Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 9524
Submitted: September 1, 2022 at 3:39:52 PM
First Name: Caitlin
Last Name: Atchison
Student Number: 20233583
Email: caitlinjune02@gmail.com
Degree Program: BA
Plan: ARTH
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: The circumstances surrounding my appeal are that I was granted two incomplete grades at the end of the last term. One in Art History (ARTH 120) and one in Comics in Politics (GNDS 295). As a result of the two ??IN? grades being the system, my number of credits for the 2021-2022 academic year dropped below the 18-credit minimum, and I received a ??requirement to withdraw for one year? notice.
The circumstances leading up to the IN grades and my inability to pass certain other classes last semester were a series of mental and physical health issues that cascaded one after the other over the course of March and April and into May.
While I will lay out the specifics below, I think the most over-arching issue is my mental health, anxiety struggles, and inability to get any support last year for that. I have struggled with anxiety for many years, but last year, the issues described below caused my anxiety to become acute and rendered me practically non-functional regarding school work and other things. Accessing mental health support has been a national crisis since Covid began, and I certainly fall victim to that in the winter term.
What has changed since last semester? Over the summer, I have finally accessed regular psychological support with weekly sessions and other activities that have been a tremendous help. Also, I have been prescribed escitalopram oxalate, an anti-anxiety medication that has helped dramatically. Honestly, I feel like a different person.
Issues with roommates and other things made the fall term challenging; being unable to obtain any mental health support, candidly, I turned to marijuana to get me through. By Christmas, I realized that I had to stop that for my own physical health, and over the Christmas holiday, I stopped that cold turkey and got a new apartment, alone, near the university. I came back to Kingston with a rewed sense of engagement but also with some trepidation as I was still not able to access mental health support either in person or online. Then the following occurred:
-First, my friend Liam Geddes a fourth-year student who was on the rugby team, died after a fall. I am sure you know the sad event as it was significant news on campus. Liam??s passing hit me very hard.
-As I began to rebound from Liam??s shocking death, I myself slipped into my apartment and fell and hit my head. I went to Hotel Dieu and was diagnosed with a concussion.
-Four days after the concussion, I tested positive for Covid. Unfortunately, my symptoms were not mild, and I was out of commission for a week. Combined with the concussion, work was impossible. Needless to say, that set me back on my academic work considerably at a time year when losing even a day or two can be a problem.
-As I recovered from Covid and the concussion, I was then hit with the stomach flu that lasted essentially two weeks. Many other students (and I assume faculty and staff) had this flu. Again, my ability to work was very significantly diminished.
All these cascading events dramatically raised my anxiety and ability to cope with the end-of-year pressure. All of my professors were remarkably sympathetic. Unfortunately, for two of my classes, I could not get an IN: for China, After 1800 (HIST 299), I had not completed 60% of the work, so an IN was not possible; and for Toxins in Global History (HIST 223), I failed to make the application for the IN in time. Candidly, due to my anxiety, I was not dealing well with timelines and administrative matters.
As mentioned above, I was able to coordinate the IN grades for ARTH 120 and GNDS 295. I have submitted the required work in both courses and would expect that by the time you review this appeal, each IN will be replaced with my actual final grades.
I have passed both of those classes and therefore have the required 18 credits. Accordingly, with respect, the ??requirement to withdraw for one year? notice is not applicable nor valid.
I am back in Kingston and very keen to start a new year on a much better and more stable footing with mental health and other supports that have been well established over the summer. I am keen to start in-person classes, which, together with the mental health supports, I am sure will lead to a much more successful and fulling academic year this year.
I consider it very important for my own sense of worth and success that engage in school this year and set aside and overcome the troubles from last year and move on.
The circumstances leading up to the IN grades and my inability to pass certain other classes last semester were a series of mental and physical health issues that cascaded one after the other over the course of March and April and into May.
While I will lay out the specifics below, I think the most over-arching issue is my mental health, anxiety struggles, and inability to get any support last year for that. I have struggled with anxiety for many years, but last year, the issues described below caused my anxiety to become acute and rendered me practically non-functional regarding school work and other things. Accessing mental health support has been a national crisis since Covid began, and I certainly fall victim to that in the winter term.
What has changed since last semester? Over the summer, I have finally accessed regular psychological support with weekly sessions and other activities that have been a tremendous help. Also, I have been prescribed escitalopram oxalate, an anti-anxiety medication that has helped dramatically. Honestly, I feel like a different person.
Issues with roommates and other things made the fall term challenging; being unable to obtain any mental health support, candidly, I turned to marijuana to get me through. By Christmas, I realized that I had to stop that for my own physical health, and over the Christmas holiday, I stopped that cold turkey and got a new apartment, alone, near the university. I came back to Kingston with a rewed sense of engagement but also with some trepidation as I was still not able to access mental health support either in person or online. Then the following occurred:
-First, my friend Liam Geddes a fourth-year student who was on the rugby team, died after a fall. I am sure you know the sad event as it was significant news on campus. Liam??s passing hit me very hard.
