation, (to come in the following days) may concern.

Firstly, I wish to ordain my kindest regards to the Associate Dean (Academic), Jill Atkinson for the follow up letter on the final decision, The Board of Studies, QSAS as well as all any other members whom supported me in establishing Appeal 7779 to The Board of Studies to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw for (1) year. Furthermore, I have made a sincere effort and contribution to understand the decision of the Associate Dean, and the reason/s they had for not granting my request. I sincerely give credence to some parts, of my appeal as misinterpreted and unrecognized. However, it is also true that I did not properly illustrate the components in the First Level of my Appeal, in my letter, (including components of the explanation, timeline, academic plan, providing licitness to my extenuating circumstance/s over the 2021 Winter Term and last but not least, why I was unable to obtain more adequate supporting documentation) in the most effective means. Consequently, the Associate Dean perhaps did not consider granting my request as thoroughly as I had wished for. Thus, it is crucial to my Academic Success and even, psychological health that I return to classes this Fall 2021.
The previous Academic Year, specifically the Winter Academic Period of January through April 2021, was unfortunately extremely psychologically, and physically debilitating. As stated, I already had faced severe psychological, and cognitive issues, in which impacted my academics in the past, during my time at Queens in the last two years such as NVLD, BPD, Anxiety Disorders Psychosis, etc. In consequence, my academic performance would become severely effected when my psychological health declined, occurring with frequent triggers, making it especially challenging to regulate, organize, and/or enable my cognitive abilities and do tasks, such as eat, sleep and socialize. I am in QSAS, and they have provided me with support involving NVLD, which is a Learning Disorder. However, the treatment of additional Psychological Issues, responsible for my Academic Performance, was more individual, and requires individualized treatment.
I made continuing efforts to gradually overcome my prior psychological issues through online support, vs physical, to ensure my own, as well as others safety, during the peak of the pandemic from the year 2020 through January 2021. Specifically the Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 Academic Period, I made the decision to drop my courses late as well as prior courses, and continue to rectify the significant psychological challenges I was already facing to begin with. The courses, I had not been successful in, I had just not dropped in time, prior to the Winter 2021 Term in which hopefully addresses one of the concerns the Associate Dean had involving my Past Academic Performance. Additionally, I had poor self regulation due to the psychological issues, ideally I should have formally taken time off from the Academic Year/s versus enrolling in courses first then dropping them, and failing to drop others in the effective time. I made the decision to focus on myself after the fact.
Prior to enrolling in three courses, HLTH101, GNDS120 & WRIT125, I had already taken, nearly a year between 2020 and 2021 to do online support, for my diagnosis, so in other words, DBT worksheets, to enable my academic resilience. I established a support group, established some close contacts for professional support, and slowly got off my medication, which was also affecting my psychological health in a negative way, as well as negative relationships, any anything else that may have triggered my illness.
As my dear colleague confirms in my first piece of documentation, The Winter Term of the Academic Year, was severely challenging for me with the loss of a close, and dear family member. Otherwise, I was in a state, that would have welcomed success. I was completing work, organized, and already worked on my psychological health. Moreover. In January, Closer to February 2021, I received news that a close family member who was already ill, passed away suddenly. This was a devastating loss for me and it halted my ability to continue in most of my classes from January to April 2021 and was unable to drop the courses in time as I truly gave all three, courses a chance before this event. I am still recovered, and my year to myself, had payed off, still. I am currently enrolled in a course, in which is going successfully
A secondary reason for my appeal not being granted by the Associate Dean is insufficient documentation. To specify, Due to COVID, I was unable to receive in person support, for my health, as well as visit the loved one who passed away during death or prior or seek medical support as the incident, was more personal in nature.
However, I kept a close support system, of friends, and family as well as prioritized discussing the situation with some of my professors during the semester, and continuing the progress and strides I initiated for my psychological health before this event occurred. In conclusion, I have had several extenuating circumstances, threaten my Academic Performance, however I have continued to strengthen my mental health, and already take the space needed.

Academic Plan:

Returning for the Fall 2021 Term, will enable me to finally be in an active environment where I continually facilitate the growth and recovery, I have already made, the past year. As pleaded, I would have been successful during the Winter 2021 Term, if I was not for the loss I faced within my close family. I am presently, better and no longer grieving heavily in a way that impacts my day to day functioning. I am presently successful in a course, and facilitating support systems, and extracurriculars at queens that will, help increase motivation, better mental health, etc in which I already incorporate in my life on a personal level.
I will:
a) continue to take courses I academically excel in, and can perform well in, in which are manageable & keep a reduced course load.
b) continue to have good communication with professors to aid my progress, and motivation.
c) Initiate in-person support, as online support, such as chat room, helplines and DBT worksheets, healed and aided me, however seeing someone in-person, comfortably being now vaccinated, will continue my progress.

Thus. being in the Queens environment, in a sense of community, and support with friends near, physically speaking to professors, and receiving that physical support which further neglected my performance, the past months, especially with the death of a close relative, hindering my chance at Academic Success, will truly help me to continue the growth I made, in an environment, where I am motivated and focusing on continuing all my healthy habits vs, even more time away, which may disable my progress, and degrees my motivation, and accessibility to the resources and environment at Queens detrimental for my success, such as support, extracurriculars, etc.

Thank you for your contribution,

Regards,

Andréa