Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: March 13th, 2021

Appeal to the Associate Dean (Academics)
Queens University


To Whom It May Concern:

I am appealing for Aegrotat standing in both KPNE 153 and BIOL 102 (Fall, 2020). I was unable to complete the final components of these classes and have previously completed the required 60 of course work and have met the learning outcomes of both courses. I have been in contact will all of my professors who were made aware of my accommodations and circumstances as soon as I was able to share.

On December 5th 2020, I sustained an unfortunate head injury that rendered me unable to complete any final exams or assignments for the fall term of this year. I was seen by a physician at CDK Family Medicine on December 7th where I was first diagnosed with a concussion and have attached documentation of that visit. Following that visit, I met with numerous other health practitioners including concussion specialists, physiotherapists, and chiropractors. Once returning home to Toronto shortly after my diagnosis I was seen at Athletic Edge Sports Medicine Clinic where Dr. Ibey encouraged reducing cognitive stimulation almost completely until my symptoms subsided (December 21st, 2020). I have had three bi-weekly follow up appointments with Dr. Ibey to track my progress. I was then referred to Aurora Sports Medicine where I was seen by a physiotherapist for neck and cognitive therapy. My initial appointment at Aurora Sports Medicine was December 24th and follow up appointments continued into late January. My symptoms in December and January rendered me completely unable to complete schoolwork and many of my symptoms have continued to affect me today. The inability to sleep for weeks was inherently the most challenging as my days were completely thrown off for five weeks. I had severe occipital sensitivity which got increasingly worse with screens and bright lights. Although I no longer have these challenges today, my ability to focus on tasks is and remember simple details has been affected and I find myself needing to take frequent breaks to prevent headaches.

Concussion recovery was not a linear trajectory in my case and presented many challenges when trying to return to studies. I met with Meg Hall, a Queens Accommodations advisor numerous times to discuss options for finishing the year and with her advising came up with the plan to request Aegrotat standing for these two courses. Although I was taking three other courses along with BIOL 102 and KPNE 153, my professors for ENSC 103 offered a re-weight of my grade, PSYC 100 offered to combine my fall exam with my spring final, and HLTL 101 had a final assignment that I was partly done prior to my injury. After meeting with both an Accommodations advisor and an Academic advisor it was clear that trying to balance five new courses for winter semester on top of five incomplete courses would be much too difficult, especially while I was still experiencing serious symptoms. I am currently enrolled in only four courses for this semester and am still working on final assessments from the fall. Being required to take frequent brakes and spend limited amounts of time on screens has presented huge barriers for my learning but I have been able to manage so far. If I am granted Aegrotat Standing for these two courses, my time will be furthering my academic success in my current courses and finishing three of my fall semester courses.

Sincerely,

Sophia Townsend
20217644