Petition Letter
Attention: Associate Dean (Academic)
Respectfully and with great humility, I am writing to?appeal for Late Drop, Credit Standing and Aegrotat Standing for courses in the Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 semesters, as my current academic standing at Queen's University is not representative of?my abilities and potential as an enrolled student, but unfortunately of my struggles and failures in coping with major depression.??
In my first year, the Fall of 2018, I began suffering from health issues including pretty severe depression with many down days and having little energy and motivation to get up and go to lectures. This difficult?time affected my?physical?health as well, with?low?appetite and subsequent?weight loss of over 20 pounds in just a few short months. I really made an effort to push through and complete my Fall course load, however, it got to the point where I could not continue falling behind in lectures and workload.
Unfortunately, at the start of first year my mental health?deteriorated?resulting in me becoming quite disengaged and depressed. Any schoolwork that I did submit was not reflective of my academic potential. Regrettably, while ill I even missed drop deadlines. For several of my courses I was never actually?able to attend class nor the labs and failed to submit much of the work for these courses.
Again respectfully, it is for this reason I am appealing for Aegrotat Standing (AG) in RELS 162 (Fall, 2018) where I completed 70% of the work (unfortunately I was not able to submit the final assignment, by default receiving a mark of zero for 30% of the course). Also, I am appealing for either Aegrotat Standing or Late Drop in HLTH 101 (Fall, 2018). I completed the work in this class, however (and due to significant stressors at the onset of this course) my failing grade is a result of my mental state, a fuelled agitation and my inability to meet with the professor in person at the time in finding resolve. Similarly, I am requesting a Credit Standing (CR) in GPHY 101 (Fall, 2018) since the D Grade is one I received as an evaluation while under distress, not being able to attend lectures or labs resulting in a lower grade than my true academic capabilities.
I attempted and hoped for a reset in the Winter term 2019, however within weeks I continued to struggle with mental health issues and decided to drop ECON 110A and Film 110A, recognizing at that time that I was unable to attend and complete these full year courses. I took the rest of the term off returning home for the most part. I enrolled for the Fall of 2019 with a lighter course load, but unfortunately faced further personal adversity exasperated by a dear friend's suicide attempt, and my own coping with hopelessness. During that time, I did not even consider the drop dates. Given these extenuating and excruciating personal circumstances, I am appealing for Late Drop in CLST 102 (Fall, 2019) and GEOL 106 (Fall, 2019).
Currently, as I write to you, please accept that I have been feeling better after having taken the past year to focus solely on my physical and mental health. I have regained weight through a regular work-out and diet routine, and strangely Covid has allowed me the downtime to reflect. Queen??s University was my 1 choice when I graduated from St. Michael??s and I aspire to be a proud?alumnus?one day ? I?am?hoping for a fresh start this term with a lighter course load online and without repercussions from my false start under extenuating?circumstances.
Please accept my sincere gratitude for reviewing my academic transcript, and for your consideration of my appeal.
Regards,
Cameron Biniaris
Student: 20109580
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED:
First off hope you have been well and staying safe. I would like to let you know that I am currently enrolled in ECON 112 and RELS 131 and so far things are going well.
I apologize for the delay in compiling the requested information which support the timlines I memorialized of my extenuating cirumstances forming the basis of my appeal letter.
Please accept the following information, including a parental supporting document and medical confirmation from Dr. Kovacs to Queen's University in September 2018. I was referred to Dr. Kovacs for anxiety and depression related stomach and appetite issues by my GP and a medical letter is on file with the school that supported my request for room change that occured in October 2018.
Aegrotat Standing: RELS 162 (Fall 2018) as referenced 70% of work was completed, I was mentally unable to complete final assignment, mark of 68% on completed, Prof. e-mail confirmation of events,Received a mark of zero on a 30% assignment resulting in an F in the course. HLTH 101 (Fall 2018) attached stressful and high-handed Prof. correspondence that acted as quite a stressor during this timeline, exascerbated my depression and disengagement. I could not attend lectures, tutorials and despite my efforts that included completing all of the work of the course, I was marked a zero on the assignment by the Prof. for the sole reason of not meeting with her in person - that zero directly impacted my final grade resulting in an F.
Credit Standing: GPHY 101 (Fall 2018) due to crippling anxiety and depression I was unable to attend class and tutorials my mark was adversely affected. Prof. confirmation e-mail.
Late Drop: CLST 102 and GEOL 106 (Fall 2019) excruciating circumstances of my dear friend's suicide attempt and my own personal struggles with depression and hopelessness at this timeline wouldn't allow me to attend even one class, and I didn't/couldn't get myself to log-in and formally drop these classes at the time of deadline. I looked back and through my inbox, and didn't receive a reachout or e-mail from either Prof.
Lastly, I have included correspondence with Queen's academic counsellors during Covid timeline and my concern about my academic good standing and my future graduation hopes.
RECEIVED OCT 25:
Sorry for taking this long to reply as I'm not sure what exactly I'm to be supporting or solving for along the timeline. I was as detailed as I could be in describing what I personally dealt with and went through and the subsequent information on my previous e-mail supports those timelines. The impact on my academics was direct and catastrophic from a mark or evaluation of my performance perspective because at that the time, I was unable to engage and attend, not being able to a complete a 30% assignment and receiving a mark of zero and most evident by receiving 2 grades of F's , after not having attended a class and not dropping at deadline dates. Sadly, that impact is harsh and evidenced on my transcript.
If the question is....do I have records from on campus medical services ? that answer, is No... I suffered alone.
I am appealing because I'm really, really trying to find energy here and re-launch myself as a Queen's student without the tarnished transcript of my circumstances and hopefully as example for others to keep hope and reach out and ask for assistance whether through Covid ...or through mentally troubling times in life.
