Petition Letter
Dear Dr. Stephenson,
My name is Praveena Minoli Dias (Student No. 20002107) and I am a fourth-year student completing my BScH in Environmental Science. I am writing to you, with the support of my instructor, to request that my grade for the course BIOL 335 be recorded as an aegrotat grade on my transcript. I am currently working towards completing up to 70 of the course evaluations for BIOL 335 because I was struggling with the worsening of an ongoing mental illness last semester. Therefore, I was unable to complete the requirements during the last three weeks of the Fall semester and into the exam period.
I have been struggling with managing my illness over the past five years, and was able to reasonably manage it when I began attending Queen's in 2016. In my second year I was connected with Queen's Student Accessibility Services by one of my professors because although my illness was manageable, it began to impact my ability to perform certain tasks within the set timeframe in a crowded classroom setting.
Towards the end of October last semester, I began to notice a decline in my condition similar to what I had experienced during its initial onset several years ago. I tried to manage my symptoms on my own initially using tools provided to me by my family physician, but with little success. Accordingly, I sought help from a physician, a counsellor and occupational therapist at Student Wellness Services, as well as my family physician. Due to my illness, I was having trouble keeping myself well-fed, gaining enough sleep and concentrating to complete tasks for short periods of time. The health care providers who treated me recommended that I take a break from school in order to focus on managing my symptoms.
I spoke to my professors and was permitted to take leave from four out of five of my classes for the remaining three weeks of the semester in November because I was having difficulty completing classwork. For the fifth class, ENSC 502 (undergraduate honor's thesis), I was offered the option to adjust deadlines with my co-supervisors as the course ran throughout the full year. I continued working on this course to the best of my ability while attending health appointments, but on Dec. 9th, 2019 my counsellor at Student Wellness Services recommended that I take a leave of absence to allow me to better manage my symptoms.
Unfortunately, I was unable to drop my courses by the Week 8 deadline because we came to the understanding that I needed to step back from my courses after the deadline had passed. Additionally, I would be unable to cover the financial cost for completing an additional year at school and had completed the majority of the coursework for my Fall semester classes, so this was not considered as an appropriate course of action by myself or my counsellor, and occupational therapist at Student Wellness Services.
For the majority of my classes (i.e. GPHY 336, ENSC 301 and ENSC 480), the remaining evaluations in need of completion, by the time that I took leave from my courses in Week 9, were final assignments. I have arranged alternative due dates with these professors to submit assignments. However, for BIOL 335, although I had attended the lectures, I was unable to complete a lab bell ringer evaluation, a paper and the final exam which occurred during the period of decline in my health and when I had to take academic leave. From my understanding, the number of evaluations I have missed and the complexity involved in being able to re-administer them is what prompted my instructor, Dr. John Smol, to suggest an alternative option. Dr. Smol, suggested that we postpone the exam to the Winter semester and that I appeal for an aegrotat grade as I will have completed 70 of the course by this time. We have since scheduled the exam for February 10th, 2020.
Since the beginning of January after returning to school, I have been working towards recovery to a point at which I can manage the symptoms of my illness. My health condition has improved and I have been using alternative strategies to manage my illness at the recommendation of my physicians and counsellor. I have discussed an improved health management plan for my illness with the health care providers who have been treating me. Moreover, I have been following up with Student Wellness Services as my family physician is in Ottawa. Additionally, I have taken a reduced course load this semester to complete the remaining assignments from the previous semester and focus on my recovery. I expect to recover and complete the remainder of my degree, which consists of three elective courses, during the summer.
Though I have struggled with remaining positive throughout the last several months dealing with my illness, the support that I have received at Queen's from the Department of Environmental Studies, my professors, and the health professionals at Student Wellness Services has been instrumental in allowing me to maintain my academic standing while addressing my health issues. Their assistance has permitted me to focus on my recovery, without having to compromise my education.
I appreciate your consideration of my circumstance in my appeal for an aegrotat grade.
