Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 8542
Submitted: January 4, 2022 at 10:45:59 AM
First Name: Andy
Last Name: Stokes-Noonan
Student Number: 20151277
Email: 18assn@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BSH
Plan: PSYC
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: CISC 251
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,
I am currently struggling with new and pre-existing mental health problems that have started to take a toll on my academic performance (this has likely been exacerbated by the looming threat of the pandemic). I have experienced a drastic worsening of ADHD symptoms which have affected my ability to learn in CISC 251. This is due to the structure of the course. The way I have adjusted to learning at the university level with ADHD symptoms has been mostly last-minute cramming, which is generally effective enough in other courses. I can survive in courses that have some form of weekly assignment directly relating to the material. CISC unfortunately had assignments relating to the software we were learning (KNIME), but knowledge of the material was unnecessary. So, not only was there no motivator for the course material, but the method of lecture delivery (PowerPoint audios) had no method of time manipulation and were very slow-going. It would take me three hours to get through a ten-minute audio.
By the time the final assignment came around in Week Eleven, I was still struggling through Week Three material and there was 70% of the grade left to achieve. I had already failed two previous assignments that relied on consistent commitment to the course material (note annotations). I knew there was absolutely no way I was going to pass the course and decided it was in my best interest to focus on my other courses (courses that directly relate to my degree). I took CISC as an extra course this semester because I was hoping to finish the requirements for a data analytics certificate before graduation, but I acknowledge that appealing this course will result in my having to drop out of the certificate program. I did email Professor Skillicorn about the issues I was experiencing but did not receive a response, so I am unsure if there would have been any academic alternatives to dropping the course.
This is a problem I have tried to acquire help for in the past. However, last time I brought these symptoms to the attention of a doctor, I was informed that they were just symptoms of being a woman and I left with a prescription for birth control. You can imagine how this has discouraged me from seeking further help, which is now impacting my academic life. Obtaining help for mental health is not quite as easy as it should be. I held off on appealing the course in hopes of obtaining a letter from a mental health professional, which unfortunately did not happen. I have attached a referral letter from my family physician for an evaluation with a psychiatrist, but this is not until June. I plan on visiting Student Wellness Services once the winter semester starts, so please let me know if there is some other form of documentation I can provide through this service if more is needed. Aside from that, my access to professional help is quite limited.
Thank you for your time,
Andy Stokes-Noonan (20151277)
I am currently struggling with new and pre-existing mental health problems that have started to take a toll on my academic performance (this has likely been exacerbated by the looming threat of the pandemic). I have experienced a drastic worsening of ADHD symptoms which have affected my ability to learn in CISC 251. This is due to the structure of the course. The way I have adjusted to learning at the university level with ADHD symptoms has been mostly last-minute cramming, which is generally effective enough in other courses. I can survive in courses that have some form of weekly assignment directly relating to the material. CISC unfortunately had assignments relating to the software we were learning (KNIME), but knowledge of the material was unnecessary. So, not only was there no motivator for the course material, but the method of lecture delivery (PowerPoint audios) had no method of time manipulation and were very slow-going. It would take me three hours to get through a ten-minute audio.
By the time the final assignment came around in Week Eleven, I was still struggling through Week Three material and there was 70% of the grade left to achieve. I had already failed two previous assignments that relied on consistent commitment to the course material (note annotations). I knew there was absolutely no way I was going to pass the course and decided it was in my best interest to focus on my other courses (courses that directly relate to my degree). I took CISC as an extra course this semester because I was hoping to finish the requirements for a data analytics certificate before graduation, but I acknowledge that appealing this course will result in my having to drop out of the certificate program. I did email Professor Skillicorn about the issues I was experiencing but did not receive a response, so I am unsure if there would have been any academic alternatives to dropping the course.
This is a problem I have tried to acquire help for in the past. However, last time I brought these symptoms to the attention of a doctor, I was informed that they were just symptoms of being a woman and I left with a prescription for birth control. You can imagine how this has discouraged me from seeking further help, which is now impacting my academic life. Obtaining help for mental health is not quite as easy as it should be. I held off on appealing the course in hopes of obtaining a letter from a mental health professional, which unfortunately did not happen. I have attached a referral letter from my family physician for an evaluation with a psychiatrist, but this is not until June. I plan on visiting Student Wellness Services once the winter semester starts, so please let me know if there is some other form of documentation I can provide through this service if more is needed. Aside from that, my access to professional help is quite limited.
Thank you for your time,
Andy Stokes-Noonan (20151277)
Documentation
Professional Letter: AndyStokesNoonan_CISC251AppealSupportingDoc.pdf