Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3590
Submitted: June 12, 2017 at 3:43:47 PM
First Name: Alexander
Last Name: Gatzios
Student Number: 20026219
Email: 16ag13@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: ECON
Level of Study: 1
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Code: MATH 126
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: ECON 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: CISC 101
Term: Summer
Year: 2017
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: June 11, 2017
Queen¿¿s University
Faculty of Arts and Science
Dunning Hall ¿¿ First Floor
94 University Avenue
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 3N6
Re: APPEAL OF ¿REQUIREMENT TO WITHDRAW FOR 1 YEAR¿
ALEXANDER GATZIOS
STUDENT No: 20026219
Dear Associate Dean (Studies):
This letter outlines my appeal of the ¿¿requirement to withdraw for 1 year¿ that has been placed on me following the 2016/2017 academic year. I wish to explain my circumstances and the situation that led me to achieving such a low GPA, resulting in the requirement to withdraw notice. I am also requesting that the courses I failed last year be dropped from my GPA and I that I be allowed to retake them.
The outcome that I hope to achieve from this appeal is to have the requirement to withdraw lifted in order to allow me to participate in the upcoming 2017/2018 academic year (outlined in detail in my Academic Plan, attached). I very much want to attend Queen¿¿s University for the 2017/2018 academic year; I do not want to take a full year off of my studies here. I fully understand that the coming 2017/2018 year will be a probation year if I am successful with my appeal requests, and I am prepared and ready to approach my studies and day to day life differently next year at Queen¿¿s.
Some of the factors that contributed to my low GPA following my negative turn in mental state last year include my inability to acknowledge that I started to slip academically in my classes; my desire to succeed without relying on any of my past assistance; my reluctance to ask for help when I realized I was in trouble academically; and my introverted nature when it came to not only talking to my parents about my performance at school but also to new friends that I made during the year.
By way of history regarding my extenuating circumstances, in 2014 and 2015, during grades 11 and 12, I started to recognize that I was having thoughts that were making it difficult for me to remain focused at home and at school, I became introverted and I had serious difficulty at school. This led to me to discussing my thoughts and my difficulties at school with a physiologist, Dr. Alan Bardikoff, which I believe helped me a lot, contributing to my success in the 2015/2016 school year, and most importantly achieving my dream of being accepted into Queen¿¿s for the following year.
Once I was at school the mental difficulties I originally thought I overcame came back to me, and the support I had while I was living at home was no longer available to me, making it very difficult to focus on school work and maintain a healthy lifestyle at school. I started to miss classes and I became anti-social, which caused my grades to drop further as I did not participate in group study or course material review with classmates. However, I was still getting by academically, or so I thought, since at the halfway mark of first year I had already passed two courses with a C and a C- and the remaining three full-year courses I either had a passing mark or just below passing. At this point I should have realized that I was in trouble and I should have sought help for not only my academics but for my well being as a whole.
While I am confident that I can overcome the difficulties I had last year with much better awareness of the help I need, I see this upcoming year as a way to prove to myself and others helping me that I am now aware and positively able to accomplish the goals I set my mind to, and that my goal of a degree from Queen¿¿s is something I can achieve.
I am very pleased to have prepared my Academic Plan, attached, outlining how I can move forward to a successful next year with all the resources available to me, including academic help available on campus, continuing professional counselling, much more frequent and detailed review with my parents, and more involvement with my fellow students.
With all this considered I believe it is in my utmost best interest to return to Queen¿¿s this coming September, and prove to not only myself but to my friends and family that I can succeed and I have overcome what was hindering my performance not only at school but with day to day life as well. I do not want to spend a year waiting to return to Queen¿¿s.
At the time of sending this letter I am still working with my councillor on supporting documentation, attached is a copy of receipts confirming that I am seeing him.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I am very much looking forward to and hoping for a positive response.
Sincerely,
Alexander Gatzios.
