Petition Letter
I am writing this letter to ask for an exemption to the requirement that an appeal must be submitted within 21 days of the final day of examinations. In this case, I am asking for extensions beyond the end of the Winter 2011 and Fall 2011 terms.
In addition to this letter, as part of my appeal application, I will be attaching an appeal letter and appeal date extension letter I originally submitted on April 16, 2012 along with relevant accompanying documentation. Please take all of the included documents into consideration. (See attached document, Trevor Robinson-Appendix Documents).
I am appealing for credit standing in PHIL 115 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), ECON 110 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), and ECON 280 (Fall 2011); and to drop ECON 222 (Fall 2011) past the final day of examinations. Please note that the circumstances surrounding my low achievement in these four classes are similar; however, my reasons for not submitting appeals within the 21-day deadlines for the two terms in question--Winter 2011 and Fall 2011--are different to the extent that I will detail these circumstances separately within this letter.
In April of 2012, I submitted an appeal to the Faculty of Arts & Science, in which I requested to drop three courses beyond the final of examinations: HIST 124 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), POLS 110 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), and PHYS P16 (Winter 2011). I did not, however, submit a credit standing appeal for PHIL 115 and ECON 110, two additional courses I was enrolled in during the Fall 2010-Winter 2011 academic year, though I wish to do so now. The reason I did not submit a credit standing request along with my request to drop the other three courses is that I was never advised of my ability to do so. During both the student services counseling I received prior to submitting the appeal and the appeal process itself, I was never made aware of the credit standing appeal or encouraged to submit one. Had I known to submit a credit standing appeal for these two courses, I am certain that I would have submitted one along with my appeal to drop the three classes beyond the last day of the course. In fact, it was my full intention to drop PHIL 115 beyond the last day of the course, despite the fact that I had passed the course (albeit with a very poor grade). I originally submitted a request to drop PHIL 115 along with the other three courses, but on April 18, 2012 I received an e-mail from a representative for the Associate Dean of Studies telling me that I was unable to do so, and that I must have made a mistake (please refer to a copy of the e-mail attached). I feel as though this would have been a prime opportunity for this representative or anyone else in Student Services with knowledge of my appeal to advise me of the credit standing request. Whereas the recently updated Academic Appeal page on the Faculty of Arts & Science website is clear in its description of the credit standing appeal, the previous version of the website was not. I do not dispute that it was my responsibility to fully inform myself of the Academic Appeal process, but as someone who was not familiar with the process prior to submitting an appeal, I sought counsel from Student Services while submitting my appeal. Regrettably, neither Student Services nor this representative advised me of the credit standing appeal, despite having multiple opportunities to do so. Had I been made aware, I would have submitted a credit standing appeal at that time; and, now that I am aware, I am asking for an extension to submit the accompanying credit standing appeal beyond the 21 days of the final day of the Winter 2011 examinations.
I experienced an emotionally depressive episode in my first year at Queen's, which was the reason for my appeal in April 2012. The impact of this episode on my academic performance was notable, and in addition to failing the classes I successfully appealed to have dropped past the deadline, it adversely impacted me in the other courses I was enrolled in at the time. Even though I did not fail these courses, my performance in them was equally as inferior to my failed classes as a result of this depressive episode. The final marks I received in ECON 110 and PHIL 115, as is the case for the classes I successfully appealed to have dropped past the end of examinations, are not indicative of my academic abilities and work ethic. Now that I am aware of the credit standing appeal, I would appreciate the opportunity to ensure that my poor achievement from a time in which I was mentally unwell does not impair my future academic or professional endeavours.
I am also requesting an exemption to submit an appeal to drop ECON 222 beyond the final day of the Fall 2011 examinations and receive credit standing in ECON 280. As I will detail in my appeal letter, I was still feeling the effects of my depressive episode in January of 2012, although I realize now that I did not want to admit it. I was focusing at the time on appealing my courses from the previous year, which, as my letters from that time reflect, was not an easy process for me. The lingering effects of my depressive episode, when combined with the reality that I was not in the right program (Economics) extended the period in which my academic performance did not match my abilities or effort. Around that time, I had just transitioned from Economics to Geography, and was focused on getting myself back on track following this additional setback. I realize that I should have submitted this additional appeal earlier, but I simply was not ready to risk experiencing the feelings associated with that time in my life yet again. Today, however, my situation has improved considerably, and I am better prepared to deal with the academic implications from this difficult period in my life. I would be grateful for an opportunity to share my experiences from that time with the Associate Dean in my appeal letter, and I would encourage the Dean to understand that the factors impacting my studies at this time also hindered by ability to speak about them. I truly believe that because of the circumstances surrounding my first few semesters at Queen's I struggled not only to attain success in my courses, but also to appeal my lack of achievement during those semesters.
For all the reasons contained within this letter, I would encourage the Associate Dean to grant this exemption to the 21-day limit, thereby allowing me to continue with the progress I have shown in terms of both my academics and my mental health since this challenging period in my life.
