Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 515
Submitted: November 13, 2014 at 2:41:13 PM
First Name: Austin
Last Name: MacDonald
Student Number: 10050172
Email: 11am168@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: HIST
Level of Study: 2
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the 21-day or one term deadline
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: November 13, 2014
Dear Associate Dean:
The subject of this letter is my inability to submit a timely appeal for my grades within twenty one days of the end of term, in April, and in the succeeding months of Summer and Fall. This was due to anticipation and further recovery from a major operation in May while simultaneously suffering from clinical depression.
On May 26, 2014 I underwent hip replacement surgery to correct a longstanding disability and chronic pain. The anticipation and preparation for such a major operation was already strenuous, and exacerbated by insomnia caused by the above-mentioned depression. Following the operation I spent weeks convalescing, barely mobile, on pain-killers and in no state to pursue this appeal. After this recovery period I devoted much of my time to my lengthy rehabilitation which was complicated by the severity of my former disability. Indeed, my rehabilitation ended only recently, in the last of week of October.
As I recovered from my operation, I also found myself having to confront the issues plaguing my mental well-being: my persistent insomnia and depression. It was not until the first week of July that I found myself in a psychiatrist¿¿s office, that of Dr. Paupst, and it was the first time I had been given any kind of medical and psychological understanding of what had befallen my mental state. However, this understanding was limited and marked only the beginning of the process that would eventually deliver me from my depression. From the referral of the same psychiatrist I began therapy with a psychologist, Dr. McLean. Over the months of August, September and October, more and more light was shed on the causes of my depression. It was not until recently that I had a sufficient understanding of all the factors that affected my past school performance to draft an appropriate appeal to your office.
I strongly value my future at Queen¿¿s University, and greatly desire to succeed there. When I return to school in January, as I intend, I very much hope to be given the opportunity to be judged only on my academic performance while in full health of body and mind.
With many thanks,
Austin MacDonald
Dear Associate Dean:
The subject of this letter is my inability to submit a timely appeal for my grades within twenty one days of the end of term, in April, and in the succeeding months of Summer and Fall. This was due to anticipation and further recovery from a major operation in May while simultaneously suffering from clinical depression.
On May 26, 2014 I underwent hip replacement surgery to correct a longstanding disability and chronic pain. The anticipation and preparation for such a major operation was already strenuous, and exacerbated by insomnia caused by the above-mentioned depression. Following the operation I spent weeks convalescing, barely mobile, on pain-killers and in no state to pursue this appeal. After this recovery period I devoted much of my time to my lengthy rehabilitation which was complicated by the severity of my former disability. Indeed, my rehabilitation ended only recently, in the last of week of October.
As I recovered from my operation, I also found myself having to confront the issues plaguing my mental well-being: my persistent insomnia and depression. It was not until the first week of July that I found myself in a psychiatrist¿¿s office, that of Dr. Paupst, and it was the first time I had been given any kind of medical and psychological understanding of what had befallen my mental state. However, this understanding was limited and marked only the beginning of the process that would eventually deliver me from my depression. From the referral of the same psychiatrist I began therapy with a psychologist, Dr. McLean. Over the months of August, September and October, more and more light was shed on the causes of my depression. It was not until recently that I had a sufficient understanding of all the factors that affected my past school performance to draft an appropriate appeal to your office.
I strongly value my future at Queen¿¿s University, and greatly desire to succeed there. When I return to school in January, as I intend, I very much hope to be given the opportunity to be judged only on my academic performance while in full health of body and mind.
With many thanks,
Austin MacDonald
Documentation
Professional Letter: Appeal - surgery.jpg
Documentation Detail: There is already a supporting letter, written by Dr. Paupst, in my file.