370 Cleveland Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 2W9
416-544-9364
Queen¿¿s University
Faculty of Arts and Science
Dunning Hall ¿¿ First Floor
94 University Avenue
Kingston, Ontario
K7L 3N6
Re: APPEAL OF ¿REQUIREMENT TO WITHDRAW FOR 1 YEAR¿
ALEXANDER GATZIOS
STUDENT No: 20026219
Dear Associate Dean (Studies):
This letter outlines my appeal of the ¿¿requirement to withdraw for 1 year¿ that has been placed on me following the 2016/2017 academic year. I wish to explain my circumstances and the situation that led me to achieving such a low GPA, resulting in the requirement to withdraw notice. I am also requesting that the courses I failed last year be dropped from my GPA and I that I be allowed to retake them.
The outcome that I hope to achieve from this appeal is to have the requirement to withdraw lifted in order to allow me to participate in the upcoming 2017/2018 academic year (outlined in detail in my Academic Plan, attached). I very much want to attend Queen¿¿s University for the 2017/2018 academic year; I do not want to take a full year off of my studies here. I fully understand that the coming 2017/2018 year will be a probation year if I am successful with my appeal requests, and I am prepared and ready to approach my studies and day to day life differently next year at Queen¿¿s.
Some of the factors that contributed to my low GPA following my negative turn in mental state last year include my inability to acknowledge that I started to slip academically in my classes; my desire to succeed without relying on any of my past assistance; my reluctance to ask for help when I realized I was in trouble academically; and my introverted nature when it came to not only talking to my parents about my performance at school but also to new friends that I made during the year.
By way of history regarding my extenuating circumstances, in 2014 and 2015, during grades 11 and 12, I started to recognize that I was having thoughts that were making it difficult for me to remain focused at home and at school, I became introverted and I had serious difficulty at school. This led to me to discussing my thoughts and my difficulties at school with a physiologist, Dr. Alan Bardikoff, which I believe helped me a lot, contributing to my success in the 2015/2016 school year, and most importantly achieving my dream of being accepted into Queen¿¿s for the following year.
Once I was at school the mental difficulties I originally thought I overcame came back to me, and the support I had while I was living at home was no longer available to me, making it very difficult to focus on school work and maintain a healthy lifestyle at school. I started to miss classes and I became anti-social, which caused my grades to drop further as I did not participate in group study or course material review with classmates. However, I was still getting by academically, or so I thought, since at the halfway mark of first year I had already passed two courses with a C and a C- and the remaining three full-year courses I either had a passing mark or just below passing. At this point I should have realized that I was in trouble and I should have sought help for not only my academics but for my well being as a whole.
While I am confident that I can overcome the difficulties I had last year with much better awareness of the help I need, I see this upcoming year as a way to prove to myself and others helping me that I am now aware and positively able to accomplish the goals I set my mind to, and that my goal of a degree from Queen¿¿s is something I can achieve.
I am very pleased to have prepared my Academic Plan, attached, outlining how I can move forward to a successful next year with all the resources available to me, including academic help available on campus, continuing professional counselling, much more frequent and detailed review with my parents, and more involvement with my fellow students.
With all this considered I believe it is in my utmost best interest to return to Queen¿¿s this coming September, and prove to not only myself but to my friends and family that I can succeed and I have overcome what was hindering my performance not only at school but with day to day life as well. I do not want to spend a year waiting to return to Queen¿¿s.
At the time of sending this letter I am still working with my councillor on supporting documentation, attached is a copy of receipts confirming that I am seeing him.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I am very much looking forward to and hoping for a positive response.
Sincerely,
Alexander Gatzios.
370 Cleveland Street
Toronto, Ontario
M4S 2W9
416-544-9364
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: ALEXANDER GATZIOS
(student no. 20026219)
Academic Plan
latest update: June 11, 2017
CONTEXT & PURPOSE
This Academic Plan is prepared based on recognition of what I need to do in order to succeed in my goal of obtaining a degree from Queen¿¿s University. At the conclusion of my first year of studies, I received a ¿Requirement to Withdraw¿¿ dated May 23, 2017. I do not want to withdraw for a year; and I do not want to attend any other post-secondary university or college other than Queen¿¿s. I want to stay at Queen¿¿s and repeat the courses that are prerequisite to Economics, which is my desired major, and I want to continue on with my studies at Queen¿¿s to a successful conclusion. I realize there is additional work I must undertake and support available to me I must accept if I want to obtain the degree from Queen¿¿s that I am striving for.