Respectfully and with great humility, I am writing to?appeal for Late Drop, Credit Standing and Aegrotat Standing for courses in the Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 semesters, as my current academic standing at Queen's University is not representative of?my abilities and potential as an enrolled student, but unfortunately of my struggles and failures in coping with major depression.??
In my first year, the Fall of 2018, I began suffering from health issues including pretty severe depression with many down days and having little energy and motivation to get up and go to lectures. This difficult?time affected my?physical?health as well, with?low?appetite and subsequent?weight loss of over 20 pounds in just a few short months. I really made an effort to push through and complete my Fall course load, however, it got to the point where I could not continue falling behind in lectures and workload.
Unfortunately, at the start of first year my mental health?deteriorated?resulting in me becoming quite disengaged and depressed. Any schoolwork that I did submit was not reflective of my academic potential. Regrettably, while ill I even missed drop deadlines. For several of my courses I was never actually?able to attend class nor the labs and failed to submit much of the work for these courses.
Again respectfully, it is for this reason I am appealing for Aegrotat Standing (AG) in RELS 162 (Fall, 2018) where I completed 70% of the work (unfortunately I was not able to submit the final assignment, by default receiving a mark of zero for 30% of the course). Also, I am appealing for either Aegrotat Standing or Late Drop in HLTH 101 (Fall, 2018). I completed the work in this class, however (and due to significant stressors at the onset of this course) my failing grade is a result of my mental state, a fuelled agitation and my inability to meet with the professor in person at the time in finding resolve. Similarly, I am requesting a Credit Standing (CR) in GPHY 101 (Fall, 2018) since the D Grade is one I received as an evaluation while under distress, not being able to attend lectures or labs resulting in a lower grade than my true academic capabilities.
I attempted and hoped for a reset in the Winter term 2019, however within weeks I continued to struggle with mental health issues and decided to drop ECON 110A and Film 110A, recognizing at that time that I was unable to attend and complete these full year courses. I took the rest of the term off returning home for the most part. I enrolled for the Fall of 2019 with a lighter course load, but unfortunately faced further personal adversity exasperated by a dear friend's suicide attempt, and my own coping with hopelessness. During that time, I did not even consider the drop dates. Given these extenuating and excruciating personal circumstances, I am appealing for Late Drop in CLST 102 (Fall, 2019) and GEOL 106 (Fall, 2019).
Currently, as I write to you, please accept that I have been feeling better after having taken the past year to focus solely on my physical and mental health. I have regained weight through a regular work-out and diet routine, and strangely Covid has allowed me the downtime to reflect. Queen??s University was my 1 choice when I graduated from St. Michael??s and I aspire to be a proud?alumnus?one day ? I?am?hoping for a fresh start this term with a lighter course load online and without repercussions from my false start under extenuating?circumstances.
Please accept my sincere gratitude for reviewing my academic transcript, and for your consideration of my appeal.
Regards,
Cameron Biniaris
Student: 20109580
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RECEIVED:
First off hope you have been well and staying safe. I would like to let you know that I am currently enrolled in ECON 112 and RELS 131 and so far things are going well.
I apologize for the delay in compiling the requested information which support the timlines I memorialized of my extenuating cirumstances forming the basis of my appeal letter.
Please accept the following information, including a parental supporting document and medical confirmation from Dr. Kovacs to Queen's University in September 2018. I was referred to Dr. Kovacs for anxiety and depression related stomach and appetite issues by my GP and a medical letter is on file with the school that supported my request for room change that occured in October 2018.
Aegrotat Standing: RELS 162 (Fall 2018) as referenced 70% of work was completed, I was mentally unable to complete final assignment, mark of 68% on completed, Prof. e-mail confirmation of events,Received a mark of zero on a 30% assignment resulting in an F in the course. HLTH 101 (Fall 2018) attached stressful and high-handed Prof. correspondence that acted as quite a stressor during this timeline, exascerbated my depression and disengagement. I could not attend lectures, tutorials and despite my efforts that included completing all of the work of the course, I was marked a zero on the assignment by the Prof. for the sole reason of not meeting with her in person - that zero directly impacted my final grade resulting in an F.
Credit Standing: GPHY 101 (Fall 2018) due to crippling anxiety and depression I was unable to attend class and tutorials my mark was adversely affected. Prof. confirmation e-mail.
Late Drop: CLST 102 and GEOL 106 (Fall 2019) excruciating circumstances of my dear friend's suicide attempt and my own personal struggles with depression and hopelessness at this timeline wouldn't allow me to attend even one class, and I didn't/couldn't get myself to log-in and formally drop these classes at the time of deadline. I looked back and through my inbox, and didn't receive a reachout or e-mail from either Prof.
Lastly, I have included correspondence with Queen's academic counsellors during Covid timeline and my concern about my academic good standing and my future graduation hopes.
RECEIVED OCT 25:
Sorry for taking this long to reply as I'm not sure what exactly I'm to be supporting or solving for along the timeline. I was as detailed as I could be in describing what I personally dealt with and went through and the subsequent information on my previous e-mail supports those timelines. The impact on my academics was direct and catastrophic from a mark or evaluation of my performance perspective because at that the time, I was unable to engage and attend, not being able to a complete a 30% assignment and receiving a mark of zero and most evident by receiving 2 grades of F's , after not having attended a class and not dropping at deadline dates. Sadly, that impact is harsh and evidenced on my transcript.
If the question is....do I have records from on campus medical services ? that answer, is No... I suffered alone.
I am appealing because I'm really, really trying to find energy here and re-launch myself as a Queen's student without the tarnished transcript of my circumstances and hopefully as example for others to keep hope and reach out and ask for assistance whether through Covid ...or through mentally troubling times in life.