Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 8159
Submitted: September 14, 2021 at 10:09:07 PM
First Name: Nicole
Last Name: Stanton
Student Number: 20053532
Email: 16ncs4@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: ENSC
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request an extension of an incomplete grade
Code: ENSC 390
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Request an extension of an incomplete grade
Instructor's Name: Graham Whitelaw
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing to you to express my request for an academic accommodation due to extenuating circumstances, I thank you for taking the time to read this.
I am appealing to receive a short-term accommodation of a 7-day extension to complete my ENSC 390 (Winter 2021) INC course assignments. I am requesting that my final course grade does not lapse to an F after the September 15th deadline, but that I have a week to submit remaining coursework to my professor. QSAS has provided me with a Letter of Accommodation due to my circumstances.
Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances
I headed into my fourth year in September 2020 and I intended to graduate with a Bachelor of Science Honours in Environmental Science after the Winter 2021 semester. During my Winter 2021 semester however, I experienced numerous extenuating circumstances that left me mentally incapable of completing my ENSC 390 course and CHEM 112 course. These circumstances have continued to negatively impact me this past summer.
I struggle from anxiety, depression, and an evolving eating disorder that was triggered by extenuating circumstances in my Winter 2021 term. In March, a family friend whom I considered my ??bonus mom? passed away abruptly and unexpectedly. This circumstance absolutely devastated me, and I had no motivation to get out of bed for over a week. Later that month, my 65-year old father became ill with Covid-19 and he experienced severe symptoms that concerned me greatly and left me very stressed. Due to my friends staying home for their fourth year, I lived in a house of student sub-letters. I was unfamiliar with those I was living with, and I kept all of my emotions to myself. This led me to internalize my emotions, and consequently, my eating disorder (ED). I continue to experience severe binging, purging, and bulimia. Due to these circumstances and my consistent communication with my professor (Professor Graham Whitelaw and Professor Mombourquette), I was granted an INC status for my ENSC 390 course and CHEM 112 with the task to complete the assignments over the summer.
This summer, I completed my CHEM 112 coursework, but I was unable to complete my ENSC 390 assignments before the September 15th deadline. My ED worsened and became severe as I returned to my family home early this summer. I have experience heightened stress as I try to cope and recover from my anxiety and continuing ED, while working a full-time job for financial stability. I initially continued to internalize my anxiety, depression, and overall state of my mental health to my family due to extreme embarrassment, which in turn only worsened my ED. This disorder negatively affected my personality, as many individuals who suffer from an ED can attest that it takes over your life.
I was proud of myself for completing my CHEM 112 courses. I had seeked specialized ED therapy and an ED recovery nutritionist and I felt I was on track to complete my ENSC 390 courses as well. I am doing everything I can at the moment to minimize stress as it is a major trigger for me. I completely intended to complete my ENSC 390 assignments, but I found myself relapsing to acute stress, which led to severe binging, purging, and painful bulimia. I have since taken the approaches I have learned to cope with this feeling, and consulted with Student Wellness Services. The intake and triage team supports my circumstances with an STAA and QSAS with a LOA. I had no choice but to take a temporary break from my ENSC 390 courses. I continue to focus on handling stress and as I am extremely close to being done, I know I am capable of completing this work within the next week. I am desperate to update my final grade and graduate this fall.
Why this course only?
I felt incapable of completing 5 courses in the winter due to my mental health so I prioritized my course with a major exam (STAT 263) and courses with major group projects (ENSC 430 and ENSC 320) to ensure I did not impact anyone else. This left CHEM 112 and ENSC 390.
Why didn??t you drop the course earlier?
My extenuating circumstances occurred after the drop deadline of the term. The course is a prerequisite for my program and I intended to graduate on time.
Why can??t you finish the course?
My mental health and ED recovery process caused by triggered by extenuating circumstances has impeded my efficiency to complete my work for the September 15th deadline.
When can you finish the course?
I am requesting a short-term academic accommodation of a 7-day extension to complete the ENSC 390 course work. I am desperate to update my final grade so I can graduate this fall.
Have your circumstances been resolved or are they now being managed in such a way that you are able to make a successful return to your studies?
Specific steps I have taken to improve my mental health and ED recovery:
- Consultation with a health care provider
- Specialized ED therapy
- Specialized ED nutrition
- Student Wellness Services counselling
- Intake & triage consulting services (STAA form supporting my accommodation)
- Letter of accommodation supporting my accommodation (from QSAS)
- Work part-time (no longer full-time)
- Involved my family in my mental health struggles and ED
Thank you very much for your considerations.
