Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 12150
Submitted: July 28, 2024 at 7:58:04 PM
First Name: Saif
Last Name: Alzraigat
Pronoun: Mr
Student Number: 20154424
Email: 18sba3@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: APEC
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Petitions office,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to waive the petition deadline for courses that concluded in the 2022 Winter Semester (April 2022)
In January 2022, I began experiencing significant health issues, leading to a series of medical tests throughout February. Unfortunately, these tests did not yield a definitive diagnosis. During February, while still grappling with health problems, I traveled to Canada to commence the semester. By early March, I returned to Jordan for further evaluation and potential cancer testing.
Regrettably, my condition did not improve. Upon my return to Canada, I continued to struggle with my health and, in April 2022, during the summer break, I was diagnosed with cancer. I underwent several rounds of chemotherapy from May to August, which required my full attention and significantly impacted my ability to manage academic responsibilities.
As I resumed my studies in Canada for the fall 2022 semester, I encountered a recurrence of illness, necessitating another trip back to Jordan for additional chemotherapy during the reading week. This extended period of illness and the rigorous treatment regimen severely hindered my ability to keep up with coursework and meet deadlines.
Furthermore, upon returning to Canada for the 2022 fall semester, I began experiencing severe mental health issues, including panic attacks, which were later diagnosed as symptoms of schizophrenia. This mental health condition affected my academic performance throughout the semester. By the end of April 2023, the deadline for submitting academic appeals, I had not yet addressed my academic challenges due to these ongoing health issues.
I was admitted to a Psychiatry hospital in the summer of 2023 and spent nearly eight months undergoing treatment. I was discharged in February 2024 and began the complex process of writing appeals letters for my courses. Although I successfully managed to submit an appeal for a winter 2023 course, I faced another hospitalization just as I was drafting this appeal for the current situation. It has taken me time to recover and address my academic concerns, which is why this appeal is being submitted later than intended.
Given these exceptional and challenging circumstances, I was unable to submit any academic appeals or manage my coursework effectively during this period. I am now in a more stable position to resume my academic duties and respectfully request an extension or waiver for the missed deadline to file my petition regarding coursework in that timeline.
Attached, you will find relevant medical documentation that provides context and supports my request, as well as a presentation slide to show the timeline of the circumstances that prevented me from filing a complete appeal. I appreciate your understanding and consideration of my situation. Please let me know if you need any additional information or if we can discuss this matter further.
Thank you very much for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Saif Alzraigat
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to waive the petition deadline for courses that concluded in the 2022 Winter Semester (April 2022)
In January 2022, I began experiencing significant health issues, leading to a series of medical tests throughout February. Unfortunately, these tests did not yield a definitive diagnosis. During February, while still grappling with health problems, I traveled to Canada to commence the semester. By early March, I returned to Jordan for further evaluation and potential cancer testing.
Regrettably, my condition did not improve. Upon my return to Canada, I continued to struggle with my health and, in April 2022, during the summer break, I was diagnosed with cancer. I underwent several rounds of chemotherapy from May to August, which required my full attention and significantly impacted my ability to manage academic responsibilities.
As I resumed my studies in Canada for the fall 2022 semester, I encountered a recurrence of illness, necessitating another trip back to Jordan for additional chemotherapy during the reading week. This extended period of illness and the rigorous treatment regimen severely hindered my ability to keep up with coursework and meet deadlines.
Furthermore, upon returning to Canada for the 2022 fall semester, I began experiencing severe mental health issues, including panic attacks, which were later diagnosed as symptoms of schizophrenia. This mental health condition affected my academic performance throughout the semester. By the end of April 2023, the deadline for submitting academic appeals, I had not yet addressed my academic challenges due to these ongoing health issues.
I was admitted to a Psychiatry hospital in the summer of 2023 and spent nearly eight months undergoing treatment. I was discharged in February 2024 and began the complex process of writing appeals letters for my courses. Although I successfully managed to submit an appeal for a winter 2023 course, I faced another hospitalization just as I was drafting this appeal for the current situation. It has taken me time to recover and address my academic concerns, which is why this appeal is being submitted later than intended.
Given these exceptional and challenging circumstances, I was unable to submit any academic appeals or manage my coursework effectively during this period. I am now in a more stable position to resume my academic duties and respectfully request an extension or waiver for the missed deadline to file my petition regarding coursework in that timeline.
Attached, you will find relevant medical documentation that provides context and supports my request, as well as a presentation slide to show the timeline of the circumstances that prevented me from filing a complete appeal. I appreciate your understanding and consideration of my situation. Please let me know if you need any additional information or if we can discuss this matter further.
