Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 3827
Submitted: September 21, 2017 at 11:08:24 AM
First Name: Liam
Last Name: MacLean
Student Number: 5489727
Email: 6lfm@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BA
Plan: ECON
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Studies:
I am writing with a request to appeal the 21 day course drop period due to extenuating circumstances regarding my mental health condition for the 2012-2013 school year. With this letter and supporting documentation, I hope to outline the nature of my condition and the extenuating circumstances that prevented me from appealing within the eligible period. If this is granted I would hope to submit an appeal to waive my failed grades from my last year of studies.
Since my early teens, I have suffered from clinical anxiety and depression. In the 2012-2013 term, I experienced multiple extended mental health episodes which interfered with my ability to complete my courses and appeal my grades within the eligible time frame. Until recently, I was unable to enrol for studies due to financial difficulties and was unaware of my ability to submit this appeal.
The primary symptoms I experienced in 2012-2013 included the inability to focus, insomnia, decreased energy and motivation, central sleep apnea, prolonged feelings of hopelessness and despair, thoughts of suicide and self harm.¿The events of the years prior to 2012 also contributed to the severity of my symptoms including my aunt's suicide, parent's divorce and my mother's subsequent recurring mental health issues. During the Spring and Summer of 2013, I experienced significant amounts of social anxiety and asking for help did not seem to be in the realm of possibilities. I could not concentrate enough to complete my course work and leaving my apartment became a seemingly insurmountable task. At this time, I was only able to secure appointments with Queen's Wellness Services every couple of months so I would visit a private social worker bi-weekly and was prescribed a medication which had minimal effects on my symptoms. My condition was not adequately treated I was unable to function, perform academically, or submit any appeal to explain these extenuating circumstances.
After moving home to Toronto to live with and look after my mother (in the Winter Term of 2013,) my symptoms did not improve and my low academic achievement was a trigger for further mental health episodes. I felt as though I would never be able to function at the level required to complete my degree, however,In the fall of 2013, I consulted with a General Practitioner and began seeking regular treatment with a professional social worker. I have included letters from both of them explaining the condition of my mental state at this time, and the period preceding it. I began to experience a improvement in mood and was prescribed a different medication from which I was taking before. I owed a financial debt to Queen's which I was able to pay down completely by June 2017. At this time, my mood disorder had stabilized and I felt I could function well enough to reenrolled for classes for the fall term. In my conversations with Student Services, they notified me that it was worth explaining the circumstances of my last year.
To finish my degree, I plan to complete courses via distance learning from Toronto where I live and am supported by a large network of friends, family and professionals who are aware of my struggles with mental health and will provide an emotional safety net. I am currently taking Music 102 via distance learning and am having no trouble concentrating and completing the course material. I will take one course per term as to not be overwhelmed and maximize my potential for success and will continue to receive therapy from my professional councillor, who has helped me develop the tools and strategy to persevere past the hurdles that my condition presents. I will continue regular treatment from my family doctor with regards to medication and remain on that which I have been prescribed. I will continue to follow a dedicated routine of mindfulness based meditation and physical exercise. This has aided my ability to pay attention, absorb information cope with difficult situations.¿ I believe the combination of each of the aforementioned will be the key to my successful graduation.¿
I have a total of 1.5 credits remaining and If this appeal should be granted, I hope to appeal the grades from my last year of studies, as they were affected by these extenuating circumstances. These grades have had an adverse affect on my GPA and after completing the remaining 1.5 credits, may interfere with my ability to graduate with that which is required by my program. After my Bachelors, It is my goal and intention to pursue a Masters of Business Administration, hopefully with Queen's. I am confident that I am now ready to take on the challenges and achievements of completing my Bachelors degree.¿
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely
Liam Fraser MacLean
I am writing with a request to appeal the 21 day course drop period due to extenuating circumstances regarding my mental health condition for the 2012-2013 school year. With this letter and supporting documentation, I hope to outline the nature of my condition and the extenuating circumstances that prevented me from appealing within the eligible period. If this is granted I would hope to submit an appeal to waive my failed grades from my last year of studies.
