Petition Letter
Dear Assistant Dean (Academic),
I am submitting a petition to apply for Credit Standing for my Statistics 263
course. My first year at Queens has been a successful one. It has been a
learning curve, with some mistakes made along the way, but for the most
part, I have worked in partnership with the University which has supported
my academic, medical, and learning needs. I have IBS and ADHD and
together with guidance, we have put measures in place in order to help me
meet with success and feel comfortable in my working environment. While
accommodations were implemented, several unavoidable life
circumstances prohibited me from reaching my full potential in this course.
During the week of mid term exams (February 2024) my grandfather
became ill and died unexpectedly from a cardiac episode (funeral home
death certificate attached). We shared a close bond and had a meaningful
relationship. The pain of this sudden loss was a debilitating shock.
Although I was distracted with grief, I wrote my STATS midterm exam the
very evening I learned of his passing which, in hindsight, was not the right
decision. I am a dedicated and conscientious student who welcomes
challenges. I had to work hard in STATS. I did not do as well as I had
hoped on my midterm exam but I was dealing with a lot and felt confident
that I would be able to improve my final grade by the end of term.
After learning of my grandfather’s passing, I travelled to Montreal twice in a
two week period to grieve with my immediate and extended families and
celebrate his life at his funeral on March 10. Upon my return to Queens on
March 12, I struggled to keep my focus and get back up to speed. I found
the catch up for STATS exceptionally challenging, more so than other
courses, as it is one where active participation and completion of optional
assignments is integral to success (as per both professor Molson and the
Syllabus).
In late March I became ill with a respiratory infection which lingered for
weeks. Aside from cold and flu symptoms, I experienced debilitating chest
pain and an inability to breathe. On April 4, 2024, the chest pain was so
severe that I believed that I felt compelled to go to the hospital out of fear
of a potential cardiac issue. The doctors at the hospital diagnosed me with
Costochondritis (medical note attached) and they determined that it would
take two weeks to improve but possibly longer due to my existing illness
and the exacerbated symptoms. The error I made at this time was not
immediately notifying my guidance counsellor and all my professors to
work together to make the necessary accommodations to my final exam
schedule. I needed to rest and to take the time to heal from my sickness.
Instead I pushed through and I realized too late that I was unable to
properly prepare for the STATS exam.
I was physically unwell, constantly coughing, suffering from chronic chest
pain, and thus unable to focus. The day of the STATS exam I was still
suffering the effects of my illnesses and sent an email to my professor and
department requesting academic consideration relating to the exam. I
received notification that my request was not supported by sufficient
documentation (the same documentation was accepted days earlier
relating to a request to another course) the morning of my exam. Thus it
would be denied, and I became confused as to what my next steps should
be. I felt that I had no option but to follow through with the written exam
and I went in to write it, though sick and highly stressed.
My professor got back to me the day after the exam, and with the help and
support of guidance, allowed me to re-write the exam in May. I accepted
this offer, believing that re-writing the exam at a later date would offer me
the time to heal and refocus from the months of grief and illness. I was
grateful.
I spent a few weeks in May at my family home in Toronto recovering and
studying and preparing for the deferred exam. I was confident that I was
ready and able to write it. I travelled to Kingston to write the exam on May
16, 2024. The exam was significantly different then the course content that
I studied and prepared for. I struggled during the exam, finding even with
the extended time to prepare there were still gaps in my knowledge of
course due to the time missed over the term and stress of knowing that
this exam was weighted so heavily. The following morning I corresponded
with my guidance counsellor (who has been nothing but helpful throughout
this process) and she directed me towards options on how to remedy the
situation.
I have worked hard this year to maintain a GPA above 3.75 (please see
attached transcript). I took STATS to challenge myself and prepare for the
material I would see later in courses relating to my planned major
(Economics and a potential transfer/ certificate relating to Commerce). Due
to my grandfather’s passing and my lingering illness, I missed many
classes and I know this impacted my ability to learn the material properly
and to stay on track.
Based on all of these extenuating circumstances, I am requesting for the
Associate Dean (Academic) to please consider and grant my petition for
Credit Standing in the course. I recognize that I could and should have
been more proactive and I will be more so, moving forward.
