Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic)

Due to ongoing medical conditions, I am writing to appeal that my grade in my 4th-year course, MATH 433, be given AG standing and that I be allowed to drop MATH 427. I will complete 60% of the course work for MATH 433 and be marked on the work completed. This has been recommended to me by my professor given my ongoing medical issues. In the case of MATH 427, I have enough credits to graduate without it if I am allowed to drop it.

There have been extenuating medical circumstances beyond my control that have led to my being unable to complete all my coursework in time for my graduation. These circumstances are as follows (in chronological order):

- I tested positive for Covid on March 8th 2022. As a result of my chronic asthma, I was ill for 5 days, could not go to class and was unable to do schoolwork.

- Unfortunately, as soon as I was cleared to go back to group settings on March 13th, during my first practice back with the varsity Cheer team, I was hit in the head and suffered from a concussion.

- I did not know at first that I was suffering from a concussion but had nausea, disorientation and difficulty concentrating in class and while doing schoolwork.

- On March 22nd I was diagnosed by Dr. Michael O??Connor at the Q Sport medicine clinic as having a concussion. I informed my professors.

- At that time I contacted QSAS and received a reply from them on April 4th and met with them on April 7th. They recommended that I apply for exam and assignment deferrals, which I did.

- I received an updated diagnosis and note from Dr. O??Connor on April 5th stating that my recovery was taking longer than expected and that I was still suffering from the effects of the concussion.

- Working with my professors, I set up a new schedule for my exams, projects and remaining assignments. I began working towards these new dates.

- On Thursday, April 14th, I was taken to Kingston General Hospital with vomiting and severe abdominal pain. I was diagnosed with acute appendicitis.

- I had an emergency appendectomy on Friday, April 15th 2022. The doctors at the hospital have suggested my recovery will take 2-4 weeks.

- I contacted my professors over the Easter long weekend and have been working with them to reschedule my already delayed deliverables (exams, projects, assignments).

- It has been suggested to me that I now require AG Standing in my MATH 433 course where I will not be able to complete all the work.

- I am also appealing to drop MATH 427 since I will not be able to complete this work in addition to my other 4 courses and since I do not require this credit to graduate.

- For my other courses I have been able to reschedule my outstanding deliverables with my professors and will be able to complete them, assuming my two appeals are granted.


My suggested plan of action for MATH 433:
I will reschedule the oral and written parts of Test 2 with Professor Giusy Mazzone, as suggested by Dr. Peter Taylor, the Undergraduate Chair for Math and Stat. That will allow me to reach 60% completion of the course work which meets the AG standing requirement. I will not be able to complete the group project and therefore require an AG standing in this course.

I am continuing to heal slowly but surely from my concussion and the appendectomy, and I believe that with these two appeals being granted, and my continued hard work, I will be able to complete my 4th year and graduate successfully despite these unexpected multiple medical difficulties.

Thank you for your time and your consideration of these requests. Please let me know if you require more information, have additional questions, or if there are other steps I need to take for these two appeals.

Best regards,
Yannick Bisson

613.799.6853