Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 2351
Submitted: June 12, 2016 at 6:45:10 PM
First Name: Trevor
Last Name: McGarrity
Student Number: 10145315
Email: 13tmm8@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: GPHY
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Bénard,
Please allow this letter serve as my formal appeal to your withdrawal letter dated May 24, 2016 stating that I am required to withdraw from Queen¿¿s for one year due to poor academic performance, specifically not attaining a 1.6 Cumulative GPA after being on probation.
I am appealing this decision due to the circumstances that contributed to my unsuccessful year. At the start of the first semester I experienced a devastating ankle injury during football practice. This injury required surgery as well as an extended period of recovery. I attempted to attend class and keep up on my course work. However, my lack of mobility and pain level kept me from attending classes. As well as not being able to physically concentrate on school, on reflection, I was not prepared mentally either.
I am improving academically as a student when I am not overloading myself. Even with the circumstance of the first semester and a full course load, while I did not get the grades I would expect of myself, I was able to pass all of my courses. The second semester was improved and I attained a grade point average of 1.67. In addition I took advantage of seeing an academic adviser, in the second semester, to help keep me on track.
I have also been taking courses during the summer semester. Summer of 2015 I completed one course and earned a C. This summer semester I am enrolled in two courses and I am doing well and staying on track in both.
Had I reduced my course load in the first semester, I feel that I would have been more successful. For the winter semester I again stayed in four courses and to play catch up. While I did much better in the second semester, had I reduced my course load to only 3 courses, I would have been able to improve my second semester GPA to a 1.9.
I have attached copies of my operative report and clinical reports from Dr. Yach. These reports outline the extent of the injury and the recovery. Currently I am scheduled to see Dr. Yach in July for a final follow up and I am still going to physio therapy.
I have no excuses for my poor academic performance. I have the help and resources to succeed at Queen¿¿s and I would be very grateful if you would allow me to continue as a Queen¿¿s student and demonstrate that to you.
I appreciate you reviewing my appeal. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Trevor McGarrity
Please allow this letter serve as my formal appeal to your withdrawal letter dated May 24, 2016 stating that I am required to withdraw from Queen¿¿s for one year due to poor academic performance, specifically not attaining a 1.6 Cumulative GPA after being on probation.
I am appealing this decision due to the circumstances that contributed to my unsuccessful year. At the start of the first semester I experienced a devastating ankle injury during football practice. This injury required surgery as well as an extended period of recovery. I attempted to attend class and keep up on my course work. However, my lack of mobility and pain level kept me from attending classes. As well as not being able to physically concentrate on school, on reflection, I was not prepared mentally either.
I am improving academically as a student when I am not overloading myself. Even with the circumstance of the first semester and a full course load, while I did not get the grades I would expect of myself, I was able to pass all of my courses. The second semester was improved and I attained a grade point average of 1.67. In addition I took advantage of seeing an academic adviser, in the second semester, to help keep me on track.
I have also been taking courses during the summer semester. Summer of 2015 I completed one course and earned a C. This summer semester I am enrolled in two courses and I am doing well and staying on track in both.
Had I reduced my course load in the first semester, I feel that I would have been more successful. For the winter semester I again stayed in four courses and to play catch up. While I did much better in the second semester, had I reduced my course load to only 3 courses, I would have been able to improve my second semester GPA to a 1.9.
I have attached copies of my operative report and clinical reports from Dr. Yach. These reports outline the extent of the injury and the recovery. Currently I am scheduled to see Dr. Yach in July for a final follow up and I am still going to physio therapy.
I have no excuses for my poor academic performance. I have the help and resources to succeed at Queen¿¿s and I would be very grateful if you would allow me to continue as a Queen¿¿s student and demonstrate that to you.
I appreciate you reviewing my appeal. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Sincerely,
Trevor McGarrity
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: I feel if given another chance to improve on my academic performance, I can build off the academic successes I had this year in comparison to my first year. Below is a plan on how I plan to do better next year:
My academic plan going forward is concentrating on a degree in Geography. The first year I had intended on a Sociology degree. However, it was not what I had expected and I will be switching to my current degree path at the beginning of the upcoming year. I find the Geography path much more interesting and I know I can be successful.
It has become clear to me from my experiences of the past two years that I would have been more successful had I taken a lighter course load. I plan to reduce to my course load to 9 units per semester and continue to take summer courses to keep me on track to graduate. When I feel confident in my academic success I will increase to a full course load again.
Strategies for Success:
Use the Queen¿¿s Athletics tutor program more frequently.
Participate in Athletics Gaels 301 program. I have poor organization skills and this program supported by athletics will allow me to have a personal organizational and motivational support system that helps me stay on task and prioritize my weeks and months.
Change my major from Sociology to Geography.
Take a course load of 9 units each semester.
Continue to take summer courses to keep me on track to graduate in a timely manner.
Work more closely with professors and TAs to ensure I understand the material and also inform them if I become injured again to the point that it may affect my academics.
My academic plan going forward is concentrating on a degree in Geography. The first year I had intended on a Sociology degree. However, it was not what I had expected and I will be switching to my current degree path at the beginning of the upcoming year. I find the Geography path much more interesting and I know I can be successful.
It has become clear to me from my experiences of the past two years that I would have been more successful had I taken a lighter course load. I plan to reduce to my course load to 9 units per semester and continue to take summer courses to keep me on track to graduate. When I feel confident in my academic success I will increase to a full course load again.
Strategies for Success:
Use the Queen¿¿s Athletics tutor program more frequently.
Participate in Athletics Gaels 301 program. I have poor organization skills and this program supported by athletics will allow me to have a personal organizational and motivational support system that helps me stay on task and prioritize my weeks and months.
Change my major from Sociology to Geography.
Take a course load of 9 units each semester.
Continue to take summer courses to keep me on track to graduate in a timely manner.
Work more closely with professors and TAs to ensure I understand the material and also inform them if I become injured again to the point that it may affect my academics.
Document: Support Letter- Trevor McGarrity-0.pdf
Documentation Detail: Supporting Letter from Coach
Document: AppealLetter-0.pdf
Documentation Detail: Full Appeal Letter with Signature