Thank you very much for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Saif Alzraigat
Document: 20154424 doc 2.pdf
Documentation Detail: NO DOC
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: Partial GrantLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 290
Submitted: September 5, 2024 at 11:24:02 AM
Relevant Petition: 12150
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
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: I am appealing the Associate Dean’s decision on the grounds that it did not fully consider the ongoing impact of my cancer treatment, as outlined in the medical documentation provided by Dr. Basim Aljalabneh. Specifically, the decision to deny my request to drop GPHY 330 (Fall 2022) and for Credit or Aegrotat Standing in ECON 310, ECON 239, and GEOL 106 (Winter 2022) was not reasonable because it focused on a brief absence during reading week, while failing to account for the prolonged effects of chemotherapy and its cumulative impact on my academic performance.
The documentation provided confirms that I underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy from May to August 2022, and that the side effects of this treatment—such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and physical exhaustion—persisted well into the Fall 2022 term. The Associate Dean’s decision, while acknowledging my absence during reading week, did not consider the broader, long-term academic impacts of my condition before, during, and after that period.
The reasoning that I was able to return to my studies shortly after reading week overlooks the fact that my recovery from chemotherapy was ongoing. As such, it was unreasonable to conclude that my performance was not significantly compromised throughout the Fall 2022 term.
The documentation provided confirms that I underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy from May to August 2022, and that the side effects of this treatment—such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and physical exhaustion—persisted well into the Fall 2022 term. The Associate Dean’s decision, while acknowledging my absence during reading week, did not consider the broader, long-term academic impacts of my condition before, during, and after that period.
The reasoning that I was able to return to my studies shortly after reading week overlooks the fact that my recovery from chemotherapy was ongoing. As such, it was unreasonable to conclude that my performance was not significantly compromised throughout the Fall 2022 term.
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Dear Members of the Board of Studies,
I am appealing the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my request for Credit Standing or Aegrotat Standing in ECON 310, ECON 239, GEOL 106 (Winter 2022), and to drop GPHY 330 (Fall 2022), on the grounds that the decision did not follow procedural fairness. Specifically, I believe the Associate Dean’s decision failed to fully consider the ongoing impact of my cancer treatment, as outlined in the medical documentation provided by Dr. Basim Aljalabneh.
Failure to Consider the Cumulative Impact of Cancer Treatment:
The Associate Dean’s decision stated that my medical documentation “did not confirm any long-term academic impacts during the 2022 Fall term.” However, the letter from Dr. Basim Aljalabneh, dated July 31, 2024, clearly outlines that I underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy from May to August 2022. Chemotherapy is not a treatment from which one recovers quickly, and its side effects—such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and physical exhaustion—persisted well into the Fall 2022 term.
While the Associate Dean acknowledges my brief absence during reading week, it is crucial to emphasize that Dr. Aljalabneh can attest that my return during this period, after undergoing chemotherapy, undoubtedly meant my academic performance was impacted before, during, and after this period. The decision to focus on this brief absence overlooks the broader, long-term challenges that significantly hindered my ability to perform academically. The ongoing effects of chemotherapy did not cease when I returned to class; they continued to impair my concentration, energy levels, and capacity to complete coursework.
Inconsistent Evaluation of Cancer-Related Evidence:
The Associate Dean’s decision to grant my request to drop COMM 211 (Summer 2022) based on my cancer treatment acknowledges the impact of my medical condition during that term. However, the same reasoning was not applied to GPHY 330 (Fall 2022), despite the fact that my recovery from chemotherapy extended well into the Fall semester. Dr. Aljalabneh’s letter explicitly confirms that my cancer treatment continued to have cumulative effects on my physical and mental state, which undeniably affected my ability to manage my academic workload during that period.
This inconsistency raises concerns about whether the same standards of fairness were applied when evaluating the impacts of my condition on different courses.
Inability to Meet Academic or Appeal Deadlines Due to Medical Condition:
I understand that university policy requires students to drop courses by a certain deadline. However, at the time, the intensity of my cancer treatment and recovery process made it impossible for me to consider appealing or handling any academic work. As noted by Dr. Aljalabneh, my focus during the Fall 2022 term was entirely on medical recovery, and it was out of my reach to engage with academic responsibilities or drop courses by the published deadlines. This context was not adequately reflected in the Associate Dean’s decision, even though the medical evidence clearly supports that I was not in a position to fulfill academic requirements during that time.
Request for Reconsideration:
I respectfully request that the Board of Studies reconsider the denial of Credit Standing or Aegrotat Standing in ECON 310, ECON 239, GEOL 106 (Winter 2022), and the denial to drop GPHY 330 (Fall 2022), on the grounds of procedural fairness. A more thorough consideration of the ongoing impacts of my cancer treatment, as documented by Dr. Basim Aljalabneh, should be taken into account in making a fair and reasonable decision.
