Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 10659
Submitted: June 12, 2023 at 4:52:45 PM
First Name: Nishini
Last Name: Gamage
Pronoun: She/her
Preferred Name: Nishini
Student Number: 20271395
Email: 20nug1@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BA
Plan: GNDS
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: My name is Nishini Gamage and I am contacting you to request the possibility of being able to waive my requirement to withdraw from the university for one year. Since the beginning of first year, I have been struggling with my mental health and have been trying to deal with it on my own and without help but at the end of this past academic year I had realized that professional help is something that I need to be able to continue my education successfully. Specifically, I think my mental health is getting in the way of me being successful academically because of the fact that I feel as though I do not have anyone to rely on to speak to about certain feelings and thoughts that I had/have, and these thoughts completely cloud my brain and cause me to not be able to complete work properly. Due to this reason since March of 2023, I have begun trying to find a therapist to be able to have someone to talk to in a professional setting as well as give me methods to concentrate better and possibly get accommodations. I do think that some of the work I have been doing alone has been slightly helping me as I think that some of the grades I have gotten this year are much better than what I was able to receive during first year, but I think having a therapist would help me more and would help me to manage these problems if the requirement to withdraw is waived. I absolutely value being able to be a student at Queen's University and I understand that I have done myself an injustice by not getting help sooner and that I have put this privilege of being a student at Queen's University at risk. I would do absolutely anything to be able to go back in time and change it, but I can't unfortunately, and this is why I am trying my best to be able to right my wrongs now. I understand 100% the possibilities of possibly becoming a part time student or seeking permission to enroll in classes and those are things I am prepared to do if my request to waive this requirement to withdraw is fulfilled. Once I find a therapist that suits my needs, I am prepared to give documentation to prove that I am actively trying to better myself and my situation and am also prepared to get in touch with an academic advisor to help me create a realistic plan so that I am able to succeed academically.
Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you so much for your time.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: A. My focused desire in my studies as I am in my desired degree program is to be able to take advantage of the intelligent and experienced professors and teaching assistants around me to be able to gain knowledge from what they teach and be able to complete my degree successfully.
B. I do not work during the school year typically however taking a reduced course load or being a part time student is definitely something I think would benefit my academic performance as I find that usually I do not have the mental capacity where I am right now to fully give my attention to 5 courses, I think even just taking 4 classes my academic performance would change a lot.
C. A big challenge I have faced is being able to concentrate on my course work due to the amount of stress my mental health has put on me within the last couple years. This is why I am looking for a therapist so that I have someone I can talk to about these issues but also to have someone who I can work with to give me strategies to be able to help me concentrate better, using my learning style and taking my mental health and way of thinking into account. Hopefully having a professional to talk to will help me to create other skills that will aid me in my academics, for example time management along side concentrating better.
B. I do not work during the school year typically however taking a reduced course load or being a part time student is definitely something I think would benefit my academic performance as I find that usually I do not have the mental capacity where I am right now to fully give my attention to 5 courses, I think even just taking 4 classes my academic performance would change a lot.
C. A big challenge I have faced is being able to concentrate on my course work due to the amount of stress my mental health has put on me within the last couple years. This is why I am looking for a therapist so that I have someone I can talk to about these issues but also to have someone who I can work with to give me strategies to be able to help me concentrate better, using my learning style and taking my mental health and way of thinking into account. Hopefully having a professional to talk to will help me to create other skills that will aid me in my academics, for example time management along side concentrating better.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 217
Submitted: August 16, 2023 at 11:58:52 PM
Relevant Petition: 10659
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Appeal Grounds
Appeals to the Board of Studies must include a letter based on one or more of the Grounds for Appeal (Appeal Regulation 3.4). What are the grounds you are basing your appeal on?
- The Associate Dean's decision did not follow the rules of procedural fairness. A breach of procedural fairness includes such things as the Associate Dean failed to:
- Make a reasonable decision in your appeal. A “reasonable” decision is one that is based on evidence, thought out and supported by facts and logical inferences from the facts. To be reasonable, the decision must contain adequate reasons for the conclusions.
Appeal Grounds Details: Dear Board of studies,
I have been asked to withdraw from Queen's University for one year. I am appealing for this to be appealed because I was in a poor mental state at the time and while I have worked on my issues independently, I have realized that I need professional help and am in search for it. If there is a deadline that I can be given to show that I am able to come back to school, to show that I have acquired help and am able to show that I have a professional to talk to with a letter to show and accommodations to have, I can show that. Also, while I appreciate the board of studies giving me an extended deadline to appeal the initial decision, I was, naively, under the impression that because I never received a decision letter, I was in the clear and only realized that I wasn't when I went to select courses. Again, I appreciate the ability to send me my decision letter and give me a new deadline, but I was only given that after I had to ask for it. When I got an email giving me a new deadline to appeal, I took it as a sign from the universe and that the universe was giving me a second chance, I am really hoping that the university can give me a second chance as well. I am truly willing to do anything to prove that and that I won't take it for granted.
I have been asked to withdraw from Queen's University for one year. I am appealing for this to be appealed because I was in a poor mental state at the time and while I have worked on my issues independently, I have realized that I need professional help and am in search for it. If there is a deadline that I can be given to show that I am able to come back to school, to show that I have acquired help and am able to show that I have a professional to talk to with a letter to show and accommodations to have, I can show that. Also, while I appreciate the board of studies giving me an extended deadline to appeal the initial decision, I was, naively, under the impression that because I never received a decision letter, I was in the clear and only realized that I wasn't when I went to select courses. Again, I appreciate the ability to send me my decision letter and give me a new deadline, but I was only given that after I had to ask for it. When I got an email giving me a new deadline to appeal, I took it as a sign from the universe and that the universe was giving me a second chance, I am really hoping that the university can give me a second chance as well. I am truly willing to do anything to prove that and that I won't take it for granted.