Thank you,
Minoli Dias
Undergraduate Student (BScH)
School of Environmental Studies
Queen's University
15pmd1@queensu.ca
My name is Praveena Minoli Dias (Student No. 20002107) and I am a fourth-year student completing my BScH in Environmental Science. I am writing to you, with the support of my instructor, to request that my grade for the course BIOL 335 be recorded as an aegrotat grade on my transcript. I am currently working towards completing up to 70 of the course evaluations for BIOL 335 because I was struggling with the worsening of an ongoing mental illness last semester. Therefore, I was unable to complete the requirements during the last three weeks of the Fall semester and into the exam period.
I have been struggling with managing my illness over the past five years, and was able to reasonably manage it when I began attending Queen's in 2016. In my second year I was connected with Queen's Student Accessibility Services by one of my professors because although my illness was manageable, it began to impact my ability to perform certain tasks within the set timeframe in a crowded classroom setting.
Towards the end of October last semester, I began to notice a decline in my condition similar to what I had experienced during its initial onset several years ago. I tried to manage my symptoms on my own initially using tools provided to me by my family physician, but with little success. Accordingly, I sought help from a physician, a counsellor and occupational therapist at Student Wellness Services, as well as my family physician. Due to my illness, I was having trouble keeping myself well-fed, gaining enough sleep and concentrating to complete tasks for short periods of time. The health care providers who treated me recommended that I take a break from school in order to focus on managing my symptoms.
I spoke to my professors and was permitted to take leave from four out of five of my classes for the remaining three weeks of the semester in November because I was having difficulty completing classwork. For the fifth class, ENSC 502 (undergraduate honor's thesis), I was offered the option to adjust deadlines with my co-supervisors as the course ran throughout the full year. I continued working on this course to the best of my ability while attending health appointments, but on Dec. 9th, 2019 my counsellor at Student Wellness Services recommended that I take a leave of absence to allow me to better manage my symptoms.
Unfortunately, I was unable to drop my courses by the Week 8 deadline because we came to the understanding that I needed to step back from my courses after the deadline had passed. Additionally, I would be unable to cover the financial cost for completing an additional year at school and had completed the majority of the coursework for my Fall semester classes, so this was not considered as an appropriate course of action by myself or my counsellor, and occupational therapist at Student Wellness Services.
For the majority of my classes (i.e. GPHY 336, ENSC 301 and ENSC 480), the remaining evaluations in need of completion, by the time that I took leave from my courses in Week 9, were final assignments. I have arranged alternative due dates with these professors to submit assignments. However, for BIOL 335, although I had attended the lectures, I was unable to complete a lab bell ringer evaluation, a paper and the final exam which occurred during the period of decline in my health and when I had to take academic leave. From my understanding, the number of evaluations I have missed and the complexity involved in being able to re-administer them is what prompted my instructor, Dr. John Smol, to suggest an alternative option. Dr. Smol, suggested that we postpone the exam to the Winter semester and that I appeal for an aegrotat grade as I will have completed 70 of the course by this time. We have since scheduled the exam for February 10th, 2020.
Since the beginning of January after returning to school, I have been working towards recovery to a point at which I can manage the symptoms of my illness. My health condition has improved and I have been using alternative strategies to manage my illness at the recommendation of my physicians and counsellor. I have discussed an improved health management plan for my illness with the health care providers who have been treating me. Moreover, I have been following up with Student Wellness Services as my family physician is in Ottawa. Additionally, I have taken a reduced course load this semester to complete the remaining assignments from the previous semester and focus on my recovery. I expect to recover and complete the remainder of my degree, which consists of three elective courses, during the summer.
Though I have struggled with remaining positive throughout the last several months dealing with my illness, the support that I have received at Queen's from the Department of Environmental Studies, my professors, and the health professionals at Student Wellness Services has been instrumental in allowing me to maintain my academic standing while addressing my health issues. Their assistance has permitted me to focus on my recovery, without having to compromise my education.
I appreciate your consideration of my circumstance in my appeal for an aegrotat grade.
Thank you,
Minoli Dias
Undergraduate Student (BScH)
School of Environmental Studies
Queen's University
15pmd1@queensu.ca