Additionally, Dr. Aljalabneh can attest that my return during reading week does not imply I was fully recovered; rather, my academic performance was significantly impacted before, during, and after that period. The deadlines for dropping courses or appealing were simply beyond my ability to meet given my medical condition at the time.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Saif Alzraigat
I am appealing the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my request for Credit Standing or Aegrotat Standing in ECON 310, ECON 239, GEOL 106 (Winter 2022), and to drop GPHY 330 (Fall 2022), on the grounds that the decision did not follow procedural fairness. Specifically, I believe the Associate Dean’s decision failed to fully consider the ongoing impact of my cancer treatment, as outlined in the medical documentation provided by Dr. Basim Aljalabneh.
Failure to Consider the Cumulative Impact of Cancer Treatment:
The Associate Dean’s decision stated that my medical documentation “did not confirm any long-term academic impacts during the 2022 Fall term.” However, the letter from Dr. Basim Aljalabneh, dated July 31, 2024, clearly outlines that I underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy from May to August 2022. Chemotherapy is not a treatment from which one recovers quickly, and its side effects—such as fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and physical exhaustion—persisted well into the Fall 2022 term.
While the Associate Dean acknowledges my brief absence during reading week, it is crucial to emphasize that Dr. Aljalabneh can attest that my return during this period, after undergoing chemotherapy, undoubtedly meant my academic performance was impacted before, during, and after this period. The decision to focus on this brief absence overlooks the broader, long-term challenges that significantly hindered my ability to perform academically. The ongoing effects of chemotherapy did not cease when I returned to class; they continued to impair my concentration, energy levels, and capacity to complete coursework.
Inconsistent Evaluation of Cancer-Related Evidence:
The Associate Dean’s decision to grant my request to drop COMM 211 (Summer 2022) based on my cancer treatment acknowledges the impact of my medical condition during that term. However, the same reasoning was not applied to GPHY 330 (Fall 2022), despite the fact that my recovery from chemotherapy extended well into the Fall semester. Dr. Aljalabneh’s letter explicitly confirms that my cancer treatment continued to have cumulative effects on my physical and mental state, which undeniably affected my ability to manage my academic workload during that period.
This inconsistency raises concerns about whether the same standards of fairness were applied when evaluating the impacts of my condition on different courses.
Inability to Meet Academic or Appeal Deadlines Due to Medical Condition:
I understand that university policy requires students to drop courses by a certain deadline. However, at the time, the intensity of my cancer treatment and recovery process made it impossible for me to consider appealing or handling any academic work. As noted by Dr. Aljalabneh, my focus during the Fall 2022 term was entirely on medical recovery, and it was out of my reach to engage with academic responsibilities or drop courses by the published deadlines. This context was not adequately reflected in the Associate Dean’s decision, even though the medical evidence clearly supports that I was not in a position to fulfill academic requirements during that time.
Request for Reconsideration:
I respectfully request that the Board of Studies reconsider the denial of Credit Standing or Aegrotat Standing in ECON 310, ECON 239, GEOL 106 (Winter 2022), and the denial to drop GPHY 330 (Fall 2022), on the grounds of procedural fairness. A more thorough consideration of the ongoing impacts of my cancer treatment, as documented by Dr. Basim Aljalabneh, should be taken into account in making a fair and reasonable decision.
Additionally, Dr. Aljalabneh can attest that my return during reading week does not imply I was fully recovered; rather, my academic performance was significantly impacted before, during, and after that period. The deadlines for dropping courses or appealing were simply beyond my ability to meet given my medical condition at the time.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Saif Alzraigat
Documentation
Document: SaifAlzraigatKHCCDocumentation.pdf
I plan to submit additional documentation at a later date: I submitted the documentation via email, as they are not uploading on here.
History
Originally submitted July 28, 2024 at 7:58:04 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Incomplete | documentation | Kerri Andrews | 2024-07-29 8:45:51 AM |
| documentation | N/A | 20154424 doc 2.pdf | Kerri Andrews | 2024-08-09 10:04:24 AM | ||
| documentation_detail | N/A | NO DOC | NO DOC | Kerri Andrews | 2024-08-09 10:04:24 AM | |
| documentation | N/A | 20154424 doc 2.pdf | Kerri Andrews | 2024-08-09 10:04:24 AM | ||
| documentation_detail | N/A | NO DOC | Kerri Andrews | 2024-08-09 10:04:24 AM | ||
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Kerri Andrews | 2024-08-09 3:24:24 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Partial Grant | Kerri Andrews | 2024-09-04 12:23:05 PM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Kerri Andrews | 2024-09-04 12:23:05 PM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Kerri Andrews | 2024-09-04 12:23:44 PM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 290 | 18sba3 | 2024-09-05 11:24:02 AM | |
| status | N/A | Received | ADA Amended Decision | It is clear from the new documentation provided by Dr. Aljalabneh that the student experienced extenuating circumstances in Fall 2022. This situation although related to the circumstances in Winter 2 | Libby Hearn | 2024-09-12 1:05:50 PM |