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Dear Board of studies,
I have been asked to withdraw from Queen's University for one year. I am appealing for this to be appealed because I was in a poor mental state at the time and while I have worked on my issues independently, I have realized that I need professional help and am in search for it. If there is a deadline that I can be given to show that I am able to come back to school, to show that I have acquired help and am able to show that I have a professional to talk to with a letter to show and accommodations to have, I can show that. Also, while I appreciate the board of studies giving me an extended deadline to appeal the initial decision, I was, naively, under the impression that because I never received a decision letter, I was in the clear and only realized that I wasn't when I went to select courses. Again, I appreciate the ability to send me my decision letter and give me a new deadline, but I was only given that after I had to ask for it. When I got an email giving me a new deadline to appeal, I took it as a sign from the universe and that the universe was giving me a second chance, I am really hoping that the university can give me a second chance as well. I am truly willing to do anything to prove that and that I won't take it for granted.
I have been asked to withdraw from Queen's University for one year. I am appealing for this to be appealed because I was in a poor mental state at the time and while I have worked on my issues independently, I have realized that I need professional help and am in search for it. If there is a deadline that I can be given to show that I am able to come back to school, to show that I have acquired help and am able to show that I have a professional to talk to with a letter to show and accommodations to have, I can show that. Also, while I appreciate the board of studies giving me an extended deadline to appeal the initial decision, I was, naively, under the impression that because I never received a decision letter, I was in the clear and only realized that I wasn't when I went to select courses. Again, I appreciate the ability to send me my decision letter and give me a new deadline, but I was only given that after I had to ask for it. When I got an email giving me a new deadline to appeal, I took it as a sign from the universe and that the universe was giving me a second chance, I am really hoping that the university can give me a second chance as well. I am truly willing to do anything to prove that and that I won't take it for granted.
Documentation
I plan to submit additional documentation at a later date: I plan to submit additional documentation at a later date
Decision Letters
Level 2 Amendment
Appeal Type: Level 2 Amendment
ID: 229
Submitted: September 7, 2023 at 7:33:49 PM
Relevant Petition: 10659
New Information: Dear Board of Studies,
To add to my last appeal letter, I would like to say that I do not agree with the original decision that was made regarding my coming back to school because it was stated in my decision letter that it was not demonstrated that my circumstances were being managed. While this was not proven at the time, during that period and for months before that, I had been researching therapists, trying to find one that would be able to fit my needs and unfortunately this is quite a long and hard process. However this is no longer the case, I have found a therapist that I believe will help me and has already begun to help me. I have been very eager to grasp the chance to be able to improve myself as I decided that I need a therapist to deal with the issues that I have been having, which I also realized on my own, I have also shown to my therapist that I am eager to improve myself and improve the issues that I have been having, with her help of course. I have been having issues such as low energy, decreased motivation, willingness to isolate as well as little ability to concentrate and more, for a couple years now. These issues have had a direct effect on my ability to be a student and unfortunately have been so severe at one point that I had had suicidal ideations. Thankfully, I am in a better place and am hoping that I can continue this path with my therapist. If I am lucky enough to have a second chance at Queen's, I am planning on taking a reduced course load so that I am able to properly concentrate on what I am learning.
To add to my last appeal letter, I would like to say that I do not agree with the original decision that was made regarding my coming back to school because it was stated in my decision letter that it was not demonstrated that my circumstances were being managed. While this was not proven at the time, during that period and for months before that, I had been researching therapists, trying to find one that would be able to fit my needs and unfortunately this is quite a long and hard process. However this is no longer the case, I have found a therapist that I believe will help me and has already begun to help me. I have been very eager to grasp the chance to be able to improve myself as I decided that I need a therapist to deal with the issues that I have been having, which I also realized on my own, I have also shown to my therapist that I am eager to improve myself and improve the issues that I have been having, with her help of course. I have been having issues such as low energy, decreased motivation, willingness to isolate as well as little ability to concentrate and more, for a couple years now. These issues have had a direct effect on my ability to be a student and unfortunately have been so severe at one point that I had had suicidal ideations. Thankfully, I am in a better place and am hoping that I can continue this path with my therapist. If I am lucky enough to have a second chance at Queen's, I am planning on taking a reduced course load so that I am able to properly concentrate on what I am learning.
Appeal Grounds
Appeals to the Board of Studies must include a letter based on one or more of the Grounds for Appeal (Appeal Regulation 3.4). What are the grounds you are basing your appeal on?
- The Associate Dean's decision did not follow the rules of procedural fairness. A breach of procedural fairness includes such things as the Associate Dean failed to:
- Make a reasonable decision in your appeal. A “reasonable” decision is one that is based on evidence, thought out and supported by facts and logical inferences from the facts. To be reasonable, the decision must contain adequate reasons for the conclusions.
Documentation
Document: Therapist Letter.pdf
History
Originally submitted June 12, 2023 at 4:52:45 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2023-06-13 1:18:50 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | Spring Forsberg | 2023-06-26 9:22:23 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Spring Forsberg | 2023-06-26 9:22:23 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Spring Forsberg | 2023-07-31 12:10:05 PM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 217 | 20nug1 | 2023-08-16 11:58:52 PM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 Amendment | Level 2 Appeal ID: 229 | 20nug1 | 2023-09-07 7:33:49 PM | |
| status | N/A | Received | ADA Amended Decision | Pamela Briand | 2023-09-11 8:27:47 AM | |
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Pamela Briand | 2023-09-11 8:28:59 AM |