STUDY PLAN
2016/2017 (past academic year):
Math 126 (required) 6.0 - fail
Economics 110 (required) 6.0 - fail
Psychology 100 6.0 - fail
Elements of Computer Science 3.0 - fail
Health 101 3.0 - pass
Astronomy I 3.0 - pass
Geology 104 3.0 - pass
result: 0.0 units required, 9.0 units electives, 9.0 units total
2017 summer:
MATH 1001 J00 - Pre-Calculus Mathematics (Thomson River University Online)
2017/2018:
Math 126 (required) 6.0 - repeat
Economics 110 (required) 6.0 - repeat
Elements of Computer Science 3.0 - repeat
Phys-016: Astronomy II 3.0
Geology 221 3.0
Health 102 3.0
expected result: 12.0 units required, 12.0 units electives, 24.0 units total
to date: 12.0 units required, 21.0 units electives, 33.0 units total
2018 summer:
as required, to be determined
2018/2019:
Economics 212 (required) 3.0
Economics 222 (required) 3.0
Economics 250 (required) 3.0
Economics 255 (required) 3.0
Economics 231 (required) 3.0
Geology 232 3.0
Geology 235 3.0
expected result: 12.0 units required, 12.0 units electives, 24.0 units total
to date: 12.0 units required, 21.0 units electives, 33.0 units total
2019 summer:
as required, to be determined
2019/2020:
as required, to be determined
2020 summer:
as required, to be determined
2020/2011:
as required, to be determined
STUDENT STATUS
2017 summer: I do not believe I need to drop from a full time to a part time student for 2017/2018. I do not need a part-time job during the year to support myself, my parents are supporting me. I believe I am able to devote all the time necessary to my studies, with time still available to continue to enjoy the athletic facilities and to continue to play intramural sports every year.
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
personal counseling
I am continuing to see Dr. Alan Bardikoff at home in Toronto for psychological services over the 2017 summer.
I will be registering to see a councillor through Student Wellness services upon my return to Queen¿¿s for the 2017/2018 year.
academic support during the year
I will be booking regular appointments for Queens Learning Strategies offered by the Peer Academic Success Services for the upcoming 2017/2018 school year.
I will be enlisting a tutor on a regular weekly basis to ensure success with my courses.
additional school preparation, summer jobs, etc
May 2017 - September 2017: I am working as the temporary summer office manager and administrator at Gatzios Planning + Development Inc., a small land use planning consulting firm. My duties include: accounting, office administration, organizing meetings for the planners, file management, and financial management for the company including QuickBooks, banking, invoicing etc. At this job I am learning organizational skills, time management and the importance of attention to detail, as well as obtaining experience with how a small business is operated. As this job requires me to handle all the accounting for the small business, I am learning very useful information and skills to have going into the field relevant to my degree.
June 2017 - August 2017: I am taking an online course in Calculus to help build the skills I need to succeed in the coming year.
personal awareness, year end summary, next year focus
2017 summer: My poor performance 2016/2017 year involved several factors, but one variable that I realize I didn¿¿t control at all was seeking help when needed and being honest with myself. I was not obtaining any support, counselling or tutoring of any sort, as I mistakenly felt I could succeed in my first year of university away from home and my parents support and without the benefit of any help at all. I did not recognize that my actions would have such severe consequences in terms of affecting my school year and my personal life around it. I will be sure to set up my 2017/2018 academic year and every year thereafter with on-going and regular counselling and academic help and appointments already in place at the very beginning of the upcoming year to ensure I do not slip again.
(student no. 20026219)
Academic Plan
latest update: June 11, 2017
CONTEXT & PURPOSE
This Academic Plan is prepared based on recognition of what I need to do in order to succeed in my goal of obtaining a degree from Queen¿¿s University. At the conclusion of my first year of studies, I received a ¿Requirement to Withdraw¿¿ dated May 23, 2017. I do not want to withdraw for a year; and I do not want to attend any other post-secondary university or college other than Queen¿¿s. I want to stay at Queen¿¿s and repeat the courses that are prerequisite to Economics, which is my desired major, and I want to continue on with my studies at Queen¿¿s to a successful conclusion. I realize there is additional work I must undertake and support available to me I must accept if I want to obtain the degree from Queen¿¿s that I am striving for.
