Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Bryn Allan
7 Sydenham Street, Unit 2
Kingston, ON
K7L 3G8
Phone: 226-972-8657
Email: 14bga1@queensu.ca

December 11, 2018

Submitted Online

Dr. Johanne Benard
Associate Dean (Studies)
Student Services
First Floor Dunning Hall,
Queen¿¿s University
Kingston, ON

Re: Drop NSCI 429 and ENIN 301 after the academic deadline

Dear Dr. Benard:

I am appealing to drop NSCI 429 (Fall, 2018) and ENIN 301 (Fall, 2018) after the academic deadline.

This year I experienced extenuating circumstances beyond my control which directly affected my academic performance. Starting on approximately October 5, 2018, I began to experience a psychological challenge which resulted in me having difficulty completing assignments in time or at all. I experienced low motivation and anxiety specific to my assignments and schoolwork. This has been out of character to me throughout my academic career at Queen¿¿s University. I have never asked for an extension for the time to hand in an assignment. I experienced anxiety and concern about my school performance, my marks as they might affect a future university program and completion of assigned tasks.

I believe my performance-related stress was exacerbated by the fact that my maternal and paternal grandfathers were both diagnosed with cancer in second part of 2018. My maternal grandfather also has Alzheimer¿¿s disease. These family worries, coupled with the fact that my family lives in Waterloo, ON made it difficult for me to be comfortable in Kingston and caused me to become anxious and very homesick.

I became aware that I was struggling with these issues in early October and started seeing a social worker, Kate Rooney, for counselling and to try to develop strategies to improve my motivation, reduce my anxiety regarding my work and the future and to make me more comfortable living in Kingston away from my family. I have continued with a counsellor in Waterloo ON, Shelley Huisken, on December 9, 2018 in order to try to ensure that I have good coping strategies and supports in place for the coming semester.

In order to deal with these challenges in my individual courses, I contacted an academic counsellor through the Faculty of Arts and Science (Kerri Andrews). I was granted Academic Consideration between October 5, 2018 and December 20, 2018 based on my application and a supportive letter from Ms. Rooney. Ms. Andrews suggested that I contact my professors to request extensions where appropriate or other consideration. I had determined that NSCI 429 was causing me the most stress and concern and felt that I could better apply myself by appealing to drop this course.

I emailed to Professor Sidneyeve Matrix to request further extensions of the two major projects. Professor Matrix responded that as I had not handed in either project by the appointed deadline, the more appropriate choice at this point would be to drop ENIN 301. I asked my professors for my other courses for extensions where necessary and they provided same. I have completed all of the course work for my remaining three courses with the assistance of the academic accommodation which I received.

I will be continuing in ongoing counselling with Ms. Huisken who will be counselling me in person and by Face Time. I have determined that it would be best for me to take two additional courses in the summer in order to complete the requirements for my degree. I have opened up to my close friends and roommate about my psychological health, and they have been very supportive of me. I plan to continue to obtain counselling and to be open with my friends and family in order to stay on top of deadlines and work. In order to complete my work this term, I moved home to Waterloo for the month of December. Being at home and with my family has assisted me in making sure that I have set manageable goals and completed my work as required.

Thank you for considering my request to appeal to drop ENIN 301 and NSCI 429.

Yours truly,

Bryn Allan