Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 13310
Submitted: June 10, 2025 at 1:23:39 PM
First Name: Adrian
Last Name: Addison
Pronoun: he
Preferred Name: Adrian
Student Number: 20305725
Email: adrianomega527@gmail.com
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: None
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,
My name is Adrian Addison and I am an international student in the Arts and Science Faculty. I am petitioning the faculty’s decision that I must withdraw from Queen’s for 1 year so I will be able to take classes this semester.
In my senior year of high school few years ago, I was unfortunately diagnosed with two conditions (from attached doctor’s letter) that has caused severe inflammation in my body. Despite that, I still managed to achieve a 4.0 GPA during senior year (attached is my high school senior year transcript) to finish strong as my mother and I take my education very seriously and understand what is needed to be able to attend a prestigious school like Queens. After being told about my condition, my family and I was completely surprised as I have never drunk alcohol, smoked, or taken any toxic supplements before. As a result, I was able to see a doctor that has explained everything to me and said it results from simply an autoimmune condition. From then on, I started to take multiple medications prescribed from him for those conditions.
During my first year in Queens, I was struggling concentrating on my classes and even suffered abdominal pain that required me to see a local doctor around Kingston a few weeks before final exams in December of 2021. Though I always attended my classes and completed weekly assignments in my tenure at Queens, I have kept struggling to keep my mind off thinking about my health and kept questioning myself if my health would deteriorate rapidly throughout my time at Queens. During summer breaks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, I was able to return to the US (my hometown) to see my doctor and go through minor procedures such as liver biopsies, MRIs, and colonoscopies to be able to get a clearer understanding of my conditions and know the next necessary steps.
Secondly, in 2021 when I finished high school, my mom and I agreed easily on our aspirations for me to go to Queen’s. However, although I was very adamant that I wanted to pursue a business program after high school as my elder brother graduated with marketing at Georgian College in Barrie, my mother insisted that I try economics from the Arts faculty. The reason why is because my late father, Harold Addison is an alumnus at Queens University year of 1993 where he graduated as an economist. Seeing how much that meant to my mom, I went through with economics but I struggled heavily while also managing my health. I attended many office hours, but it was just too difficult for me to connect the math concepts with the economic concepts. Because of this, for the past two summers, especially this one, we have been trying to transfer me into the commerce program at Queens. Unfortunately, due to my academic standing, it has been impossible for me to transfer.
Due to receiving the necessary medication for my conditions and going through routine blood work, I am more confident that I will be able to improve my health and be focused on achieving higher grades at Queens. I fully understand that Queens is a massive opportunity and it is important for me to take these classes seriously and achieve a higher academic standing at Queens for me to pursue my hopes and goals for the future. In fact, currently as I am writing this letter, I am at my home in the US and have had many conversations with both my mom, to assess what assistance I’ll need and what courses suit best to my skills, and my doctor in case I may have to take classes online so I can keep up with my routine blood work to ensure that my condition hasn’t worsened unknowingly. Whether I take classes on campus in Kingston or online staying in the US, if given another opportunity, my number one priority will be focused on working as hard as possible to complete all my courses successfully and eliminate any distractions that would affect my ability to perform well.
Sincerely,
Adrian Addison
My name is Adrian Addison and I am an international student in the Arts and Science Faculty. I am petitioning the faculty’s decision that I must withdraw from Queen’s for 1 year so I will be able to take classes this semester.
In my senior year of high school few years ago, I was unfortunately diagnosed with two conditions (from attached doctor’s letter) that has caused severe inflammation in my body. Despite that, I still managed to achieve a 4.0 GPA during senior year (attached is my high school senior year transcript) to finish strong as my mother and I take my education very seriously and understand what is needed to be able to attend a prestigious school like Queens. After being told about my condition, my family and I was completely surprised as I have never drunk alcohol, smoked, or taken any toxic supplements before. As a result, I was able to see a doctor that has explained everything to me and said it results from simply an autoimmune condition. From then on, I started to take multiple medications prescribed from him for those conditions.