Since my early teens, I have suffered from clinical anxiety and depression. In the 2012-2013 term, I experienced multiple extended mental health episodes which interfered with my ability to complete my courses and appeal my grades within the eligible time frame. Until recently, I was unable to enrol for studies due to financial difficulties and was unaware of my ability to submit this appeal.
The primary symptoms I experienced in 2012-2013 included the inability to focus, insomnia, decreased energy and motivation, central sleep apnea, prolonged feelings of hopelessness and despair, thoughts of suicide and self harm.¿The events of the years prior to 2012 also contributed to the severity of my symptoms including my aunt's suicide, parent's divorce and my mother's subsequent recurring mental health issues. During the Spring and Summer of 2013, I experienced significant amounts of social anxiety and asking for help did not seem to be in the realm of possibilities. I could not concentrate enough to complete my course work and leaving my apartment became a seemingly insurmountable task. At this time, I was only able to secure appointments with Queen's Wellness Services every couple of months so I would visit a private social worker bi-weekly and was prescribed a medication which had minimal effects on my symptoms. My condition was not adequately treated I was unable to function, perform academically, or submit any appeal to explain these extenuating circumstances.
After moving home to Toronto to live with and look after my mother (in the Winter Term of 2013,) my symptoms did not improve and my low academic achievement was a trigger for further mental health episodes. I felt as though I would never be able to function at the level required to complete my degree, however,In the fall of 2013, I consulted with a General Practitioner and began seeking regular treatment with a professional social worker. I have included letters from both of them explaining the condition of my mental state at this time, and the period preceding it. I began to experience a improvement in mood and was prescribed a different medication from which I was taking before. I owed a financial debt to Queen's which I was able to pay down completely by June 2017. At this time, my mood disorder had stabilized and I felt I could function well enough to reenrolled for classes for the fall term. In my conversations with Student Services, they notified me that it was worth explaining the circumstances of my last year.
To finish my degree, I plan to complete courses via distance learning from Toronto where I live and am supported by a large network of friends, family and professionals who are aware of my struggles with mental health and will provide an emotional safety net. I am currently taking Music 102 via distance learning and am having no trouble concentrating and completing the course material. I will take one course per term as to not be overwhelmed and maximize my potential for success and will continue to receive therapy from my professional councillor, who has helped me develop the tools and strategy to persevere past the hurdles that my condition presents. I will continue regular treatment from my family doctor with regards to medication and remain on that which I have been prescribed. I will continue to follow a dedicated routine of mindfulness based meditation and physical exercise. This has aided my ability to pay attention, absorb information cope with difficult situations.¿ I believe the combination of each of the aforementioned will be the key to my successful graduation.¿
I have a total of 1.5 credits remaining and If this appeal should be granted, I hope to appeal the grades from my last year of studies, as they were affected by these extenuating circumstances. These grades have had an adverse affect on my GPA and after completing the remaining 1.5 credits, may interfere with my ability to graduate with that which is required by my program. After my Bachelors, It is my goal and intention to pursue a Masters of Business Administration, hopefully with Queen's. I am confident that I am now ready to take on the challenges and achievements of completing my Bachelors degree.¿
Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely
Liam Fraser MacLean
Documentation
Professional Letter: Ann Stocker Letter - Appeal.pdf
Document: Dr. Heath Letter - Appeal.pdf
Decision Letters
Amendment to Appeal 3827
Relevant Petition: 3827
First Name: Liam
Last Name: MacLean
Student Number: 5489727
Email: 6lfm@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BA
Plan: ECON (GEN)
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: ECON 331
Term: Fall
Year: 2012
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 250
Term: Fall
Year: 2012
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: GPHY 227
Term: Fall
Year: 2012
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: COMM 200
Term: Winter
Year: 2013
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean of Studies:
I am appealing to drop ECON 331, GPHY 250, and GPHY 227 (Fall 2012), as well as Comm 200 (Winter 2013) past the academic deadline due to extenuating circumstances related to my mental health condition. This is a followup to my previous request to appeal the 21 day course drop period due to similar circumstances (appeal 3827,) which was approved 10/10/17. With this letter and supporting documentation, I hope to outline how my condition and extenuating circumstances beyond my control prevented me from completing the work necessary to complete these courses.
