Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Appeal to the Associate Dean of Studies: Burke 06333847

Introduction:
My name is Rochelle Burke and I am a third year student at Queen¿¿s University. I am a Gender Studies major. I am currently away from studies as I have experienced a series of family tragedies during the Winter and Fall terms of 2015. These tragedies have hindered me from completing my course work in GNDS 311, POLS 358, and caused me to miss my final exam in POLS 384. This letter will seek to shed some light on the difficulties I faced during the 2015 academic year. I would like to appeal to drop POLS 384, to complete outstanding work in GNDS 311 and to receive aegrotat standing in POLS 358. I have attached emails of support from my instructors in the courses I am appealing, as well as itinerary information and other relevant documentation.

April 2015
My grandmother Diane G. Reynolds passed away on April 23rd, 2015 after spending two weeks in the hospital she was later diagnosed with liver cirrhosis that lead to colon cancer, which also spread to her liver causing kidney failure. I spent a week and half in the hospital with my family as her death was sudden. She had been feeling ill and the doctors thought initially that she had the flu, only to realize it was cancer when it was too late. I emailed Dr. Charles Vetere in Queen¿¿s counseling on April 14 , 19, 2015, as I had been working with him since 2012 on other stressors in my life. I informed Dr. Vetere of what happened, and I also informed him I would not be attending my POLS 384 exam. I also emailed my TA Akif Hasni on April 15, 2015 informing him of my family emergency. I continued to keep in contact with Dr. Vetere and Haley Everson during this difficult time.
During that time I also applied for an incomplete standing in GNDS 311 and POLS 358. My appeal was granted, and I kept in contact with my instructors, however I was not able to complete my coursework.

October 2015
During the fall of 2015 I thought I would be able to complete my outstanding work. I continued to contact Dr. Vetere and Ms. Everson regarding coping with the loss of my grandmother and getting back on track academically. This changed drastically on Wednesday October 7, 2015. On October 7th 2015 my world was sent into a tailspin with the murder of my grandfather Lloyd George Stephenson (maternal grandfather). This was a difficult time in my family as we were just getting over the passing of my grandmother Diane, and we were starting to settle back into normalcy. My world further changed on October 10, 2015 as my paternal grandmother Eulalee Burke died of brain cancer. I lost two grandparents in the same week. I flew to Florida, USA on October 30, 2015 in order to attend my grandmother¿¿s funeral.

November 2015
On November 7th, 2015 my maternal great grandmother Goldie May Stephenson died. Three weeks after I flew to Florida for my grandma Eulalee¿¿s funeral I had to fly to Jamaica on November 20, 2015 for a double funeral for two of my grandparents. I spoke to Dr. Vetere about my grandmother Goldie during the Fall of 2014 as I was very close with her and her alzheimers condition was something that I had been struggling with for the better part of my adolescent and young adult life.
December 2015
December 28, 2015 saw the loss of another grandparent. My maternal great grandfather passed away just days before the New Year.

Conclusion
2015 was a terrible year for me. A year filled with tremendous loss. I have continued to be in contact with Dr. Vetere, as losing five grandparents in the span of a little over 7 months is a very difficult situation. However, my education was important to all of my grandparents. Although I am still working through my grief and loss, I know that I need to complete my course work as it is what they would want me to do.

Thank you,

Rochelle Burke