Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Letter: To the members of the Queen??s University Board,

I am appealing the Associate Dean??s decision to deny my appeal to get granted aggregate standing in MICR 221 (Winter) and CHEM 282.

In this letter, I will be respectfully refuting the board??s initial decision. My original appeal was said to be denied because the circumstances have ??not continued.? Although the procedure has been completed and safely resolved, the toll on my mental health has been significant. It has affected my ability to work, finish my courses, and continue to live a normal healthy life. The appeal overlooked the psychological and mental side of the procedure. After finding out about the pregnancy in early May, I was in shock. My stress, anxiety, and depression took a turn for the worse. On the day of the surgery, I was wheeled into the operating room hysterically crying and scared for my life. I woke up in distress and was immediately referred to a social worker. I was unable to process and comprehend the trauma and implications of the procedure. Since the procedure, my mental health has continued to deteriorate, with my inability to sleep, eat and live life. The feeling of sadness and grief has been overwhelming. This has been communicated to my doctor and therapist, who have both encouraged further action be taken (increases in medication dosages and a referral to a psychiatrist). Physically, the surgery has resulted in multiple infections which I am still dealing with.

Both MICR221 and CHEM282 were deferred due to previous unrelated mental health reasons which resulted in hospitalization at the KGH hospital in Kingston. All other examinations were scheduled before this incident and completed except English. At this time I thought I would try to write it as it was an open book exam and I was unable to prepare for my remaining exams leading up to and after my hospitalization. Writing the exam was very difficult, being unable to focus and perform to my best ability due to these mental health issues resulting in almost failing the exam, something that is very unusual for me. My procedure has impacted my education in many ways, after my initial appeal being denied, my stress has been heightened and it has been very difficult to continue to fight my case. I am being advised to drop these two courses which will cause me to have to re do an entire course after being over 60% done, after many hours of dedication being put in and possibly causing me to take a fifth year in order to complete all my credits. Additionally, making me write these exams later in the summer when I am not healthy will result in very poor academic performance, something I should not be forced to do after the trauma I have faced.

Queens strongly voices that they care about the safety and well-being of their students and will support them through their academic journey. I submitted my initial appeal in hopes that my circumstance would be heard and I would be supported by my own school. Instead I felt as if my circumstance was not good enough and I am continuing to ??plead my case? to the school as to why I cannot finish my course load from winter 2022. Mental health is physical health and should be held to the same equalized level in terms of severity on ones ability to complete schooling. The mental impacts have failed to be recognized, much of which will take months to get better and now must cope with my new life. Queens University defines AG standing as when a student completes 60% of the course but extenuating circumstances beyond control prevents completion of the rest of the work. I do believe that this definition is fulfilled for my situation. In CHEM 282, I have completed and passed over 60% of the coursework. In MICR 221, I voiced that I was only 2% off from meeting 60% of the course and my professor mentioned that ??it should not be an issue?. Both professors reinforced the fact that they would help in any way they could (seen in supporting documentation from the initial appeal), and the solution is AG standing.

A recommendation was made to drop the course. I simply cannot understand this decision, as I have completed over half the course and have worked tirelessly during the better part of the semester. I should not be punished for these extenuating circumstances, and be forced re take an entire course due to this.

In the appeal, the Board notes that supporting documentation must be seen. I am happy to send doctor??s notes, therapy notes, and the referral to a social worker and psychiatrist, and the paperwork for the procedure. Further supporting documentation will be submitted at a later date and can help further explain the traumatic impacts this procedure has had on me and outline my further summer timeline. I will also be submitting an academic plan at a later date with my supporting documentation as I do not have access to my therapist at the moment and would like to work alongside her in the preparation of this.

Kindest regards,

Zoe Belen-Brown