Petition Letter
Grace Wilson Student 20231688
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3M3
19gaw3@queensu.ca
April 13, 2022
Administrator of Undergraduate Programs
Re: Permission to drop GNDS 285
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing this letter to request special permission to drop the course GNDS 285 ?Transgender Politics & Representation? held within the winter semester of the 2022 academic year, even though the March 4 academic deadline has passed.
Due to unforeseen special circumstances regarding my health, I have been unable to drop this class on time. I have been under the care of my physician Dr. Talitha Arndt since January of this year after I suffered a concussion. I am also under the care of Dr. Micallef, a Neurologist, as well as, Aimee Berard an occupational therapist at Queens. I have not been able to attend classes or do any work since the winter break as I have continued to recover from concussion symptoms. During January and February, my mental and physical wellness was not adequate enough for me to complete my academic requirements and I was under continual doctor's orders to rest and to refrain from reading or the use of electronics. I was hopeful I could return to all my classes after reading week and continue my studies for the remainder of the term. Unfortunately, my situation was stagnant and my physical health was not healing as quickly as I and my doctors had hoped or anticipated. On February 25th, I spoke with Pamela from student accommodations and was advised to drop several classes so I could focus on completing three of my seven courses which included GNDS 285.
I thought I would be able to manage the coursework in my three remaining classes and was very optimistic that access to SWS support would be successful. I have made good progress in my two other courses however having two heavy reading classes was too much. I continue to have difficulty with focus/concentration and extended focus on reading/comprehension still triggers symptoms. In addition, I was not able to get a notetaker which was an important piece of my accommodation. After connecting and consulting with my professor, student services and my medical team, I have made the difficult decision to drop GNDS 285. Unfortunately, due to delays in getting appointments with a medical specialist, I was unable to make an informed decision until after the March 4 deadline. Dr. Arndt provided me with a note that you will find attached, attesting to my appointment and medical condition. As well I have included a note from Aimee, my Occupational Therapist. I have been overwhelmed, frustrated and confused throughout my slow recovery. I am a second year student and cannot afford to get an incomplete or a failure on my transcript. An incomplete or failure would greatly affect my chances of being accepted into future programs. I have worked hard during my studies at the University and plan to take a summer course to replace the one I am hoping you will let me drop. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. Going forward I will be working alongside my medical team and my advisors at Queens to create an academic plan that is appropriate considering my health concerns. Thank you for taking time to review my request.
Sincerely,
Grace Wilson
Encl:
- Medical note from Dr. Talitha Arndt
- Form Occupational Therapist Aimee Berard
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3M3
19gaw3@queensu.ca
April 13, 2022
Administrator of Undergraduate Programs
Re: Permission to drop GNDS 285
Dear Associate Dean,
I am writing this letter to request special permission to drop the course GNDS 285 ?Transgender Politics & Representation? held within the winter semester of the 2022 academic year, even though the March 4 academic deadline has passed.
Due to unforeseen special circumstances regarding my health, I have been unable to drop this class on time. I have been under the care of my physician Dr. Talitha Arndt since January of this year after I suffered a concussion. I am also under the care of Dr. Micallef, a Neurologist, as well as, Aimee Berard an occupational therapist at Queens. I have not been able to attend classes or do any work since the winter break as I have continued to recover from concussion symptoms. During January and February, my mental and physical wellness was not adequate enough for me to complete my academic requirements and I was under continual doctor's orders to rest and to refrain from reading or the use of electronics. I was hopeful I could return to all my classes after reading week and continue my studies for the remainder of the term. Unfortunately, my situation was stagnant and my physical health was not healing as quickly as I and my doctors had hoped or anticipated. On February 25th, I spoke with Pamela from student accommodations and was advised to drop several classes so I could focus on completing three of my seven courses which included GNDS 285.
I thought I would be able to manage the coursework in my three remaining classes and was very optimistic that access to SWS support would be successful. I have made good progress in my two other courses however having two heavy reading classes was too much. I continue to have difficulty with focus/concentration and extended focus on reading/comprehension still triggers symptoms. In addition, I was not able to get a notetaker which was an important piece of my accommodation. After connecting and consulting with my professor, student services and my medical team, I have made the difficult decision to drop GNDS 285. Unfortunately, due to delays in getting appointments with a medical specialist, I was unable to make an informed decision until after the March 4 deadline. Dr. Arndt provided me with a note that you will find attached, attesting to my appointment and medical condition. As well I have included a note from Aimee, my Occupational Therapist. I have been overwhelmed, frustrated and confused throughout my slow recovery. I am a second year student and cannot afford to get an incomplete or a failure on my transcript. An incomplete or failure would greatly affect my chances of being accepted into future programs. I have worked hard during my studies at the University and plan to take a summer course to replace the one I am hoping you will let me drop. I will be happy to answer any questions you might have. Going forward I will be working alongside my medical team and my advisors at Queens to create an academic plan that is appropriate considering my health concerns. Thank you for taking time to review my request.
Sincerely,
Grace Wilson
Encl:
- Medical note from Dr. Talitha Arndt
- Form Occupational Therapist Aimee Berard