-As I began to rebound from Liam??s shocking death, I myself slipped into my apartment and fell and hit my head. I went to Hotel Dieu and was diagnosed with a concussion.
-Four days after the concussion, I tested positive for Covid. Unfortunately, my symptoms were not mild, and I was out of commission for a week. Combined with the concussion, work was impossible. Needless to say, that set me back on my academic work considerably at a time year when losing even a day or two can be a problem.
-As I recovered from Covid and the concussion, I was then hit with the stomach flu that lasted essentially two weeks. Many other students (and I assume faculty and staff) had this flu. Again, my ability to work was very significantly diminished.
All these cascading events dramatically raised my anxiety and ability to cope with the end-of-year pressure. All of my professors were remarkably sympathetic. Unfortunately, for two of my classes, I could not get an IN: for China, After 1800 (HIST 299), I had not completed 60% of the work, so an IN was not possible; and for Toxins in Global History (HIST 223), I failed to make the application for the IN in time. Candidly, due to my anxiety, I was not dealing well with timelines and administrative matters.
As mentioned above, I was able to coordinate the IN grades for ARTH 120 and GNDS 295. I have submitted the required work in both courses and would expect that by the time you review this appeal, each IN will be replaced with my actual final grades.
I have passed both of those classes and therefore have the required 18 credits. Accordingly, with respect, the ??requirement to withdraw for one year? notice is not applicable nor valid.
I am back in Kingston and very keen to start a new year on a much better and more stable footing with mental health and other supports that have been well established over the summer. I am keen to start in-person classes, which, together with the mental health supports, I am sure will lead to a much more successful and fulling academic year this year.
I consider it very important for my own sense of worth and success that engage in school this year and set aside and overcome the troubles from last year and move on.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: included in appeal
Documentation
Professional Letter: invoice_24295.pdf
Document: invoice_24868.pdf
Document: receipt_21840.pdf
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 103
Submitted: October 13, 2022 at 2:15:22 PM
Relevant Petition: 9524
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: FACTS:
- As of May 13th, 2022, I has the following credits for the 2021-2022 academic year: 9 completed credits and 9 ??IN? (incomplete) credits
- On May 24th, 2022, I was sent a requirement to withdrawal for 12 months letter due to my having insufficient credits
- I did not see the letter until well after the 21-day appeal period
- I completed my work in the two courses that made up the 9 IN credits within the timeframe agreed to with my professors, thereby giving me 18 credits for the 2021-2022 academic year. Such material was submitted prior to September 1, 2022 but my professor submitted it on September 1, 2022.
- I filed a request to waive the 21-day appeal period in respect of the requirement to withdrawal letter and on August 23, 2022, I received an email from Dean Stephenson in which she wrote ??I have decided to waive the timeline. You may now proceed with your appeal to request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw.? (the ??Waiver Decision?)
- I filed an appeal of the requirement to withdrawal letter. (Appeal No. 9524)
- On September 23, 2022 my appeal was denied. (the ??Appeal Decision?)
- I have until October 14 to file this appeal, and I am filing it on October 13.
This is an appeal of Associate Dean Stephenson??s Appeal Decision. My appeal is on two grounds:
FIRST GROUND ?? WRITTEN DECISION IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE APPEAL. Dean Stephenson??s Appeal Decision states: ??I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the 21-day or one term deadline. After reviewing your appeal, I must unfortunately deny your request?. It would seem that Dean Stephenson had somehow forgotten about the Waiver Decision made 30 days earlier. In the Appeal Decision she goes on: ??The requirement to appeal that ruling within 21 days is in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information for their appeal.?
This appeal was in connection with the requirement to withdrawal letter itself and yet it seems to be a reconsideration of the Waiver Decision. I believe that I am entitled to a written decision that speaks to the matter under appeal and not something else. My submissions related to the appeal were on the basis that the Waiver Decision stood (and continues to stand) and I did not need to make submissions about that. The written Appeal Decision suggests that I was expected to do so. Would the decision have been different if Dean Stephenson was considering only the mandatory withdrawal and not the (admittedly) aggravating factor of the missed 21-day appeal period? I will never know because the written decision refers only the 21-day waiver.
SECOND GROUND ?? I HAVE 18 CREDITS FOR 2021-2022. The mandatory withdrawal is based on the fact that 18 credits are not obtained in the applicable academic year. The mandatory withdrawal letter was issued because I had 9 credits at that time. However, I also had the 9 ??IN? credits, which were subsequently earned over the summer. Given that I earned the credits in accordance with the requirements of my professors and the IN marks became valid credits, the entire ??under 18 credits? basis for the mandatory withdrawal was flawed from the outset and the entire question of the missed 21-day appeal period is moot. I really should not have been issued anything in the first place. A conditional letter telling me that if I did not comply with the requirement of the IN grades would perhaps have made sense but not a mandatory withdrawal letter.