As detailed in my previous appeal, I have been suffering from clinical anxiety and depression since my early teens. My family has an extensive history of mental health disorders, and while I was a student at Queen's, several events contributed to the severity of my condition including my Aunt's suicide, my Mother's repeated hospitalization (for mental health related reasons), and my parents divorce. During this period, the symptoms I experienced included the inability to focus, insomnia, decreased energy and motivation, central sleep apnea, prolonged feelings of hopelessness and despair, thoughts of suicide and self harm.¿
I recognized in the fall of 2012 that my anxiety levels were affecting my concentration in lectures and while completing coursework. I would retain discouragingly low amounts of information and the thought of speaking to faculty or my peers for assistance seemed paralyzing, both due to the nature of my social anxiety, and the embarrassment of putting in so much time and learning so little. The aforementioned symptoms magnified and compounded to the point of total social withdrawal; from family, friends, my small network in Kingston, and my academic obligations. In the Winter of 2012, I became a risk to myself, my inability to function academically being a foremost trigger. Putting my own wellbeing first, I moved home to live with my mother during the exam period of the Fall 2012 term. My condition continued to worsen, with thoughts of suicide becoming more prominent the more I dwelled on my academic situation. By the end of the Winter 2013 semester, I had received a grade of F for each course that I had enrolled for in the 2012-2013 school year and I withdrew from studies for the next four years.
It is worth noting that during the bulk of my experience at Queen's, I was only able to secure appointments with Queen's Wellness Services every 2 months. In 2012 I was seeing a private social worker in Kingston bi-weekly which I financed. I was also prescribed a medication (via the student clinic) which seemed to have no effect on my mood. Treating my mental health was the highest priority but I felt stuck with inadequate supports, and the inability to secure more of them.
In the fall of 2013 I began seeing a General Practitioner regularly, and shortly after, a professional social worker. I have included letters from both of them indicating the condition of my mental state at this time, and the period preceding it. I began to experience an improvement in mood and was prescribed a different medication from which I was taking before. I began feeling like myself again in February 2014 and began working towards paying down my financial dept to the University, which was completed by June 2017. I enrolled for classes in the Fall 2017 term and received an A- in MUSC 102.
To finish my degree, I plan to complete courses via distance learning from Toronto where I have a large safety net. I am not currently experiencing difficulty with concentration or my previously experienced symptoms. I plan on taking one course this term (CWRI 295) and will take one in the summer term. I will continue to receive therapy from my professional councillor, who has helped me develop the tools to thrive despite my condition, and treatment from my family doctor. I will continue taking the medication I have been prescribed and follow a dedicated routine of mindfulness based meditation and physical exercise. This has aided my ability to pay attention, absorb information and cope with difficult situations.¿
Due to these extenuating circumstances, I received a failing grade in these 4 courses and my GPA was effected significantly. For my current program, Bachelor of Arts (General) in Economics, I require 6.0 units and a 1.6 Grade Point Average to graduate. I currently sit at a 1.46 GPA and with these courses dropped, combined with the grades I am capable of achieving in my 2 remaining courses, I will be able to graduate in 2018. After graduation, It is my goal and intention to pursue a Masters of Business Administration, hopefully with Queen's. I am very grateful for my recovery, and the opportunity to succeed despite my previous afflictions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Liam Fraser MacLean
I am appealing to drop ECON 331, GPHY 250, and GPHY 227 (Fall 2012), as well as Comm 200 (Winter 2013) past the academic deadline due to extenuating circumstances related to my mental health condition. This is a followup to my previous request to appeal the 21 day course drop period due to similar circumstances (appeal 3827,) which was approved 10/10/17. With this letter and supporting documentation, I hope to outline how my condition and extenuating circumstances beyond my control prevented me from completing the work necessary to complete these courses.
