Petition Letter
In my first year of Fall 2022 (three years ago) I had an academic integrity allegation against me. During the winter break on January 5th, 2023, I got an email from my professor regarding it.
I emailed Dr. van Staalduinen saying that I needed more time. I was given until March 16th, 2023 to send a written statement. On March 15th, 2023 I sent in a written statement explaining everything that went through but I never got a response or clarity even after 3 years.
During the exam, the proctors approached me and told me I was communicating with other people around me. I was not communicating with people, I had no idea who the individuals were beside me (left and right). I never interacted with them before, during and after the exam. I was accused of talking to others. I have a habit of mouthing words of a question during an exam, a method I learned in high school for understanding and focus. I felt very hurt that I was accused of that. I do also was accused of looking at other people’s work. I tend to look around the room if I hear any noise or if I lose focus. I also smile involuntarily when I feel worried as a response to combat stress. This helps me fill my mind of positive thoughts and funny feelings during hard times. Overall, these signs were all misinterpreted as communication with other people and academic dishonesty.
After the incident, I still got no response even after I wrote the written statement. This has left me in scars with this allegation on my academic record. Having this caused a ton of stress and impacted my performance in exams throughout university, and my performance in courses similar to this one. Having this, impacted my academic experience at Queen’s, confidence and mental health negatively. I felt scared to reach out to support systems and scared to know what people will say.
Therefore, I am appealing on these matters:
1. Lack of Evidence on Academic Misconduct
I did not collaborate with others, engage, communicate or view their work at all. I never cheated, everything stated were involuntary habits due to stress responses.
2. Lack of Procedural Fairness
I send my appeal to the professor before the stated deadline, but I did not receive any response or formal conclusion regarding it, even after three years. I felt uncertain (but I still “moved onto” other courses).
3. Negative Ongoing Impact
Having this unresolved in 3 years has caused stress and has caused me to not move on further with my academic career. Leaving this on hold for three years contradicts the Queen’s University’s standards of fairness and Student Support. This has negatively impacted and affected me, I feel like I did not get the correct support I needed.
Overall, I request to review the circumstances of this incident, consider the lack of evidence of misconduct, clear this from my record and provide confirmation of the result of the matter. I am very close of finishing my degree and I want to move forward in a direction after graduation without this matter that is currently affecting my academic career and wellbeing. I am willing to participate and provide more details if needed.
I emailed Dr. van Staalduinen saying that I needed more time. I was given until March 16th, 2023 to send a written statement. On March 15th, 2023 I sent in a written statement explaining everything that went through but I never got a response or clarity even after 3 years.
During the exam, the proctors approached me and told me I was communicating with other people around me. I was not communicating with people, I had no idea who the individuals were beside me (left and right). I never interacted with them before, during and after the exam. I was accused of talking to others. I have a habit of mouthing words of a question during an exam, a method I learned in high school for understanding and focus. I felt very hurt that I was accused of that. I do also was accused of looking at other people’s work. I tend to look around the room if I hear any noise or if I lose focus. I also smile involuntarily when I feel worried as a response to combat stress. This helps me fill my mind of positive thoughts and funny feelings during hard times. Overall, these signs were all misinterpreted as communication with other people and academic dishonesty.
After the incident, I still got no response even after I wrote the written statement. This has left me in scars with this allegation on my academic record. Having this caused a ton of stress and impacted my performance in exams throughout university, and my performance in courses similar to this one. Having this, impacted my academic experience at Queen’s, confidence and mental health negatively. I felt scared to reach out to support systems and scared to know what people will say.
Therefore, I am appealing on these matters:
1. Lack of Evidence on Academic Misconduct
I did not collaborate with others, engage, communicate or view their work at all. I never cheated, everything stated were involuntary habits due to stress responses.
2. Lack of Procedural Fairness
I send my appeal to the professor before the stated deadline, but I did not receive any response or formal conclusion regarding it, even after three years. I felt uncertain (but I still “moved onto” other courses).
3. Negative Ongoing Impact
Having this unresolved in 3 years has caused stress and has caused me to not move on further with my academic career. Leaving this on hold for three years contradicts the Queen’s University’s standards of fairness and Student Support. This has negatively impacted and affected me, I feel like I did not get the correct support I needed.
Overall, I request to review the circumstances of this incident, consider the lack of evidence of misconduct, clear this from my record and provide confirmation of the result of the matter. I am very close of finishing my degree and I want to move forward in a direction after graduation without this matter that is currently affecting my academic career and wellbeing. I am willing to participate and provide more details if needed.