Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Academic),
I am writing to appeal for Aegrotat standing in BCHM218 (Winter 2021), by which the final examination, accounting for the outstanding 30 of my course work, would be excluded from my final grade. Professor Pennimpede has confirmed that I am eligible for Aegrotat standing as I have met all the learning objectives for the course.
On April 16th, 2021, I was taken into the ER department at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for an acute mental health crisis. I was admitted into the Adult Mental Health Unit and have been receiving and engaging with inpatient psychiatric care. In the weeks leading up to this hospitalization, I recognized my deteriorating mental health and reached out to my professors and Student Wellness Services. My mental status greatly affects my concentration, motivation, cognition, and subsequently, my ability to engage in academic work. With the help of Laurie Hooke at Student Wellness Services, I was able to successfully complete the remaining coursework for BMED373, ASTR101, and PSYC251. I was unable to complete an assignment worth 20 for PSYC302, however, I made arrangements with Professor Hollenstein to reweight other coursework instead. I aimed to complete the BCHM218 exam scheduled for April 22nd, 2021, however, I experienced an immediate and complete deterioration in my health and was taken to the hospital due to concerns for my safety.
While hospitalized, and through consultation with psychiatrists and mental health support staff, an individualized mental healthcare program was developed with a timeline for Summer 2021. It is the advice of my care team to return to schoolwork in September, and not before then. I continue to receive inpatient care and have started new medications. Upon discharge, I will engage with an intensive partial hospitalization (Day Program) treatment program, which will require me to spend several hours at the hospital every day extending well into the summer months.
I am hoping to receive Aegrotat standing, as I believe that attempting to complete a deferred BCHM218 exam in August will significantly disrupt my recovery process and have negative impacts on my health. My current mental state is worse than it has been in several years, and this recovery feels like I am rebuilding my wellness from scratch - a process requiring immense time and effort. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted access to the supports and resources that I would typically use, which will lengthen the recovery process. Both mine and my doctor¿¿s primary focus has been for my health to stabilize so as to avoid being readmitted into the hospital, and as such, I will not be in a position to anticipate and prepare for this exam. For this reason, I believe it will be beneficial to eliminate major stressors in my life, in order to pave the way for a return to wellness in time for the 2021-2022 school year. Throughout university, I have been committed to academic excellence, putting all my time and energy into my studies. Given the timeframe of my recovery program, the anticipation and immense pressures of an impending exam would take my focus away from health priorities. Having stressors like the exam outside of my defined recovery program would divide my effort and attention, affecting my ability to engage with either successfully. I believe that an attempt to write the exam in August will not give an accurate representation of my academic abilities or understanding of the coursework given my current grade standing.
My healthcare team and I believe that I will be able to successfully begin my fourth year in September 2021, as it takes a few months to implement the skills and strategies learned in the Day Program and to see positive changes in my health. In order to maintain both my wellness and academic success, I will continue the recovery plan as dictated by my psychiatrist, adhering to a strict medication plan, continuing to use academic accommodations, and remaining connected with Student Services. Despite these challenges, I remain dedicated to my academic goals and am extremely passionate about the content of my degree program. For my last year, I have activist, research, and extracurricular opportunities and commitments that give me hope as I finish my time at Queen¿¿s. All in all, it has been determined by my psychiatrist, healthcare team, and family that it is not in my best interest to complete the BCHM218 exam in August, motivating my appeal for Aegrotat standing.
Thank you for considering my appeal.
Kindly,
Savie Edirisinghe
I am writing to appeal for Aegrotat standing in BCHM218 (Winter 2021), by which the final examination, accounting for the outstanding 30 of my course work, would be excluded from my final grade. Professor Pennimpede has confirmed that I am eligible for Aegrotat standing as I have met all the learning objectives for the course.
On April 16th, 2021, I was taken into the ER department at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for an acute mental health crisis. I was admitted into the Adult Mental Health Unit and have been receiving and engaging with inpatient psychiatric care. In the weeks leading up to this hospitalization, I recognized my deteriorating mental health and reached out to my professors and Student Wellness Services. My mental status greatly affects my concentration, motivation, cognition, and subsequently, my ability to engage in academic work. With the help of Laurie Hooke at Student Wellness Services, I was able to successfully complete the remaining coursework for BMED373, ASTR101, and PSYC251. I was unable to complete an assignment worth 20 for PSYC302, however, I made arrangements with Professor Hollenstein to reweight other coursework instead. I aimed to complete the BCHM218 exam scheduled for April 22nd, 2021, however, I experienced an immediate and complete deterioration in my health and was taken to the hospital due to concerns for my safety.
While hospitalized, and through consultation with psychiatrists and mental health support staff, an individualized mental healthcare program was developed with a timeline for Summer 2021. It is the advice of my care team to return to schoolwork in September, and not before then. I continue to receive inpatient care and have started new medications. Upon discharge, I will engage with an intensive partial hospitalization (Day Program) treatment program, which will require me to spend several hours at the hospital every day extending well into the summer months.
I am hoping to receive Aegrotat standing, as I believe that attempting to complete a deferred BCHM218 exam in August will significantly disrupt my recovery process and have negative impacts on my health. My current mental state is worse than it has been in several years, and this recovery feels like I am rebuilding my wellness from scratch - a process requiring immense time and effort. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted access to the supports and resources that I would typically use, which will lengthen the recovery process. Both mine and my doctor¿¿s primary focus has been for my health to stabilize so as to avoid being readmitted into the hospital, and as such, I will not be in a position to anticipate and prepare for this exam. For this reason, I believe it will be beneficial to eliminate major stressors in my life, in order to pave the way for a return to wellness in time for the 2021-2022 school year. Throughout university, I have been committed to academic excellence, putting all my time and energy into my studies. Given the timeframe of my recovery program, the anticipation and immense pressures of an impending exam would take my focus away from health priorities. Having stressors like the exam outside of my defined recovery program would divide my effort and attention, affecting my ability to engage with either successfully. I believe that an attempt to write the exam in August will not give an accurate representation of my academic abilities or understanding of the coursework given my current grade standing.
My healthcare team and I believe that I will be able to successfully begin my fourth year in September 2021, as it takes a few months to implement the skills and strategies learned in the Day Program and to see positive changes in my health. In order to maintain both my wellness and academic success, I will continue the recovery plan as dictated by my psychiatrist, adhering to a strict medication plan, continuing to use academic accommodations, and remaining connected with Student Services. Despite these challenges, I remain dedicated to my academic goals and am extremely passionate about the content of my degree program. For my last year, I have activist, research, and extracurricular opportunities and commitments that give me hope as I finish my time at Queen¿¿s. All in all, it has been determined by my psychiatrist, healthcare team, and family that it is not in my best interest to complete the BCHM218 exam in August, motivating my appeal for Aegrotat standing.
Thank you for considering my appeal.
Kindly,
Savie Edirisinghe