Petition Letter
To the Associate Dean,
This letter concerns my (late) appeal to drop the incomplete course COMM303 (Fall 2018). Included within this letter is my appeal for late consideration, as this appeal comes after the one term deadline for appeals. I sincerely apologize for the lateness of the appeal, though I hope you can take consideration due to the nature of the situation. Due to extenuating circumstances, I was unable to complete the required course work for COMM303, and have been advised to apply for a late drop appeal.
My situation starts on October 31st, when I was randomly sucker-punched on the street. around 2am. I did not have any relation to the suspect, and was left unconscious. I was picked up by the paramedics, spent the night at KGH, and was diagnosed with a concussion. This incident dramatically changed my third year, and specifically my ability to complete my academic obligations. As this took place during the 8th Week, I was currently engaged in finishing multiple midterm assignments for my primary course load within Politics. My term was comprised of four politics courses (POLS384, POLS354, POLS367, POLS336) and one commerce elective, COMM303, Business Ethics. As I was concussed, I was unable to attend my upcoming classes, and spent my time in the dark, waiting for the symptoms of my concussion to slow. At this point, my course requirements for COMM303 (The course in question) included a report, due Week 9, and a final summative group project that was assigned from week 1, with established groups. To this point, prior to my concussion, I had already established communication with my group, and we had established preliminary details for our final summative. At the point of my concussion, I was unable to communicate immediately with my group, but I communicated the details of my situation to them within the following few days. They reciprocated that they understood my situation, and we agreed that I would complete my portion of the project on my own, as I was unable to attend our weekly meetings. I was assigned my part, and as my symptoms became less apparent, I was able to return to my work. At this point however, I was approaching Week 10, with four research papers due between my politics courses, along with a few midterm assignments that lingered from week 8, including the report for COMM303.
At this point as well, I was attempting to find out who was responsible for the attack. As of today, the suspect has been found. However, as of November, I was extremely overwhelmed with the increasing course load, and the potential massive repercussions of this random incident, if I were to fail my third year. I sought council from Student Wellness, and was guided by O.T. Natasha DeGroot to create a custom schedule to allow for the completion of my courses. This was an amazing suggestion, as I was able to work with my politics professors to create a schedule that allowed for me to complete all my required course work. However, due to the nature of the COMM303 project, it required its own accommodations, which I sought through the Professor, Jim Ridler.
Prof. Ridler, was extremely sympathetic to my situation, and stated that I should focus my intentions on the group project, and seek to solely complete the summative for the end of term. I worked on my assigned portion of the project, however I was met with a surprise when I attempted to discuss the project with my group. I was told by my group that they had moved on from what we had discussed, and had voluntarily removed me from their group, the class before the presentation. As I was extremely confused, I asked Prof. Ridler how they could remove me from the final summative, supposedly axing 50 of my potential mark. He was equally confused, though we both realized that the only real possibility was for the group to allow me to present, however, even though I remained within our group conversations, they did not include me. They presented the next class, leaving me unable to complete the course. I had completed my portion of the project, and had been communicative with the group through my situation, however, the term came to an end. Prof. Ridler advised that I seek out an appeal through my faculty, and seek to drop the course from my transcript. As I attempted to complete the course within the term, I did not attempt a drop prior to the week 8 deadline. As this course was just an elective that I took, due to my interest in the subject matter, I have not made a decision whether I would seek to retake the course.
Prof. Ridler was very accommodating, and stated that he communicated my situation to my faculty during the Fall 2018 term, probably within December. I was able to complete my four other politics courses within the fall term, though the COMM303 course was left incomplete.
I was unsure whether I would return to Queen¿¿s in the Winter term following the incident, and was deeply involved in the ongoing police investigation and subsequent pressing of charges. My Winter term became extremely disheartening, as I lost my grandmother and uncle within two weeks of each other. Coupled with the recent concussion and loss of academic stability, my mental health deteriorated, and I struggled to complete my required course work, though I was able to do so with new accommodations granted by student wellness. As I finished the Winter term I inquired with Prof. Ridler as to if I could complete any work to facilitate a completion of the COMM303 course, though he informed me that he had already communicated with your office and had endorsed my dropping of the course. As this was the final component in the decision, I decided to finally complete this appeal.
The delay is due to my inability to want to recount the events of last term, my attempting to finish my Winter term adequately, the ongoing investigation, turmoil and stress caused by the event, along with the uncertainty of whether or not completion of the course was officially out of the question. This incident destabilized my world for a moment and led to a shift in my time at Queen¿¿s. however, I do not intend to let this random incident shape my time here, and this appeal is a crucial step in the repaving a successful path here at Queen¿¿s. I understand that this appeal comes following the one term deadline, but it was not in my intentions to be late, rather it took me quite a bit of time to complete this process and properly finalize this appeal.
