Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear, Associate Dean (Studies)

I am appealing for an AG grade in POLS 211 (Fall, 2014).

Since October 2014, I have been having extenuating health issues, which have hindered my ability to complete my courses. These circumstances affect my memory and ability to concentrate. As soon as I noticed my health deteriorating I went to see the residence councillor who connected me with a doctor at the La Salle Building. Dr. Campbell prescribed some medication hoping it would help. The problems continued and I ended up going into Kingston General Hospital on December 7Th, 2014. The doctors at the hospital then recommended me to do a CBT program at the hospital, which I completed partly in December and all through January. This required me to be in the program everyday from Monday to Friday from 9 am to noon.

A week before reading week (February 12th, 2015) I came back to Vancouver at the recommendation of my doctors to be at home with family. Things got progressively worse and I was hospitalized in Vancouver from February 22nd, 2015 to March 2nd, 2015. I came out of hospital feeling a little better and on new medication. Since I have been out of hospital there has been a steady improvement and I am now seeing a psychotherapist once a week and enrolled in an eight-week therapy group.

I had every intention to write the exam but the situation I was in became unpredictable and I was unable to do so. Over the course of the term, I also had to drop courses to create a lighter load for myself and make things more manageable for me.

In regard to my AG appeal for POLS 211, I had been in touch with my Professor Heather Bastedo in December 2014 and she communicated via email that I satisfied the requirements as I had completed 65 of the course work and am sitting at a C.

In terms of continuing with my studies, I am currently enrolled in French P17, an online course. I have completed most of the assignments/ tutorials (except one due to my being in hospital) and I look forward to completing it. I am also eager to take one or two courses over the summer to be on track with my studies. I also plan to come back to Kingston in September 2015 to do my courses on campus. I will be taking a lighter load of 3 to 4 courses initially. By doing this, I will have less stress and more time to focus on each course I take. Please note that I have been in constant communication with Hayley Everson, an Academic Advisor, since this situation started in October 2014. Please feel free to contact her for any clarification.