Kind regards,
Nicole Stanton
I am writing to you to express my request for an academic accommodation due to extenuating circumstances, I thank you for taking the time to read this.
I am appealing to receive a short-term accommodation of a 7-day extension to complete my ENSC 390 (Winter 2021) INC course assignments. I am requesting that my final course grade does not lapse to an F after the September 15th deadline, but that I have a week to submit remaining coursework to my professor. QSAS has provided me with a Letter of Accommodation due to my circumstances.
Explanation of Extenuating Circumstances
I headed into my fourth year in September 2020 and I intended to graduate with a Bachelor of Science Honours in Environmental Science after the Winter 2021 semester. During my Winter 2021 semester however, I experienced numerous extenuating circumstances that left me mentally incapable of completing my ENSC 390 course and CHEM 112 course. These circumstances have continued to negatively impact me this past summer.
I struggle from anxiety, depression, and an evolving eating disorder that was triggered by extenuating circumstances in my Winter 2021 term. In March, a family friend whom I considered my ??bonus mom? passed away abruptly and unexpectedly. This circumstance absolutely devastated me, and I had no motivation to get out of bed for over a week. Later that month, my 65-year old father became ill with Covid-19 and he experienced severe symptoms that concerned me greatly and left me very stressed. Due to my friends staying home for their fourth year, I lived in a house of student sub-letters. I was unfamiliar with those I was living with, and I kept all of my emotions to myself. This led me to internalize my emotions, and consequently, my eating disorder (ED). I continue to experience severe binging, purging, and bulimia. Due to these circumstances and my consistent communication with my professor (Professor Graham Whitelaw and Professor Mombourquette), I was granted an INC status for my ENSC 390 course and CHEM 112 with the task to complete the assignments over the summer.
This summer, I completed my CHEM 112 coursework, but I was unable to complete my ENSC 390 assignments before the September 15th deadline. My ED worsened and became severe as I returned to my family home early this summer. I have experience heightened stress as I try to cope and recover from my anxiety and continuing ED, while working a full-time job for financial stability. I initially continued to internalize my anxiety, depression, and overall state of my mental health to my family due to extreme embarrassment, which in turn only worsened my ED. This disorder negatively affected my personality, as many individuals who suffer from an ED can attest that it takes over your life.
I was proud of myself for completing my CHEM 112 courses. I had seeked specialized ED therapy and an ED recovery nutritionist and I felt I was on track to complete my ENSC 390 courses as well. I am doing everything I can at the moment to minimize stress as it is a major trigger for me. I completely intended to complete my ENSC 390 assignments, but I found myself relapsing to acute stress, which led to severe binging, purging, and painful bulimia. I have since taken the approaches I have learned to cope with this feeling, and consulted with Student Wellness Services. The intake and triage team supports my circumstances with an STAA and QSAS with a LOA. I had no choice but to take a temporary break from my ENSC 390 courses. I continue to focus on handling stress and as I am extremely close to being done, I know I am capable of completing this work within the next week. I am desperate to update my final grade and graduate this fall.
Why this course only?
I felt incapable of completing 5 courses in the winter due to my mental health so I prioritized my course with a major exam (STAT 263) and courses with major group projects (ENSC 430 and ENSC 320) to ensure I did not impact anyone else. This left CHEM 112 and ENSC 390.
Why didn??t you drop the course earlier?
My extenuating circumstances occurred after the drop deadline of the term. The course is a prerequisite for my program and I intended to graduate on time.
Why can??t you finish the course?
My mental health and ED recovery process caused by triggered by extenuating circumstances has impeded my efficiency to complete my work for the September 15th deadline.
When can you finish the course?
I am requesting a short-term academic accommodation of a 7-day extension to complete the ENSC 390 course work. I am desperate to update my final grade so I can graduate this fall.
Have your circumstances been resolved or are they now being managed in such a way that you are able to make a successful return to your studies?
Specific steps I have taken to improve my mental health and ED recovery:
- Consultation with a health care provider
- Specialized ED therapy
- Specialized ED nutrition
- Student Wellness Services counselling
- Intake & triage consulting services (STAA form supporting my accommodation)
- Letter of accommodation supporting my accommodation (from QSAS)
- Work part-time (no longer full-time)
- Involved my family in my mental health struggles and ED
Thank you very much for your considerations.
Kind regards,
Nicole Stanton
Documentation
Professional Letter: Nicole Stanton LOA.pdf