Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 8662
Submitted: January 23, 2022 at 4:10:00 PM
First Name: Emily
Last Name: Drenth
Student Number: 20105437
Email: emmydrenth@gmail.com
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: HLTH
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2019
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: CHEM 112
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Michael Mombourquette
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean Dr. Jenn Stephenson,
First of all, I would like to request an appeal for my final grade in CHEM 281 (organic chemistry), which resulted in a failing grade.
Secondly, I would like to request an appeal for a credit standing in CHEM 112 (general chemistry), which resulted in a C level grade.
These requests are being made after speaking with a very helpful academic advisor who informed me that under the circumstances I experienced during my first year at Queens, appeals can be made to change grades to a DR on your transcript.
During my first few years at Queens, I struggled a great deal with my mental health. I finally decided to reach out for help in Student Wellness where I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder that then led to Depression. I primarily struggled with social anxiety which made it particularly difficult to leave my residence room and attend lectures. Since I struggled to leave my room and have normal social interactions, I was afraid to go get help at Student Wellness for the first few months. Later on, this led to a depressive state where I was unable to leave my dorm room and slept most of the time. Finally, when I was able to see a physician in Student Wellness, I was put on an antidepressant medication to help me cope with the way I was feeling as well as booking appointments weekly with a therapist to provide strategies for particularly hard times. Once the dose was adjusted properly, I began to feel healthier and was able to attend lectures. My doctor also filled out a form for me to write exams in a private room, since the large gatherings made it difficult to focus on academics instead of social interactions.
When looking at my course history, all the courses that I took first year do not reflect my full potential. Some of the courses I retook in the following years help to prove that my mental health was the main reason for a low grade and not intellect. For example, my first year in calculus ended in a failing grade, but once I retook the course in a better mental state, I ended with a B. This is also the case with anatomy, going from a C to a B, as well as principles of psychology, going from a C- to an A-, and cognitive psychology, going from an F to a B-. In these four scenarios, I was able to retake the class in a better mental state and achieve grades that reflect my ability.
Since speaking with an academic advisor, I was informed that I didn??t need to retake those classes unless they are needed in my degree, and I could have requested an appeal instead. Sadly, I found this out a little late, but nonetheless am requesting a credit standing in CHEM 112 due to my mental health. As well as this, I am requesting an appeal to change my grade from an F to a DR in organic chemistry.
Specifically, during organic chemistry exams and tests I remember sitting there, placed in the front row of the whole auditorium not able to finish the exam or answer many questions because I was so eager to leave and go back to a safe place, alone in my dorm room. At this time, I was not mentally able to focus on academics and only successful in online quizzes and tests.
In chemistry 112, labs are a large chunk of your overall grade and I found it nearly impossible to socialize and attend weekly labs with such large groups of people. At the time that I would try to finish the labs as quick as possible without focusing on the quality of my reports so I could leave.
The timespan my mental health was extremely debilitating was essentially from enrollment, fall 2018, until the start of winter 2020. As you can tell on my transcript, my grades have improved drastically since then.
I am now on medication that helps me in my normal life as well as academically and was seeing a therapist regularly to provide me with coping skills on the harder days.
I have attached two forms after my mental health assessment from Dr. Nicholson in Student Wellness confirming my need for a private exam room. Sadly Dr. Nicholson is no longer working in Student Wellness or else I would request a written note. I also have an intake form as of Sept 2021 showing my mental health improvement.
I am going to contact student wellness to inquire about further documentation for further proof of severity if still needed.
Sincere regards,
Emily Drenth
First of all, I would like to request an appeal for my final grade in CHEM 281 (organic chemistry), which resulted in a failing grade.
Secondly, I would like to request an appeal for a credit standing in CHEM 112 (general chemistry), which resulted in a C level grade.
These requests are being made after speaking with a very helpful academic advisor who informed me that under the circumstances I experienced during my first year at Queens, appeals can be made to change grades to a DR on your transcript.
During my first few years at Queens, I struggled a great deal with my mental health. I finally decided to reach out for help in Student Wellness where I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder that then led to Depression. I primarily struggled with social anxiety which made it particularly difficult to leave my residence room and attend lectures. Since I struggled to leave my room and have normal social interactions, I was afraid to go get help at Student Wellness for the first few months. Later on, this led to a depressive state where I was unable to leave my dorm room and slept most of the time. Finally, when I was able to see a physician in Student Wellness, I was put on an antidepressant medication to help me cope with the way I was feeling as well as booking appointments weekly with a therapist to provide strategies for particularly hard times. Once the dose was adjusted properly, I began to feel healthier and was able to attend lectures. My doctor also filled out a form for me to write exams in a private room, since the large gatherings made it difficult to focus on academics instead of social interactions.
When looking at my course history, all the courses that I took first year do not reflect my full potential. Some of the courses I retook in the following years help to prove that my mental health was the main reason for a low grade and not intellect. For example, my first year in calculus ended in a failing grade, but once I retook the course in a better mental state, I ended with a B. This is also the case with anatomy, going from a C to a B, as well as principles of psychology, going from a C- to an A-, and cognitive psychology, going from an F to a B-. In these four scenarios, I was able to retake the class in a better mental state and achieve grades that reflect my ability.
Since speaking with an academic advisor, I was informed that I didn??t need to retake those classes unless they are needed in my degree, and I could have requested an appeal instead. Sadly, I found this out a little late, but nonetheless am requesting a credit standing in CHEM 112 due to my mental health. As well as this, I am requesting an appeal to change my grade from an F to a DR in organic chemistry.
Specifically, during organic chemistry exams and tests I remember sitting there, placed in the front row of the whole auditorium not able to finish the exam or answer many questions because I was so eager to leave and go back to a safe place, alone in my dorm room. At this time, I was not mentally able to focus on academics and only successful in online quizzes and tests.
In chemistry 112, labs are a large chunk of your overall grade and I found it nearly impossible to socialize and attend weekly labs with such large groups of people. At the time that I would try to finish the labs as quick as possible without focusing on the quality of my reports so I could leave.
The timespan my mental health was extremely debilitating was essentially from enrollment, fall 2018, until the start of winter 2020. As you can tell on my transcript, my grades have improved drastically since then.
I am now on medication that helps me in my normal life as well as academically and was seeing a therapist regularly to provide me with coping skills on the harder days.
I have attached two forms after my mental health assessment from Dr. Nicholson in Student Wellness confirming my need for a private exam room. Sadly Dr. Nicholson is no longer working in Student Wellness or else I would request a written note. I also have an intake form as of Sept 2021 showing my mental health improvement.
I am going to contact student wellness to inquire about further documentation for further proof of severity if still needed.
Sincere regards,
Emily Drenth
Documentation
Professional Letter: academic accommodation- page 1.pdf
Document: academic accommodation- private exam.pdf
