Petition Letter
To the Associate Dean:
I am appealing, for the second time, a request to drop MATH121 (Summer, 2017) Differential and Integral Calculus. The first time I submitted an appeal, I did not have the appropriate documentation on hand to properly show proof of my concussions that debilitated my ability to perform to the best of my abilities during the summer term.
I had experienced a concussion during the summer term. This extenuating circumstance with such personal events beyond my control have directly affected my academic performance. It has come to my attention that in my first appeal I did not properly outline the timeframe of these events. I am aware that it made my appeal quite unclear. I now hope to clear up any confusion and demonstrate to you the reasons on why I should be granted the late drop.
I experienced a concussion on May 20th, 2017 and was able to get an appointment at my regular concussion clinic, the MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic, on May 23rd, 2017. At this first appointment, I was seen by my doctor and it was confirmed that I did in fact have a concussion. Although the specific event that took place where I sustained my concussion would not usually cause one, it was because of my past concussions (4 in the past 4 years) that the situation had to be gone about with the utmost severity. At the first appointment, my doctor made her recommendation. This can be found in the documents attached, labeled ¿¿ ¿¿medical documentation ¿¿ May 23.¿ From there, she recommended that I come in to see her every 2 weeks until we could see strong improvements. The next appointment took place on June 6th, 2017. She assessed me and determined that I was making progress. The details of her assessment can be found in the documents attached, labeled ¿¿medical documentation ¿¿ June 6.¿ Because she saw improvements I decided to take the mid-course exam on June 15th. The drop date for the course was June 23rd, so I decided that I could determine whether I should drop the course based on my mid-course exam results. Unfortunately, my professor from the course was extremely delayed in getting the results back to us. He posted and apology on OnQ, which has been attached. He did not get our grades for the mid-course exam back to us until July 3rd, 2017. Up to this point, I had not really received any verbal or written feedback concerning my performance in the course prior to the drop deadline, which was June 23rd, 2017 (last day to drop May-July courses). In this time, I had my last appointment on June 20th, 2017 where I was allowed increased participation in physical, cognitive and sensory stages. Following that, I had my final assessment from my doctor on July 4th, 2017. At this appointment, she determined that I had made strong improvements and that I would not have to come back in to see her anymore. The documentation from the last appointment has been attached as ¿¿medical documentation ¿¿ July 4.¿
Due to the number of concussions I have had over the past 4 years certainly take a toll on a person and has many lasting effects. One that comes along with concussions is depression. It affects those suffering concussions because of the inability to go about a normal day, the inability to use the brain without intense pain, not being able to remember simple things, etc. Each time I get a concussion I experience symptoms of depression. After my concussion in the summer I was in denial about it. I didn¿¿t want to think that it was happening to me again. I told myself I was fine and pushed through the pain of thinking. Since I did not get the results of the mid-course exam until after the drop deadline. I knew that I would have to work much harder in the second half of the course. This did not go according to my plan and I only truly realize how badly I was affected after the course was over and the quality of my work was not up to usual standards.
I have already started another Calculus course and have completed the first semester of it. I am already doing much better in the course. As you can see from my academic records, I am a hardworking student at Queen¿¿s University. My commitment to the school is evidenced by my involvement here. I am currently on the Economics Department Student Council and serve as a student representative for the Certificate in Business for the Smith School of Business. I care about school work and hope that you will be able to see that this one course being failed should not have to jeopardize my academic future and opportunities that require a GPA in high standing. I have already consulted with an academic advisor and am beginning my path to success in the future.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter of appeal and do apologize for infringing on your time on the break. I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season and wish you a happy new year. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Jacqueline Marcoccia
Jacqueline Marcoccia
Queen's University -- BAH -- Economics 2020
Certificate in Business
I am appealing, for the second time, a request to drop MATH121 (Summer, 2017) Differential and Integral Calculus. The first time I submitted an appeal, I did not have the appropriate documentation on hand to properly show proof of my concussions that debilitated my ability to perform to the best of my abilities during the summer term.
I had experienced a concussion during the summer term. This extenuating circumstance with such personal events beyond my control have directly affected my academic performance. It has come to my attention that in my first appeal I did not properly outline the timeframe of these events. I am aware that it made my appeal quite unclear. I now hope to clear up any confusion and demonstrate to you the reasons on why I should be granted the late drop.
I experienced a concussion on May 20th, 2017 and was able to get an appointment at my regular concussion clinic, the MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic, on May 23rd, 2017. At this first appointment, I was seen by my doctor and it was confirmed that I did in fact have a concussion. Although the specific event that took place where I sustained my concussion would not usually cause one, it was because of my past concussions (4 in the past 4 years) that the situation had to be gone about with the utmost severity. At the first appointment, my doctor made her recommendation. This can be found in the documents attached, labeled ¿¿ ¿¿medical documentation ¿¿ May 23.¿ From there, she recommended that I come in to see her every 2 weeks until we could see strong improvements. The next appointment took place on June 6th, 2017. She assessed me and determined that I was making progress. The details of her assessment can be found in the documents attached, labeled ¿¿medical documentation ¿¿ June 6.¿ Because she saw improvements I decided to take the mid-course exam on June 15th. The drop date for the course was June 23rd, so I decided that I could determine whether I should drop the course based on my mid-course exam results. Unfortunately, my professor from the course was extremely delayed in getting the results back to us. He posted and apology on OnQ, which has been attached. He did not get our grades for the mid-course exam back to us until July 3rd, 2017. Up to this point, I had not really received any verbal or written feedback concerning my performance in the course prior to the drop deadline, which was June 23rd, 2017 (last day to drop May-July courses). In this time, I had my last appointment on June 20th, 2017 where I was allowed increased participation in physical, cognitive and sensory stages. Following that, I had my final assessment from my doctor on July 4th, 2017. At this appointment, she determined that I had made strong improvements and that I would not have to come back in to see her anymore. The documentation from the last appointment has been attached as ¿¿medical documentation ¿¿ July 4.¿
Due to the number of concussions I have had over the past 4 years certainly take a toll on a person and has many lasting effects. One that comes along with concussions is depression. It affects those suffering concussions because of the inability to go about a normal day, the inability to use the brain without intense pain, not being able to remember simple things, etc. Each time I get a concussion I experience symptoms of depression. After my concussion in the summer I was in denial about it. I didn¿¿t want to think that it was happening to me again. I told myself I was fine and pushed through the pain of thinking. Since I did not get the results of the mid-course exam until after the drop deadline. I knew that I would have to work much harder in the second half of the course. This did not go according to my plan and I only truly realize how badly I was affected after the course was over and the quality of my work was not up to usual standards.
I have already started another Calculus course and have completed the first semester of it. I am already doing much better in the course. As you can see from my academic records, I am a hardworking student at Queen¿¿s University. My commitment to the school is evidenced by my involvement here. I am currently on the Economics Department Student Council and serve as a student representative for the Certificate in Business for the Smith School of Business. I care about school work and hope that you will be able to see that this one course being failed should not have to jeopardize my academic future and opportunities that require a GPA in high standing. I have already consulted with an academic advisor and am beginning my path to success in the future.
I appreciate you taking the time to read my letter of appeal and do apologize for infringing on your time on the break. I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season and wish you a happy new year. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind Regards,
Jacqueline Marcoccia
Jacqueline Marcoccia
Queen's University -- BAH -- Economics 2020
Certificate in Business