Decision Letters
Amendment to Appeal 515
Relevant Petition: 515
First Name: Austin
Last Name: MacDonald
Student Number: 10050172
Email: 11am168@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: HIST
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Drop a course after the academic deadline, Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Code: ARTH 215
Term: Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: HIST 240B
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: HIST 315
Term: Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Code: ECON 239
Term: Fall
Year: 2013
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Vincent Chandler
Code: HIST 241
Term: Winter
Year: 2014
Petition Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor's Name: Ishita Pande
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: December 1, 2014
Dear Associate Dean:
I have written this letter to request that three courses of mine (ARTH 215, HIST240B, and HIST 315) from the Winter 2014 term be dropped past the academic deadline, and to receive Credit Standing status for two others (HIST 241 from the Winter term, and ECON 239 from Fall 2013). During this term, having to cope with my own depressive episode and increasing pain from a longstanding hip injury left me unable to succeed academically to the best of my abilities.
The depressive episode manifested itself largely in the form of insomnia. Although I had experienced lesser difficulties sleeping in the preceding term, I stopped sleeping altogether in February 2014. The insomnia increased my anxiety, led to significant and persistent headaches, and made it much harder to concentrate. All of these factors had a direct impact on my school work. As incomplete work piled up around me and greater deadlines loomed, my symptoms only worsened as the term went on.
My ability to cope with the stresses of academic life was further reduced by the deterioration of my hip. Permanently affected by an injury suffered over six years ago, the chronic pain increased over the term and I would go on to have the hip fully replaced that summer. The pain itself, and the anticipation of the coming operation, supplied an additional source of anxiety for me, worsening my symptoms and making it even harder for me to achieve academically.
Overcoming my failings in the Winter 2014 term is of great importance to me. Through the assistance of a psychologist, Dr. McLean, I have come to a greater understanding of how my mental health impeded my performance and how to cope with anxiety in the future. Additionally, I am now certain to reach out for help from Queen¿¿s facilities should my symptoms re-emerge when I return to school in January and am convinced of my ability to succeed in the coming term.
With many thanks,
Austin MacDonald
Dear Associate Dean:
I have written this letter to request that three courses of mine (ARTH 215, HIST240B, and HIST 315) from the Winter 2014 term be dropped past the academic deadline, and to receive Credit Standing status for two others (HIST 241 from the Winter term, and ECON 239 from Fall 2013). During this term, having to cope with my own depressive episode and increasing pain from a longstanding hip injury left me unable to succeed academically to the best of my abilities.
The depressive episode manifested itself largely in the form of insomnia. Although I had experienced lesser difficulties sleeping in the preceding term, I stopped sleeping altogether in February 2014. The insomnia increased my anxiety, led to significant and persistent headaches, and made it much harder to concentrate. All of these factors had a direct impact on my school work. As incomplete work piled up around me and greater deadlines loomed, my symptoms only worsened as the term went on.
My ability to cope with the stresses of academic life was further reduced by the deterioration of my hip. Permanently affected by an injury suffered over six years ago, the chronic pain increased over the term and I would go on to have the hip fully replaced that summer. The pain itself, and the anticipation of the coming operation, supplied an additional source of anxiety for me, worsening my symptoms and making it even harder for me to achieve academically.
Overcoming my failings in the Winter 2014 term is of great importance to me. Through the assistance of a psychologist, Dr. McLean, I have come to a greater understanding of how my mental health impeded my performance and how to cope with anxiety in the future. Additionally, I am now certain to reach out for help from Queen¿¿s facilities should my symptoms re-emerge when I return to school in January and am convinced of my ability to succeed in the coming term.
With many thanks,
Austin MacDonald
Documentation
Professional Letter: Appeal Dr. McLean Page 1.jpg
Document: Appeal Dr. McLean pg 2.jpg
History
Originally submitted November 13, 2014 at 2:41:13 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Prepared for Review | Carrie Roosenmaalen | 2014-11-13 3:23:56 PM | |
| status | N/A | Prepared for Review | In Review | Haley Everson | 2014-11-17 10:30:17 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted | Haley Everson | 2014-11-18 10:19:21 AM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Johanne Benard, Ph.D. | Haley Everson | 2014-11-18 10:19:21 AM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Haley Everson | 2014-11-18 10:19:33 AM |