Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom this may concern:

Hello,

My name is Nicole Cwik I am a second year Biology student. I am writing to explain my request for a mark appeal to obtain credit standing in the course Biology 243 - Introduction to Statistics with instructor, Charles Molson (class taken in fall 2014). In this course I had received a final letter grade of C- and do not believe this grade justly portrays my knowledge of the course material especially by the final days of the course and final exam in which I had received an equivalent letter grade of B. Throughout this semester I had faced an emotionally challenging situation that I had not anticipated. This unfortunate circumstance took quite a toll on my academics especially with the dates of the tests and keeping up with the material in the course. Just this past year my mom Eve Cwik, was diagnosed with stage 3 high grade serous carcinoma, ovarian cancer and had undergone a major hysterectomy along with six months of rigorous chemotherapy. After undergoing chemo, this fall my mom also had to have another serious surgery, a bilateral mastectomy and despite completion, the process was prolonged due to problems from late September to the New Year in January 2015. She had many complications post surgery with tissue infections and allergic reactions, which at the time seemed never ending and chaotic for my entire family but luckily she is healthy and recovering well. I do understand the importance of focusing on studies and keeping family matters separate but as you may imagine its difficult to not spend your time in a constant state of worry and anxiousness when someone close to you is suffering. During this semester I had also travelled back home to Calgary, Alberta to be with my family and most importantly my mom during times which just so happened to be over the dates of my statistics term tests.

With this course particularly, I had a difficult time with the timing of the two term tests that were heavily weighted on our final mark. The first term test took place on October 9th, 2014 prior to the thanksgiving holiday as well as few days post my mom's major surgery. My mom had undergone a bilateral mastectomy and despite being discharged before thanksgiving, she had many complications post surgery, as I mentioned above. I managed to fly home early to be with my family at the time, as we were all in and out of the hospital. In the mean time I was to prepare and write my first term test, which I had actually completed on my laptop connected to hospital Wi-Fi. Not in the appropriate mind set at all. Furthermore, at the start of the semester I met with an academic advisor after attending my first two classes of BIOL 243 and realizing this was a new course in which we were taught predominantly online. The bulk of this course is taught through a new program Acrobatique, one that I had many troubles with systematically. I was hoping to have switched into the course STATS 263, also a stats intro course which is taught in my preferred style of learning in terms of having to attend the typical 3 lectures a week led by a professor, yet was disappointed when I was told by the advisor the biological statistics course was a requirement over the other general introductory statistics course. That being said, I had seen an academic advisor the second week of this winter term and I now understand that this requirement has now changed and either statistics course is now accepted, I wish I had known of this change were to happen as I definitely would have reorganized my courses and reconsidered the statistics course. Nonetheless, I was committed to completing the required courses and completed biology 243 but found the predominant online learning factor of the course difficult to follow and focus on when my thoughts and focus were entirely somewhere else and often found myself wondering and worrying about the situation back in Calgary.

Although I do understand it is not possible to accommodate to every student, I do know how much this chaotic time has affected me personally and impacted my grade particularly in this course. I also know the significant effect such a grade as C- has on my GPA. That being said, I am taking full advantage of Queen's services that are available to help and likewise am putting the effort into a grade appeal in hoping my letter grade in BIOL 243 - Introduction to Statistics receive credit standing. It is never a good feeling being placed in this sort of situation but in life its seems inevitable and usually at times when you least expect it. I've learned immensely from this situation in terms of how to approach keeping up with academics at such a high-stress time. I now know in the future to deal and organize my time accordingly when having to take trips back home to Calgary in emergencies also communicating with instructors of conflicts I may face knowing they're only there to help. A lesson that has truly been an eye opener for me. It's hard to know how to react in times when a loved one is put in a place where you are entirely helpless and you don't know how to focus your energy and time on tasks. I have learnt to deal with that emotional stress and energy through seeing a guidance counselor as well as my personal doctor and I'm lucky to have great support around me as well as attend a school that places so much importance on mental health. I've come to know through this experience just how much emotional stress impacts my day-to-day life, not only on a personal level but also in my academics, which are of top priority to me.

I've provided two pieces of formal documentation of my mom's discharge after surgery as well as a letter of absence from my doctor at home when at the time I was not able to make a class exam as I stayed with my mom a few extra days. I am hoping I've conveyed as much information as needed to accept this appeal. If any additional information is needed please let me know and I will send it to whomever as soon as possible, or if you would like to speak in person I'd be more than happy to.

Thank you for your time and consideration, I greatly appreciate it.


Best,

Nicole Cwik
Student Number: 10094057
12nc29@queensu.ca