Please feel free to connect with me should you have any questions for
clarification or require further support in terms of documentation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Emmett Moldaver
20396246
I am submitting a petition to apply for Credit Standing for my Statistics 263
course. My first year at Queens has been a successful one. It has been a
learning curve, with some mistakes made along the way, but for the most
part, I have worked in partnership with the University which has supported
my academic, medical, and learning needs. I have IBS and ADHD and
together with guidance, we have put measures in place in order to help me
meet with success and feel comfortable in my working environment. While
accommodations were implemented, several unavoidable life
circumstances prohibited me from reaching my full potential in this course.
During the week of mid term exams (February 2024) my grandfather
became ill and died unexpectedly from a cardiac episode (funeral home
death certificate attached). We shared a close bond and had a meaningful
relationship. The pain of this sudden loss was a debilitating shock.
Although I was distracted with grief, I wrote my STATS midterm exam the
very evening I learned of his passing which, in hindsight, was not the right
decision. I am a dedicated and conscientious student who welcomes
challenges. I had to work hard in STATS. I did not do as well as I had
hoped on my midterm exam but I was dealing with a lot and felt confident
that I would be able to improve my final grade by the end of term.
After learning of my grandfather’s passing, I travelled to Montreal twice in a
two week period to grieve with my immediate and extended families and
celebrate his life at his funeral on March 10. Upon my return to Queens on
March 12, I struggled to keep my focus and get back up to speed. I found
the catch up for STATS exceptionally challenging, more so than other
courses, as it is one where active participation and completion of optional
assignments is integral to success (as per both professor Molson and the
Syllabus).
In late March I became ill with a respiratory infection which lingered for
weeks. Aside from cold and flu symptoms, I experienced debilitating chest
pain and an inability to breathe. On April 4, 2024, the chest pain was so
severe that I believed that I felt compelled to go to the hospital out of fear
of a potential cardiac issue. The doctors at the hospital diagnosed me with
Costochondritis (medical note attached) and they determined that it would
take two weeks to improve but possibly longer due to my existing illness
and the exacerbated symptoms. The error I made at this time was not
immediately notifying my guidance counsellor and all my professors to
work together to make the necessary accommodations to my final exam
schedule. I needed to rest and to take the time to heal from my sickness.
Instead I pushed through and I realized too late that I was unable to
properly prepare for the STATS exam.
I was physically unwell, constantly coughing, suffering from chronic chest
pain, and thus unable to focus. The day of the STATS exam I was still
suffering the effects of my illnesses and sent an email to my professor and
department requesting academic consideration relating to the exam. I
received notification that my request was not supported by sufficient
documentation (the same documentation was accepted days earlier
relating to a request to another course) the morning of my exam. Thus it
would be denied, and I became confused as to what my next steps should
be. I felt that I had no option but to follow through with the written exam
and I went in to write it, though sick and highly stressed.
My professor got back to me the day after the exam, and with the help and
support of guidance, allowed me to re-write the exam in May. I accepted
this offer, believing that re-writing the exam at a later date would offer me
the time to heal and refocus from the months of grief and illness. I was
grateful.
I spent a few weeks in May at my family home in Toronto recovering and
studying and preparing for the deferred exam. I was confident that I was
ready and able to write it. I travelled to Kingston to write the exam on May
16, 2024. The exam was significantly different then the course content that
I studied and prepared for. I struggled during the exam, finding even with
the extended time to prepare there were still gaps in my knowledge of
course due to the time missed over the term and stress of knowing that
this exam was weighted so heavily. The following morning I corresponded
with my guidance counsellor (who has been nothing but helpful throughout
this process) and she directed me towards options on how to remedy the
situation.
I have worked hard this year to maintain a GPA above 3.75 (please see
attached transcript). I took STATS to challenge myself and prepare for the
material I would see later in courses relating to my planned major
(Economics and a potential transfer/ certificate relating to Commerce). Due
to my grandfather’s passing and my lingering illness, I missed many
classes and I know this impacted my ability to learn the material properly
and to stay on track.
Based on all of these extenuating circumstances, I am requesting for the
Associate Dean (Academic) to please consider and grant my petition for
Credit Standing in the course. I recognize that I could and should have
been more proactive and I will be more so, moving forward.
Please feel free to connect with me should you have any questions for
clarification or require further support in terms of documentation.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Emmett Moldaver
20396246