Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 9224
Submitted: May 29, 2022 at 12:43:55 PM
First Name: Sarah
Last Name: Welch
Student Number: 20090341
Email: 17sew2@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BAH
Plan: SOCY
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Waive the requirement to withdraw for one year
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: This Appeal Letter is in response to the May 24, 2022 letter I received from Ms. Jenn
Stephenson, Ph.D., Associate Dean (Studies), where I was informed of the requirement to
withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science, effective May 25, 2022.
In 2021 I experienced extenuating circumstances which seriously impaired my physical and
mental health in both academic semesters of my 4th year of Sociology at Queen??s. As a
result of this, I felt impaired in my ability to balance my academic career alongside my
personal health journey towards healing from the traumatic effects of these events.
These abilities were hindered by the extenuating circumstances that I was put through in
2021 and is the reason that I am now appealing the withdrawal notice. If I had known just
how much these circumstances would have affected my academic performance, I would
have retroactively reduced my course load tremendously last year.
I currently have multiple strategies set up to aid my success in the completion of these
remaining credits. This involves daily medicinal treatment of an SNRI to improve my mental
wellbeing, as well as weekly sessions with my therapist, in which we work on the
implementation of coping strategies that will help me to complete daily tasks in my personal
and academic life. I have already noticed a substantial difference in my ability to go about
my daily life with these strategies in place and I hold the utmost confidence that this will
transcend into my academic life moving forward.
Attached to this appeal is an official mental health report written by my counsellor/therapist,
as well as letters written by those close to me, who confirm the events of these extenuating
circumstances. The mental health report not only outlines my daily functioning abilities but
also my exact extenuating circumstance.
I am more than optimistic that, if granted this appeal, I will succeed in my revised academic
plan to a high degree, which I now know I am capable of. I would also like to note that there
has been one grade from Fall 2021 semester (SOCY225) that was incorrectly managed in
the discourse of an ?IN?? grade. My final assignment in this class was not graded despite its
submission prior to the deadline. However, the head of my department, Dr. Andrew Silver
has given me his word that he will manage this situation internally, meaning I should have
the revised grade very soon. I have also attached this email to my appeal.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sarah Welch.
Stephenson, Ph.D., Associate Dean (Studies), where I was informed of the requirement to
withdraw for one year from the Faculty of Arts and Science, effective May 25, 2022.
In 2021 I experienced extenuating circumstances which seriously impaired my physical and
mental health in both academic semesters of my 4th year of Sociology at Queen??s. As a
result of this, I felt impaired in my ability to balance my academic career alongside my
personal health journey towards healing from the traumatic effects of these events.
These abilities were hindered by the extenuating circumstances that I was put through in
2021 and is the reason that I am now appealing the withdrawal notice. If I had known just
how much these circumstances would have affected my academic performance, I would
have retroactively reduced my course load tremendously last year.
I currently have multiple strategies set up to aid my success in the completion of these
remaining credits. This involves daily medicinal treatment of an SNRI to improve my mental
wellbeing, as well as weekly sessions with my therapist, in which we work on the
implementation of coping strategies that will help me to complete daily tasks in my personal
and academic life. I have already noticed a substantial difference in my ability to go about
my daily life with these strategies in place and I hold the utmost confidence that this will
transcend into my academic life moving forward.
Attached to this appeal is an official mental health report written by my counsellor/therapist,
as well as letters written by those close to me, who confirm the events of these extenuating
circumstances. The mental health report not only outlines my daily functioning abilities but
also my exact extenuating circumstance.
I am more than optimistic that, if granted this appeal, I will succeed in my revised academic
plan to a high degree, which I now know I am capable of. I would also like to note that there
has been one grade from Fall 2021 semester (SOCY225) that was incorrectly managed in
the discourse of an ?IN?? grade. My final assignment in this class was not graded despite its
submission prior to the deadline. However, the head of my department, Dr. Andrew Silver
has given me his word that he will manage this situation internally, meaning I should have
the revised grade very soon. I have also attached this email to my appeal.
Thank you for your time and consideration, I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
Sarah Welch.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: To address this situation and improve my academic standing, my realistic academic plan is
to drop the honours portion of my Sociology degree and instead obtain a general degree. I
am not yet registered in this degree plan, but would have 6.0 units remaining to fulfil this
requirement, which I would split into two elective courses taken in the Fall 2022 semester.
I was made aware of this option in an academic advising meeting on Thursday, April 14,
2022 with academic counsellor Kerri Andrews. During our zoom meeting, Ms. Andrews
informed me of just how close I am to the fulfilment of the requirements mentioned prior,
having already completed the compulsory Sociology core and option credits needed for the
general degree plan.
If I am granted this appeal, I will continue my studies in the Fall 2022 semester and will
graduate at the end of the calendar year with this general Sociology degree.
I feel that this is more than within my range of academic ability in the coming term as I am
conscious of my current mental state and therefore academic potential moving forward.
Obtaining this degree will greatly advance my chosen career path, to become a social
worker. I am realistic in my abilities moving forward as opposed to the previous school year,
in which I did not set realistic expectations for myself, the result of which has led me to this
position today.
I would also like to note once more than my future academic plan will also involve the continued treatment via medication and therapy to aid in my success along this path.
Thank you once more for your time and please do not hesitate to contact me at any time to request further support or documentation. I will be more than happy to oblige.
Kindest regards,
Sarah Welch
to drop the honours portion of my Sociology degree and instead obtain a general degree. I
am not yet registered in this degree plan, but would have 6.0 units remaining to fulfil this
requirement, which I would split into two elective courses taken in the Fall 2022 semester.
I was made aware of this option in an academic advising meeting on Thursday, April 14,
2022 with academic counsellor Kerri Andrews. During our zoom meeting, Ms. Andrews
informed me of just how close I am to the fulfilment of the requirements mentioned prior,
having already completed the compulsory Sociology core and option credits needed for the
general degree plan.
If I am granted this appeal, I will continue my studies in the Fall 2022 semester and will
graduate at the end of the calendar year with this general Sociology degree.
I feel that this is more than within my range of academic ability in the coming term as I am
conscious of my current mental state and therefore academic potential moving forward.
Obtaining this degree will greatly advance my chosen career path, to become a social
worker. I am realistic in my abilities moving forward as opposed to the previous school year,
in which I did not set realistic expectations for myself, the result of which has led me to this
position today.
I would also like to note once more than my future academic plan will also involve the continued treatment via medication and therapy to aid in my success along this path.
Thank you once more for your time and please do not hesitate to contact me at any time to request further support or documentation. I will be more than happy to oblige.
Kindest regards,
Sarah Welch
Documentation
Professional Letter: Mental Health Report for Sarah Welch.docx
Document: Sarah Support Letter May 2022.pdf
Decision Letters
Amendment to Appeal 9224
Relevant Petition: 9224
New Information: Good afternoon, it has come to my attention that I was unable to attach the email from Dr Abrams to my prior appeal so I will be amending that here. Sorry for the confusion. I may have also mistaken Dr Abrams for Dr Silver in my appeal letter as I have been in contact with both professors regarding this situation and think I have confused the two.
Regardless, the email conversation with Dr Abrams is outlined in this amendment, thank you again for your time.
Well wishes,
Sarah Welch.
Regardless, the email conversation with Dr Abrams is outlined in this amendment, thank you again for your time.
Well wishes,
Sarah Welch.
Student Number: 20090341
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Document: Re Missing grade for SOCY225.pdf