During my first year in Queens, I was struggling concentrating on my classes and even suffered abdominal pain that required me to see a local doctor around Kingston a few weeks before final exams in December of 2021. Though I always attended my classes and completed weekly assignments in my tenure at Queens, I have kept struggling to keep my mind off thinking about my health and kept questioning myself if my health would deteriorate rapidly throughout my time at Queens. During summer breaks in 2022, 2023, and 2024, I was able to return to the US (my hometown) to see my doctor and go through minor procedures such as liver biopsies, MRIs, and colonoscopies to be able to get a clearer understanding of my conditions and know the next necessary steps.
Secondly, in 2021 when I finished high school, my mom and I agreed easily on our aspirations for me to go to Queen’s. However, although I was very adamant that I wanted to pursue a business program after high school as my elder brother graduated with marketing at Georgian College in Barrie, my mother insisted that I try economics from the Arts faculty. The reason why is because my late father, Harold Addison is an alumnus at Queens University year of 1993 where he graduated as an economist. Seeing how much that meant to my mom, I went through with economics but I struggled heavily while also managing my health. I attended many office hours, but it was just too difficult for me to connect the math concepts with the economic concepts. Because of this, for the past two summers, especially this one, we have been trying to transfer me into the commerce program at Queens. Unfortunately, due to my academic standing, it has been impossible for me to transfer.
Due to receiving the necessary medication for my conditions and going through routine blood work, I am more confident that I will be able to improve my health and be focused on achieving higher grades at Queens. I fully understand that Queens is a massive opportunity and it is important for me to take these classes seriously and achieve a higher academic standing at Queens for me to pursue my hopes and goals for the future. In fact, currently as I am writing this letter, I am at my home in the US and have had many conversations with both my mom, to assess what assistance I’ll need and what courses suit best to my skills, and my doctor in case I may have to take classes online so I can keep up with my routine blood work to ensure that my condition hasn’t worsened unknowingly. Whether I take classes on campus in Kingston or online staying in the US, if given another opportunity, my number one priority will be focused on working as hard as possible to complete all my courses successfully and eliminate any distractions that would affect my ability to perform well.
Sincerely,
Adrian Addison
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Although I am not yet registered in my degree plan, I have met with my academic advisor on several occasions to asses which plan is viable for me. I have been told my priority this summer should be to look to take a degree plan that would not put me in the struggle that I had when I was trying to go for the Economic Plan
I’ve struggled with my health situation but since I’ve gone through procedures and routine blood work, my doctor has been able to gather al the information needed to address this and has given me several medications that has not only made me feel better physically, but mentally as well that help me be able to finish my education successfully.
Academically, I attended lectures, office hours, and tried my absolute best to complete assignments and exams but I kept finding it difficult. I realized time management is a serious issue for me when looking at my study habits and by attending workshops and consulting with learning strategists at Queen’s, I hope to be able to build a schedule that splits my studying time on each course much more effectively. In addition, I will continue to attend office hours on the regular while also not shy away from contacting my professors or TAs in the event I find the material difficult to understand.
I’m also looking to book a Career Counseling appointment to see if they can also help me take the right courses that fit the best to my abilities while also discussing if a specific plan and this program is best for me.
Visiting the Academic Consideration Request Portal may also be worth trying as my health situation may make me quality for some kind of consideration.
Thankfully, I have not encountered any financial struggles as of this moment due to my mom’s office, but if any situation arises, I will consult with Student Awards if I might need financial aid in the future
So far, the sessions with my academic advisor have been very helpful for me these past few years and continue with them will be very beneficial in the long term. The sessions have helped me understand the next necessary steps to take when considering a plan, and learn the resources available in the school like tutoring services where I can learn strategies that helps me improve in my courses. I have also spoken with my advisor about my health situation where I have been told if taking classes online is better for me and whether I should think about a lighter course load. My goal right now is to stick to a full-time course load, find the best available plan for me, and use any resources available at the school to help me develop stronger study habits for me to be successful at Queen’s.