STUDY PLAN
2016/2017 (past academic year):
Math 126 (required) 6.0 - fail
Economics 110 (required) 6.0 - fail
Psychology 100 6.0 - fail
Elements of Computer Science 3.0 - fail
Health 101 3.0 - pass
Astronomy I 3.0 - pass
Geology 104 3.0 - pass
result: 0.0 units required, 9.0 units electives, 9.0 units total
2017 summer:
MATH 1001 J00 - Pre-Calculus Mathematics (Thomson River University Online)
2017/2018:
Math 126 (required) 6.0 - repeat
Economics 110 (required) 6.0 - repeat
Elements of Computer Science 3.0 - repeat
Phys-016: Astronomy II 3.0
Geology 221 3.0
Health 102 3.0
expected result: 12.0 units required, 12.0 units electives, 24.0 units total
to date: 12.0 units required, 21.0 units electives, 33.0 units total
2018 summer:
as required, to be determined
2018/2019:
Economics 212 (required) 3.0
Economics 222 (required) 3.0
Economics 250 (required) 3.0
Economics 255 (required) 3.0
Economics 231 (required) 3.0
Geology 232 3.0
Geology 235 3.0
expected result: 12.0 units required, 12.0 units electives, 24.0 units total
to date: 12.0 units required, 21.0 units electives, 33.0 units total
2019 summer:
as required, to be determined
2019/2020:
as required, to be determined
2020 summer:
as required, to be determined
2020/2011:
as required, to be determined
STUDENT STATUS
2017 summer: I do not believe I need to drop from a full time to a part time student for 2017/2018. I do not need a part-time job during the year to support myself, my parents are supporting me. I believe I am able to devote all the time necessary to my studies, with time still available to continue to enjoy the athletic facilities and to continue to play intramural sports every year.
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
personal counseling
I am continuing to see Dr. Alan Bardikoff at home in Toronto for psychological services over the 2017 summer.
I will be registering to see a councillor through Student Wellness services upon my return to Queen¿¿s for the 2017/2018 year.
academic support during the year
I will be booking regular appointments for Queens Learning Strategies offered by the Peer Academic Success Services for the upcoming 2017/2018 school year.
I will be enlisting a tutor on a regular weekly basis to ensure success with my courses.
additional school preparation, summer jobs, etc
May 2017 - September 2017: I am working as the temporary summer office manager and administrator at Gatzios Planning + Development Inc., a small land use planning consulting firm. My duties include: accounting, office administration, organizing meetings for the planners, file management, and financial management for the company including QuickBooks, banking, invoicing etc. At this job I am learning organizational skills, time management and the importance of attention to detail, as well as obtaining experience with how a small business is operated. As this job requires me to handle all the accounting for the small business, I am learning very useful information and skills to have going into the field relevant to my degree.
June 2017 - August 2017: I am taking an online course in Calculus to help build the skills I need to succeed in the coming year.
personal awareness, year end summary, next year focus
2017 summer: My poor performance 2016/2017 year involved several factors, but one variable that I realize I didn¿¿t control at all was seeking help when needed and being honest with myself. I was not obtaining any support, counselling or tutoring of any sort, as I mistakenly felt I could succeed in my first year of university away from home and my parents support and without the benefit of any help at all. I did not recognize that my actions would have such severe consequences in terms of affecting my school year and my personal life around it. I will be sure to set up my 2017/2018 academic year and every year thereafter with on-going and regular counselling and academic help and appointments already in place at the very beginning of the upcoming year to ensure I do not slip again.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Gatzios - Dr. B receipts.pdf
Professional Letter Detail: Receipts (until further documentation is ready)
Documentation Detail: PDF version of Academic Plan
Documentation Detail: PDF version of Appeal Letter
Decision Letters
History
Originally submitted June 12, 2017 at 3:43:47 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Prepared for Review | Carrie Roosenmaalen | 2017-06-13 1:48:09 PM | |
| status | N/A | Prepared for Review | Incomplete | Spring Forsberg | 2017-06-14 3:31:37 PM | |
| status | N/A | Incomplete | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2017-06-16 10:29:56 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted | Spring Forsberg | 2017-06-23 9:32:28 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Johanne Benard, Ph.D. | Spring Forsberg | 2017-06-23 9:32:28 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Spring Forsberg | 2017-06-23 9:37:25 AM |