Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Dr. Stephenson,
I am writing to request that the University apply Aegrotat standing to my grade for the Introduction to Statistics (POLS385) course in the Winter 2019 semester. I believe that the circumstances outlined below show that there were sufficient factors preventing me from succeeding in this course, and as such it is reasonable to convert my failing grade to a passing grade.
Beginning early in the Winter 2019 semester I began to experience a number of complications relating to my heart condition of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT). The efficacy of my medication in managing cardiac episodes had been deteriorating for about a year resulting in the increased frequency of the random, prolonged, and intense cardiac episodes. Attempts to manage these episodes and the failure of my medication resulted in an overdose of my medication and consequent three-day hospital stay beginning February 8th, at which point I suffered numerous seizures, blood toxicity, and almost died.
As a result of this hospitalization, I was unable to complete one of the first tests for this course. I was accommodated by the professor and informed that these grades would simply be redistributed, and that taking the test later was not an option. I had been very on top of my course work up until this point of the semester, but following the trauma of the hospitalization my academic performance began to deteriorate. The inefficacy of my new medication resulted in the escalated frequency, severity, and length of my debilitating cardiac episodes. This, compounded with the stress and anxiety about the severity of my situation made it difficult to complete coursework.
My performance in my other three courses of the Winter 2019 semester suffered less than POLS 385 because of their natures as more flexible or lower time commitment courses. I was extremely fortunate for both my undergraduate Thesis and my seminar (POLS 406) to have extremely accommodating and understanding professors who were willing to accept my completion of numerous assignments extremely late as a result of my debilitating episodes.
On March 19th I underwent heart surgery to attempt to repair my defect. While the surgery was successful and recovery time was supposed to be minimal, my adverse reaction to the anesthetic left me exhausted and impaired for days after. I asked my statistics professor to let me take it a few days later so I would not have to take the term test just two days after a very stressful and serious heart surgery, but was denied by a TA. This denial of sufficient accommodation despite submission of proper paperwork left me so frustrated and hopeless that I took the test despite my insufficient preparation, and understandably failed.
Despite the success of the surgery, my academic performance in this course for the remainder of the semester was detrimentally affected by the sheer overwhelming workload and resulting immense stress as the result of the coursework that had piled up during the period of minimal academic productivity when my condition made it difficult to function. As an upper-year student, I am equipped to handle a heavy workload, but there is only such much one is able to do when so much has been missed. While addressing all of my compounded work, I did my best to catch up to all I had missed in Statistics, hiring a tutor and forgoing smaller assignments in favour of focusing on the decidedly more substantial (and heavily weighted) final exam. I did everything in my power and knowledge to succeed at the opportunities I had left. While I never received the final exam grade, I can assume given my failing final grade that my efforts were not successful.
In short, the escalating severity of my heart condition and the debilitating symptoms made it difficult for me to complete sufficient coursework in POLS386 in the Winter 2019 semester. I was able to succeed in all other courses because of the accommodation offered, but failed to succeed to the best of my ability in this course because of my illness and a lack of accommodation from course instructors. This is a small anomaly on an otherwise successful academic record, the result of an extenuating circumstance which was extremely trying and difficult for me. I ask only for this office to understand my situation and allow a passing grade for this course so that I may move forward. As the requirements of my B.A.(H) are complete with the exception of this course, my studies at Queen's have sadly come to a close, but I look forward to using the lessons this struggle has taught me as I move on to my Masters at the Munk School of Global Affairs.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Sincerely,

Teresa Pian