I’ve struggled with my health situation but since I’ve gone through procedures and routine blood work, my doctor has been able to gather al the information needed to address this and has given me several medications that has not only made me feel better physically, but mentally as well that help me be able to finish my education successfully.
Academically, I attended lectures, office hours, and tried my absolute best to complete assignments and exams but I kept finding it difficult. I realized time management is a serious issue for me when looking at my study habits and by attending workshops and consulting with learning strategists at Queen’s, I hope to be able to build a schedule that splits my studying time on each course much more effectively. In addition, I will continue to attend office hours on the regular while also not shy away from contacting my professors or TAs in the event I find the material difficult to understand.
I’m also looking to book a Career Counseling appointment to see if they can also help me take the right courses that fit the best to my abilities while also discussing if a specific plan and this program is best for me.
Visiting the Academic Consideration Request Portal may also be worth trying as my health situation may make me quality for some kind of consideration.
Thankfully, I have not encountered any financial struggles as of this moment due to my mom’s office, but if any situation arises, I will consult with Student Awards if I might need financial aid in the future
So far, the sessions with my academic advisor have been very helpful for me these past few years and continue with them will be very beneficial in the long term. The sessions have helped me understand the next necessary steps to take when considering a plan, and learn the resources available in the school like tutoring services where I can learn strategies that helps me improve in my courses. I have also spoken with my advisor about my health situation where I have been told if taking classes online is better for me and whether I should think about a lighter course load. My goal right now is to stick to a full-time course load, find the best available plan for me, and use any resources available at the school to help me develop stronger study habits for me to be successful at Queen’s.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Adrian Addison Letter-0.pdf
Document: Dr. Lee Letter.pdf
Documentation Detail: Updated Doctor's letter about my health
Document: 12th grade transcript.pdf
Documentation Detail: High School senior year transcript
Decision Letters
Level 1 Status
Status: DeniedLevel 2
Appeal Type: Level 2
ID: 330
Submitted: July 21, 2025 at 8:37:02 PM
Relevant Petition: 13310
Decision(s) Being Appealed: Waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years
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: In the Academic Dean's decision, It states there is no indication that my circumstances have changed or are being managed in a way that would not impact my upcoming school year and where it states that my circumstances could not have impacted my most recent school year
Appeal Letter
Appeal Letter: Dear Board of Studies,
I am appealing the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years, on the grounds that there is no indication that my circumstances have changed or are being managed in a way that would not impact my upcoming school year and where it states that my circumstances could not have impacted my most recent school year.
Perhaps my current circumstances had not been directly outlined previously, in which I can provide more context for better understanding. In addressing that the circumstances didn't affect my courses specifically in the most recent school year, my circumstances of my health started in 2021, but the condition had advanced in 2023 and 2024. With the last school year being my first time going back to Canada from that progression after sessions with my doctor back in the US, it had weighed on me heavily mentally throughout the school year if a traumatic experience would occur where I would not be able to receive medical support due to being located in a different country from my doctor. I also always looked to my mother for support in the event if it was troubling me by phone call as she is in the US, but her not being by my side also affected me mildly. I assure you after I came back to the US after the school year, I had long conversations with my mother, and had an appointment with my doctor, assuring that the bloodwork and routine checkups done every summer will monitor the situation very closely. In response to there being no indication that the circumstances are being managed in the decision, that is why I mentioned that I receive medication currently along with supplements provided by my doctor that I take daily to treat this condition. I would also like to add that I recently underwent an MRI on my abdomen on June 18th where when receiving the results, my doctor told my mother and I that everything looks the same assuring that is good and, when mentioning my recent academic troubles, we decided I would return to the US during Christmas breaks to have MRI’s every 6 months while also going through bloodwork during that timeframe. This along with reading and learning about the many support systems Queens have available to students in regards to academics, has made me so much more confident that I will be able to work harder and have a more successful school year.