FURTHER COMMENT: As I indicated in my initial appeal, last year was extremely challenging and difficult for me personally. I have been able to get help and to start treatment that have made things in my life much more functional. Despite the first level denial of my appeal, I have remained in Kingston this term working and am ready and able to take on academic challenges starting in January. There is no need to further defer that to May or next September. I know that I can be an excellent student and I will benefit immensely from in person classes and the fact that my IEP will be able to be properly implemented ?? which has been challenging for me in and or itself. I that know the University has been doing its best through COVID but the lack of in person classes has been a real problem for me ?? on top of everything else that made last year so very difficult.
I respectfully submit this appeal based on the two grounds set out above.
- As of May 13th, 2022, I has the following credits for the 2021-2022 academic year: 9 completed credits and 9 ??IN? (incomplete) credits
- On May 24th, 2022, I was sent a requirement to withdrawal for 12 months letter due to my having insufficient credits
- I did not see the letter until well after the 21-day appeal period
- I completed my work in the two courses that made up the 9 IN credits within the timeframe agreed to with my professors, thereby giving me 18 credits for the 2021-2022 academic year. Such material was submitted prior to September 1, 2022 but my professor submitted it on September 1, 2022.
- I filed a request to waive the 21-day appeal period in respect of the requirement to withdrawal letter and on August 23, 2022, I received an email from Dean Stephenson in which she wrote ??I have decided to waive the timeline. You may now proceed with your appeal to request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw.? (the ??Waiver Decision?)
- I filed an appeal of the requirement to withdrawal letter. (Appeal No. 9524)
- On September 23, 2022 my appeal was denied. (the ??Appeal Decision?)
- I have until October 14 to file this appeal, and I am filing it on October 13.
This is an appeal of Associate Dean Stephenson??s Appeal Decision. My appeal is on two grounds:
FIRST GROUND ?? WRITTEN DECISION IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE APPEAL. Dean Stephenson??s Appeal Decision states: ??I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the 21-day or one term deadline. After reviewing your appeal, I must unfortunately deny your request?. It would seem that Dean Stephenson had somehow forgotten about the Waiver Decision made 30 days earlier. In the Appeal Decision she goes on: ??The requirement to appeal that ruling within 21 days is in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information for their appeal.?
This appeal was in connection with the requirement to withdrawal letter itself and yet it seems to be a reconsideration of the Waiver Decision. I believe that I am entitled to a written decision that speaks to the matter under appeal and not something else. My submissions related to the appeal were on the basis that the Waiver Decision stood (and continues to stand) and I did not need to make submissions about that. The written Appeal Decision suggests that I was expected to do so. Would the decision have been different if Dean Stephenson was considering only the mandatory withdrawal and not the (admittedly) aggravating factor of the missed 21-day appeal period? I will never know because the written decision refers only the 21-day waiver.
SECOND GROUND ?? I HAVE 18 CREDITS FOR 2021-2022. The mandatory withdrawal is based on the fact that 18 credits are not obtained in the applicable academic year. The mandatory withdrawal letter was issued because I had 9 credits at that time. However, I also had the 9 ??IN? credits, which were subsequently earned over the summer. Given that I earned the credits in accordance with the requirements of my professors and the IN marks became valid credits, the entire ??under 18 credits? basis for the mandatory withdrawal was flawed from the outset and the entire question of the missed 21-day appeal period is moot. I really should not have been issued anything in the first place. A conditional letter telling me that if I did not comply with the requirement of the IN grades would perhaps have made sense but not a mandatory withdrawal letter.
FURTHER COMMENT: As I indicated in my initial appeal, last year was extremely challenging and difficult for me personally. I have been able to get help and to start treatment that have made things in my life much more functional. Despite the first level denial of my appeal, I have remained in Kingston this term working and am ready and able to take on academic challenges starting in January. There is no need to further defer that to May or next September. I know that I can be an excellent student and I will benefit immensely from in person classes and the fact that my IEP will be able to be properly implemented ?? which has been challenging for me in and or itself. I that know the University has been doing its best through COVID but the lack of in person classes has been a real problem for me ?? on top of everything else that made last year so very difficult.
I respectfully submit this appeal based on the two grounds set out above.
Documentation
Decision Letters
History
Originally submitted September 1, 2022 at 3:39:52 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Incomplete | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-02 8:07:59 AM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-08 1:23:13 PM | |
| plan_detail | N/A | included in appeal | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-08 1:24:56 PM | ||
| appeal_category | N/A | Waive the 21-day or one term deadline | Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-08 1:24:56 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Incomplete | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-08 3:23:49 PM | |
| documentation | N/A | invoice_24868.pdf | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-14 3:52:40 PM | ||
| documentation | N/A | receipt_21840.pdf | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-14 3:52:40 PM | ||
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-14 3:53:20 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-23 9:20:10 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-23 9:20:10 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Spring Forsberg | 2022-09-23 9:20:51 AM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 103 | 20CJDA | 2022-10-13 2:15:22 PM | |
| status | N/A | Received | ADA Amended Decision | Pamela Briand | 2022-10-17 11:50:48 AM | |
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Pamela Briand | 2022-10-17 11:54:18 AM |