Petition Letter
Dear, Dr. Stephenson:
I wrote the letter attached to you in August 2023, in which I explained some of the remarkable extenuating circumstances that led to a deterioration in my mental health and that interrupted my studies.
Unfortunately, these circumstances persist and despite my focused efforts to overcome them and move on with my academics and my life, they continue to serve as a barrier to my progress. That is why I am writing once more to request a late drop, this time, of my fall 2023 courses.
Together with my therapist, legal team, and academic advisor I developed a study plan that I think would have gotten me back on track. However due to remarkable delays in court proceedings, I was forced to push back the start to my fall 2023 studies to week nine - last week. Specifically, my legal team secured a date several weeks in advance to move forward with court proceedings. Had this date been honored, I would have been able to start my studies earlier as planned. However, at last minute, on the morning of the proceedings, we learned that our slot had been cancelled and could not secure another date until November 1, 2023 - week eight of my semester. By the time I dealt with that issue and got back into the right head space to take on my academics, it was already week nine.
As I had to focus my energy on my legal issue, I missed the deadline to drop my courses, and worked closely with my professors and academic accommodation advisor to develop a way forward. Although my professors are very supportive, as indicated in two of the responses below, they are concerned that I am at a distinct disadvantage for starting at this late stage.
In addition to the constant disruption from the requirements that come with the legal proceedings, and the ramifications with respect to my mental health, there are other factors that I have to consider in going forward. Specifically, I have had to move my studies online and in order to declare and pursue a major in economics, I am required to move back on campus. I am uncertain as to whether the proceedings will be over in time to allow me to return to campus.
After much discussion with my advisor and family, I made the decision to take a leave of absence from my studies starting now, and return when I have overcome the legal issues.
In order to submit my application for a leave of absence, I need to first drop my courses and am asking for your support to move this forward.
1.
Hello, Alexander,
Thank you for notifying me. It's good that you're now prepared to resume your studies and are working out a plan with your accommodation advisor.
Given that we are now in Week 9 of term, however, I am wondering if the best option might be for you to appeal to drop the course late.
I'll look forward to further communication from you in the coming days.
All the best,
Lori
Assistant Professor of Writing
Undergraduate Coordinator of Writing Courses
Arts and Science Online, Faculty of Arts and Science
2.
Dear Alexander,
Do you mean September 23, or October 23?
I strongly advise that you meet with the Academic Considerations team. October 23 is VERY late to start a course. Indeed, that is our mid-term break, and your first class would be in Week 08, October 30. By that point, you will have missed 45% of the graded assessments, but will also be unlikely to complete the group assignment worth an additional 20%, due the following week on November 9th. This means that you will be starting the course with 65% of the course material outstanding, which is a very steep hill to climb. It is quite unusual to have an accommodation that covers more than 50% of a course's workload.
Meet with your advisors and see what your options are, and listen carefully to their advice. I see you have a letter on Ventus, but that letter simply states that you have registered with QSAS, but does not provide any specific accommodations, so meet with Cristina Cardelus again, to discuss what packages of accommodation and what options she would recommend.
Good luck.
Dr. Robert Hyland
Head of Global Engagement
Senior Lecturer in Film and Media Studies
Thank you,
Alexander
I wrote the letter attached to you in August 2023, in which I explained some of the remarkable extenuating circumstances that led to a deterioration in my mental health and that interrupted my studies.
Unfortunately, these circumstances persist and despite my focused efforts to overcome them and move on with my academics and my life, they continue to serve as a barrier to my progress. That is why I am writing once more to request a late drop, this time, of my fall 2023 courses.
Together with my therapist, legal team, and academic advisor I developed a study plan that I think would have gotten me back on track. However due to remarkable delays in court proceedings, I was forced to push back the start to my fall 2023 studies to week nine - last week. Specifically, my legal team secured a date several weeks in advance to move forward with court proceedings. Had this date been honored, I would have been able to start my studies earlier as planned. However, at last minute, on the morning of the proceedings, we learned that our slot had been cancelled and could not secure another date until November 1, 2023 - week eight of my semester. By the time I dealt with that issue and got back into the right head space to take on my academics, it was already week nine.
As I had to focus my energy on my legal issue, I missed the deadline to drop my courses, and worked closely with my professors and academic accommodation advisor to develop a way forward. Although my professors are very supportive, as indicated in two of the responses below, they are concerned that I am at a distinct disadvantage for starting at this late stage.
In addition to the constant disruption from the requirements that come with the legal proceedings, and the ramifications with respect to my mental health, there are other factors that I have to consider in going forward. Specifically, I have had to move my studies online and in order to declare and pursue a major in economics, I am required to move back on campus. I am uncertain as to whether the proceedings will be over in time to allow me to return to campus.
After much discussion with my advisor and family, I made the decision to take a leave of absence from my studies starting now, and return when I have overcome the legal issues.
In order to submit my application for a leave of absence, I need to first drop my courses and am asking for your support to move this forward.
1.
Hello, Alexander,
Thank you for notifying me. It's good that you're now prepared to resume your studies and are working out a plan with your accommodation advisor.
Given that we are now in Week 9 of term, however, I am wondering if the best option might be for you to appeal to drop the course late.
I'll look forward to further communication from you in the coming days.
All the best,
Lori
Assistant Professor of Writing
Undergraduate Coordinator of Writing Courses
Arts and Science Online, Faculty of Arts and Science
2.
Dear Alexander,
Do you mean September 23, or October 23?
I strongly advise that you meet with the Academic Considerations team. October 23 is VERY late to start a course. Indeed, that is our mid-term break, and your first class would be in Week 08, October 30. By that point, you will have missed 45% of the graded assessments, but will also be unlikely to complete the group assignment worth an additional 20%, due the following week on November 9th. This means that you will be starting the course with 65% of the course material outstanding, which is a very steep hill to climb. It is quite unusual to have an accommodation that covers more than 50% of a course's workload.
Meet with your advisors and see what your options are, and listen carefully to their advice. I see you have a letter on Ventus, but that letter simply states that you have registered with QSAS, but does not provide any specific accommodations, so meet with Cristina Cardelus again, to discuss what packages of accommodation and what options she would recommend.
Good luck.
Dr. Robert Hyland
Head of Global Engagement
Senior Lecturer in Film and Media Studies
Thank you,
Alexander