I would also like to point out that throughout the entire school year, but especially during Christmas break, I will take a deep look into my progress and directly examine where I have made any struggle in my courses, and if there is anything wrong with my study habits. This is where the support systems that Queens offer will be very helpful to me in which either my academic advisor can help me with the situation or lead me to learning strategists within the school. Any health circumstance I have has been fully addressed and I have put it all behind me, but I want to emphasize that I realize the seriousness of this situation in regards to my academic situation. I absolutely understand that the decision placed on me by the Academic Dean was done in good faith and my circumstances was being understood, and was trying to outline concerns if I would be able do well this upcoming year. If given another opportunity this school year, I will not hesitate to seek help from my professors and will do everything it takes to have a successful school year
Sincerely,
Adrian Addison
I am appealing the Associate Dean’s decision to deny my appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for a minimum of three years, on the grounds that there is no indication that my circumstances have changed or are being managed in a way that would not impact my upcoming school year and where it states that my circumstances could not have impacted my most recent school year.
Perhaps my current circumstances had not been directly outlined previously, in which I can provide more context for better understanding. In addressing that the circumstances didn't affect my courses specifically in the most recent school year, my circumstances of my health started in 2021, but the condition had advanced in 2023 and 2024. With the last school year being my first time going back to Canada from that progression after sessions with my doctor back in the US, it had weighed on me heavily mentally throughout the school year if a traumatic experience would occur where I would not be able to receive medical support due to being located in a different country from my doctor. I also always looked to my mother for support in the event if it was troubling me by phone call as she is in the US, but her not being by my side also affected me mildly. I assure you after I came back to the US after the school year, I had long conversations with my mother, and had an appointment with my doctor, assuring that the bloodwork and routine checkups done every summer will monitor the situation very closely. In response to there being no indication that the circumstances are being managed in the decision, that is why I mentioned that I receive medication currently along with supplements provided by my doctor that I take daily to treat this condition. I would also like to add that I recently underwent an MRI on my abdomen on June 18th where when receiving the results, my doctor told my mother and I that everything looks the same assuring that is good and, when mentioning my recent academic troubles, we decided I would return to the US during Christmas breaks to have MRI’s every 6 months while also going through bloodwork during that timeframe. This along with reading and learning about the many support systems Queens have available to students in regards to academics, has made me so much more confident that I will be able to work harder and have a more successful school year.
I would also like to point out that throughout the entire school year, but especially during Christmas break, I will take a deep look into my progress and directly examine where I have made any struggle in my courses, and if there is anything wrong with my study habits. This is where the support systems that Queens offer will be very helpful to me in which either my academic advisor can help me with the situation or lead me to learning strategists within the school. Any health circumstance I have has been fully addressed and I have put it all behind me, but I want to emphasize that I realize the seriousness of this situation in regards to my academic situation. I absolutely understand that the decision placed on me by the Academic Dean was done in good faith and my circumstances was being understood, and was trying to outline concerns if I would be able do well this upcoming year. If given another opportunity this school year, I will not hesitate to seek help from my professors and will do everything it takes to have a successful school year
Sincerely,
Adrian Addison
Documentation
History
Originally submitted June 10, 2025 at 1:23:39 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Incomplete | Kerri Andrews | 2025-06-11 4:10:45 PM | |
| professional_letter | N/A | Adrian Addison Letter-0.pdf | Kerri Andrews | 2025-06-13 2:20:56 PM | ||
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Kerri Andrews | 2025-06-13 2:26:54 PM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | Kerri Andrews | 2025-07-07 2:00:56 PM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Scott-Morgan Straker (Acting Associate Dean) | Kerri Andrews | 2025-07-07 2:00:56 PM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Kerri Andrews | 2025-07-07 2:02:20 PM | |
| new_appeal_level_2 | N/A | Level 2 | Level 2 Appeal ID: 330 | 21akaa | 2025-07-21 8:37:02 PM | |
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Kathrine Scott | 2025-07-29 9:21:39 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Denied | Kathrine Scott | 2025-09-10 2:46:38 PM |