As detailed in my previous appeal, I have been suffering from clinical anxiety and depression since my early teens. My family has an extensive history of mental health disorders, and while I was a student at Queen's, several events contributed to the severity of my condition including my Aunt's suicide, my Mother's repeated hospitalization (for mental health related reasons), and my parents divorce. During this period, the symptoms I experienced included the inability to focus, insomnia, decreased energy and motivation, central sleep apnea, prolonged feelings of hopelessness and despair, thoughts of suicide and self harm.¿
I recognized in the fall of 2012 that my anxiety levels were affecting my concentration in lectures and while completing coursework. I would retain discouragingly low amounts of information and the thought of speaking to faculty or my peers for assistance seemed paralyzing, both due to the nature of my social anxiety, and the embarrassment of putting in so much time and learning so little. The aforementioned symptoms magnified and compounded to the point of total social withdrawal; from family, friends, my small network in Kingston, and my academic obligations. In the Winter of 2012, I became a risk to myself, my inability to function academically being a foremost trigger. Putting my own wellbeing first, I moved home to live with my mother during the exam period of the Fall 2012 term. My condition continued to worsen, with thoughts of suicide becoming more prominent the more I dwelled on my academic situation. By the end of the Winter 2013 semester, I had received a grade of F for each course that I had enrolled for in the 2012-2013 school year and I withdrew from studies for the next four years.
It is worth noting that during the bulk of my experience at Queen's, I was only able to secure appointments with Queen's Wellness Services every 2 months. In 2012 I was seeing a private social worker in Kingston bi-weekly which I financed. I was also prescribed a medication (via the student clinic) which seemed to have no effect on my mood. Treating my mental health was the highest priority but I felt stuck with inadequate supports, and the inability to secure more of them.
In the fall of 2013 I began seeing a General Practitioner regularly, and shortly after, a professional social worker. I have included letters from both of them indicating the condition of my mental state at this time, and the period preceding it. I began to experience an improvement in mood and was prescribed a different medication from which I was taking before. I began feeling like myself again in February 2014 and began working towards paying down my financial dept to the University, which was completed by June 2017. I enrolled for classes in the Fall 2017 term and received an A- in MUSC 102.
To finish my degree, I plan to complete courses via distance learning from Toronto where I have a large safety net. I am not currently experiencing difficulty with concentration or my previously experienced symptoms. I plan on taking one course this term (CWRI 295) and will take one in the summer term. I will continue to receive therapy from my professional councillor, who has helped me develop the tools to thrive despite my condition, and treatment from my family doctor. I will continue taking the medication I have been prescribed and follow a dedicated routine of mindfulness based meditation and physical exercise. This has aided my ability to pay attention, absorb information and cope with difficult situations.¿
Due to these extenuating circumstances, I received a failing grade in these 4 courses and my GPA was effected significantly. For my current program, Bachelor of Arts (General) in Economics, I require 6.0 units and a 1.6 Grade Point Average to graduate. I currently sit at a 1.46 GPA and with these courses dropped, combined with the grades I am capable of achieving in my 2 remaining courses, I will be able to graduate in 2018. After graduation, It is my goal and intention to pursue a Masters of Business Administration, hopefully with Queen's. I am very grateful for my recovery, and the opportunity to succeed despite my previous afflictions. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Liam Fraser MacLean
Documentation
Professional Letter: Ann Stocker Letter - Appeal-0.pdf
Document: Dr. Heath Letter - Appeal-0.pdf