Thank you,
Kamal Ramnares
20030543
16kr7@queensu.ca
This letter concerns my (late) appeal to drop the incomplete course COMM303 (Fall 2018). Included within this letter is my appeal for late consideration, as this appeal comes after the one term deadline for appeals. I sincerely apologize for the lateness of the appeal, though I hope you can take consideration due to the nature of the situation. Due to extenuating circumstances, I was unable to complete the required course work for COMM303, and have been advised to apply for a late drop appeal.
My situation starts on October 31st, when I was randomly sucker-punched on the street. around 2am. I did not have any relation to the suspect, and was left unconscious. I was picked up by the paramedics, spent the night at KGH, and was diagnosed with a concussion. This incident dramatically changed my third year, and specifically my ability to complete my academic obligations. As this took place during the 8th Week, I was currently engaged in finishing multiple midterm assignments for my primary course load within Politics. My term was comprised of four politics courses (POLS384, POLS354, POLS367, POLS336) and one commerce elective, COMM303, Business Ethics. As I was concussed, I was unable to attend my upcoming classes, and spent my time in the dark, waiting for the symptoms of my concussion to slow. At this point, my course requirements for COMM303 (The course in question) included a report, due Week 9, and a final summative group project that was assigned from week 1, with established groups. To this point, prior to my concussion, I had already established communication with my group, and we had established preliminary details for our final summative. At the point of my concussion, I was unable to communicate immediately with my group, but I communicated the details of my situation to them within the following few days. They reciprocated that they understood my situation, and we agreed that I would complete my portion of the project on my own, as I was unable to attend our weekly meetings. I was assigned my part, and as my symptoms became less apparent, I was able to return to my work. At this point however, I was approaching Week 10, with four research papers due between my politics courses, along with a few midterm assignments that lingered from week 8, including the report for COMM303.
At this point as well, I was attempting to find out who was responsible for the attack. As of today, the suspect has been found. However, as of November, I was extremely overwhelmed with the increasing course load, and the potential massive repercussions of this random incident, if I were to fail my third year. I sought council from Student Wellness, and was guided by O.T. Natasha DeGroot to create a custom schedule to allow for the completion of my courses. This was an amazing suggestion, as I was able to work with my politics professors to create a schedule that allowed for me to complete all my required course work. However, due to the nature of the COMM303 project, it required its own accommodations, which I sought through the Professor, Jim Ridler.
Prof. Ridler, was extremely sympathetic to my situation, and stated that I should focus my intentions on the group project, and seek to solely complete the summative for the end of term. I worked on my assigned portion of the project, however I was met with a surprise when I attempted to discuss the project with my group. I was told by my group that they had moved on from what we had discussed, and had voluntarily removed me from their group, the class before the presentation. As I was extremely confused, I asked Prof. Ridler how they could remove me from the final summative, supposedly axing 50 of my potential mark. He was equally confused, though we both realized that the only real possibility was for the group to allow me to present, however, even though I remained within our group conversations, they did not include me. They presented the next class, leaving me unable to complete the course. I had completed my portion of the project, and had been communicative with the group through my situation, however, the term came to an end. Prof. Ridler advised that I seek out an appeal through my faculty, and seek to drop the course from my transcript. As I attempted to complete the course within the term, I did not attempt a drop prior to the week 8 deadline. As this course was just an elective that I took, due to my interest in the subject matter, I have not made a decision whether I would seek to retake the course.
Prof. Ridler was very accommodating, and stated that he communicated my situation to my faculty during the Fall 2018 term, probably within December. I was able to complete my four other politics courses within the fall term, though the COMM303 course was left incomplete.
I was unsure whether I would return to Queen¿¿s in the Winter term following the incident, and was deeply involved in the ongoing police investigation and subsequent pressing of charges. My Winter term became extremely disheartening, as I lost my grandmother and uncle within two weeks of each other. Coupled with the recent concussion and loss of academic stability, my mental health deteriorated, and I struggled to complete my required course work, though I was able to do so with new accommodations granted by student wellness. As I finished the Winter term I inquired with Prof. Ridler as to if I could complete any work to facilitate a completion of the COMM303 course, though he informed me that he had already communicated with your office and had endorsed my dropping of the course. As this was the final component in the decision, I decided to finally complete this appeal.
The delay is due to my inability to want to recount the events of last term, my attempting to finish my Winter term adequately, the ongoing investigation, turmoil and stress caused by the event, along with the uncertainty of whether or not completion of the course was officially out of the question. This incident destabilized my world for a moment and led to a shift in my time at Queen¿¿s. however, I do not intend to let this random incident shape my time here, and this appeal is a crucial step in the repaving a successful path here at Queen¿¿s. I understand that this appeal comes following the one term deadline, but it was not in my intentions to be late, rather it took me quite a bit of time to complete this process and properly finalize this appeal.
Thank you,
Kamal Ramnares
20030543
16kr7@queensu.ca