Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: 28 July 2022
To the Associate Dean (Academic),

This Appeal Letter concerns 3 different courses. I am applying for Aegrotat Standing in 2 of my courses from the Winter 2022 Semester: SOCY428 and SOCY511. In addition, I am appealing to drop IDIS373 (Summer 2022).

I am the eldest of 6 children, coming from a racialized family in Vancouver, British Columbia. Being away in Kingston has been a blessing but particularly this past Winter semester, one of my siblings had a mental health crisis that very much took a toll on me. It impacted my ability to afford my own medication and food. As a result, I took the steps to reach out to my counsellor at Queen??s, Allison Lavigne, along with counselling outside of the school. Swipe it Forward was accessed which helped greatly, but the circumstances with my family made it very difficult for me to sleep, focus, and apply myself to meet my potential in school this past semester. The environment at Queen??s was very difficult for me to adapt to, as many of my peers do not experience food insecurity, financial independence, or racialized microaggressions. Staying silent about my challenges with friends was isolating and exacerbated what I was experiencing, which was tough as I am very passionate about my studies. This is reflected in receiving a D in my PSYC203 course, while my SPAN112 was not necessarily affected due to having a strong French background.

My supporting documents reflect both of my professors (SOCY428 and SOCY511) suggesting and supporting the option for me to apply for Aegrotat Standing. I was hesitant in April to pursue this option because I really wanted to finish strong and demonstrate to my SOCY428 professor that I am able to apply what I have learned to his course in my final paper. This is why I did not apply before. However, he gave me until June to finish the paper, and I returned to Vancouver in May. My family circumstances had worsened and being physically present in the turbulent household made it feel impossible for me to mentally prioritize this paper, as I wanted to do a good job. I missed that deadline and shortly after, emailed my SOCY511 professor asking for help as I had similarly remaining coursework. This all further impacts my IDIS373 (Summer 2022) course as I logically felt that I could not work on my Summer coursework, unless I was complete with my Winter 2022 coursework. I had not dropped IDIS373 because it is my last course before graduating, so I told myself that I could push through. However, balancing with my 400/500-level courses, family difficulties, personal health challenges??I was unable to apply myself in this course.

My plan for achieving academic success is to retake IDIS373 this Fall 2022 semester. I am disappointed in myself for being unable to submit my remaining coursework for SOCY428 and SOCY511; however I know that I interact and think critically about the world around me, sharing these discussions beyond the classroom??reflecting a genuine commitment to lifelong learning. I have gained a breadth of knowledge from these courses and while the Aegrotat Standing is unconventional, I believe that it is the best option for me in order to graduate in the near future and be closer to a career where I will be able to help my family pay bills and necessities. Having this month of July and August to re-focus and take care of myself makes me confident that by September, I can really earn the grade I deserve in IDIS373.

Thank you kindly for your consideration,

Catina Mah