Thank you very much for your consideration of my appeal and for taking the time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Trevor Robinson
In addition to this letter, as part of my appeal application, I will be attaching an appeal letter and appeal date extension letter I originally submitted on April 16, 2012 along with relevant accompanying documentation. Please take all of the included documents into consideration. (See attached document, Trevor Robinson-Appendix Documents).
I am appealing for credit standing in PHIL 115 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), ECON 110 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), and ECON 280 (Fall 2011); and to drop ECON 222 (Fall 2011) past the final day of examinations. Please note that the circumstances surrounding my low achievement in these four classes are similar; however, my reasons for not submitting appeals within the 21-day deadlines for the two terms in question--Winter 2011 and Fall 2011--are different to the extent that I will detail these circumstances separately within this letter.
In April of 2012, I submitted an appeal to the Faculty of Arts & Science, in which I requested to drop three courses beyond the final of examinations: HIST 124 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), POLS 110 (Fall 2010-Winter 2011), and PHYS P16 (Winter 2011). I did not, however, submit a credit standing appeal for PHIL 115 and ECON 110, two additional courses I was enrolled in during the Fall 2010-Winter 2011 academic year, though I wish to do so now. The reason I did not submit a credit standing request along with my request to drop the other three courses is that I was never advised of my ability to do so. During both the student services counseling I received prior to submitting the appeal and the appeal process itself, I was never made aware of the credit standing appeal or encouraged to submit one. Had I known to submit a credit standing appeal for these two courses, I am certain that I would have submitted one along with my appeal to drop the three classes beyond the last day of the course. In fact, it was my full intention to drop PHIL 115 beyond the last day of the course, despite the fact that I had passed the course (albeit with a very poor grade). I originally submitted a request to drop PHIL 115 along with the other three courses, but on April 18, 2012 I received an e-mail from a representative for the Associate Dean of Studies telling me that I was unable to do so, and that I must have made a mistake (please refer to a copy of the e-mail attached). I feel as though this would have been a prime opportunity for this representative or anyone else in Student Services with knowledge of my appeal to advise me of the credit standing request. Whereas the recently updated Academic Appeal page on the Faculty of Arts & Science website is clear in its description of the credit standing appeal, the previous version of the website was not. I do not dispute that it was my responsibility to fully inform myself of the Academic Appeal process, but as someone who was not familiar with the process prior to submitting an appeal, I sought counsel from Student Services while submitting my appeal. Regrettably, neither Student Services nor this representative advised me of the credit standing appeal, despite having multiple opportunities to do so. Had I been made aware, I would have submitted a credit standing appeal at that time; and, now that I am aware, I am asking for an extension to submit the accompanying credit standing appeal beyond the 21 days of the final day of the Winter 2011 examinations.
I experienced an emotionally depressive episode in my first year at Queen's, which was the reason for my appeal in April 2012. The impact of this episode on my academic performance was notable, and in addition to failing the classes I successfully appealed to have dropped past the deadline, it adversely impacted me in the other courses I was enrolled in at the time. Even though I did not fail these courses, my performance in them was equally as inferior to my failed classes as a result of this depressive episode. The final marks I received in ECON 110 and PHIL 115, as is the case for the classes I successfully appealed to have dropped past the end of examinations, are not indicative of my academic abilities and work ethic. Now that I am aware of the credit standing appeal, I would appreciate the opportunity to ensure that my poor achievement from a time in which I was mentally unwell does not impair my future academic or professional endeavours.
I am also requesting an exemption to submit an appeal to drop ECON 222 beyond the final day of the Fall 2011 examinations and receive credit standing in ECON 280. As I will detail in my appeal letter, I was still feeling the effects of my depressive episode in January of 2012, although I realize now that I did not want to admit it. I was focusing at the time on appealing my courses from the previous year, which, as my letters from that time reflect, was not an easy process for me. The lingering effects of my depressive episode, when combined with the reality that I was not in the right program (Economics) extended the period in which my academic performance did not match my abilities or effort. Around that time, I had just transitioned from Economics to Geography, and was focused on getting myself back on track following this additional setback. I realize that I should have submitted this additional appeal earlier, but I simply was not ready to risk experiencing the feelings associated with that time in my life yet again. Today, however, my situation has improved considerably, and I am better prepared to deal with the academic implications from this difficult period in my life. I would be grateful for an opportunity to share my experiences from that time with the Associate Dean in my appeal letter, and I would encourage the Dean to understand that the factors impacting my studies at this time also hindered by ability to speak about them. I truly believe that because of the circumstances surrounding my first few semesters at Queen's I struggled not only to attain success in my courses, but also to appeal my lack of achievement during those semesters.
For all the reasons contained within this letter, I would encourage the Associate Dean to grant this exemption to the 21-day limit, thereby allowing me to continue with the progress I have shown in terms of both my academics and my mental health since this challenging period in my life.
Thank you very much for your consideration of my appeal and for taking the time to read my letter.
Sincerely,
Trevor Robinson