Petition Letter
To: Associate Dean (Studies)
I am appealing to drop the course HIST 462 (Modernization and Cultural Change in Latin America, 1850-1950 - Seminar) instructed by Dr. Parker.
On October 31, 2014 I suffered my seventh concussion while in Kingston that required me to go to KGH for treatment. As I have a medical history that includes a history of concussions, three of them being very serious, I immediately returned home to Toronto to be seen by Dr. Julia Alleyne at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Alleyne has treated me before for brain injuries and upon seeing her in Toronto she confirmed the diagnosis that I had received a moderate concussion following a hit to my head on October 31st. After seeing Dr. Alleyne I underwent treatment to alleviate my concussion-related symptoms from November 3rd to November 9th. After determining my symptoms had declined enough that I would be able to return to Kingston, I did so on November 9th. Following my return to Queen¿¿s I informed my instructors of my condition who all agreed to let me attend as much class as I thought I could handle, as well as completing the subsequent readings for each class as recommended by Dr. Alleyne. This was due to the fact that this most recent concussion had severely debilitated my mental and physical stamina, concentration and overall mental health. Since returning to Queen¿¿s I have begun to attend my seminars in part as I try and re-acclimatize myself to the learning environment and have progressed in my recovery, however, I have not completed a full recovery yet. Currently I am still limited to attending an hour and a half of each three-hour seminar and usually completing 50 of the assigned readings. I am also trying to prepare for my final semester papers and exams for each class, which is proving to be a difficult, but manageable task.
I am appealing to drop HIST 462, as it is my only seminar lasting one semester. The course is structured so that it has a heavier weighting towards the end of the semester in regards to marks. After meeting with all of my instructors and an academic advisor we felt it appropriate to appeal to drop HIST 462. I did not feel I could adequately finish the required work in the class while trying to finish the other assignments in my remaining classes. I returned to Queen¿¿s before completely finishing the recovery process as I felt I was well enough that with certain accommodations I would be able to finish the semester without having to completely withdraw from it. With the current state of my mental health and stamina I feel that by dropping HIST 462 I will be able to complete the work assigned in the remainder of my courses by the end of the semester.
Although I am in my fourth year of study at Queen¿¿s, I plan on returning in the fall semester of 2015 to make up for uncompleted credits as well as the missed credits in HIST 462, if my appeal is granted. I plan on returning for the next fall semester as I felt that the breadth of course offered on campus, rather than at distance, as well as the learning environment would be much more beneficial if I was on campus.
Yours truly,
James R. H. Madell
I am appealing to drop the course HIST 462 (Modernization and Cultural Change in Latin America, 1850-1950 - Seminar) instructed by Dr. Parker.
On October 31, 2014 I suffered my seventh concussion while in Kingston that required me to go to KGH for treatment. As I have a medical history that includes a history of concussions, three of them being very serious, I immediately returned home to Toronto to be seen by Dr. Julia Alleyne at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. Dr. Alleyne has treated me before for brain injuries and upon seeing her in Toronto she confirmed the diagnosis that I had received a moderate concussion following a hit to my head on October 31st. After seeing Dr. Alleyne I underwent treatment to alleviate my concussion-related symptoms from November 3rd to November 9th. After determining my symptoms had declined enough that I would be able to return to Kingston, I did so on November 9th. Following my return to Queen¿¿s I informed my instructors of my condition who all agreed to let me attend as much class as I thought I could handle, as well as completing the subsequent readings for each class as recommended by Dr. Alleyne. This was due to the fact that this most recent concussion had severely debilitated my mental and physical stamina, concentration and overall mental health. Since returning to Queen¿¿s I have begun to attend my seminars in part as I try and re-acclimatize myself to the learning environment and have progressed in my recovery, however, I have not completed a full recovery yet. Currently I am still limited to attending an hour and a half of each three-hour seminar and usually completing 50 of the assigned readings. I am also trying to prepare for my final semester papers and exams for each class, which is proving to be a difficult, but manageable task.
I am appealing to drop HIST 462, as it is my only seminar lasting one semester. The course is structured so that it has a heavier weighting towards the end of the semester in regards to marks. After meeting with all of my instructors and an academic advisor we felt it appropriate to appeal to drop HIST 462. I did not feel I could adequately finish the required work in the class while trying to finish the other assignments in my remaining classes. I returned to Queen¿¿s before completely finishing the recovery process as I felt I was well enough that with certain accommodations I would be able to finish the semester without having to completely withdraw from it. With the current state of my mental health and stamina I feel that by dropping HIST 462 I will be able to complete the work assigned in the remainder of my courses by the end of the semester.
Although I am in my fourth year of study at Queen¿¿s, I plan on returning in the fall semester of 2015 to make up for uncompleted credits as well as the missed credits in HIST 462, if my appeal is granted. I plan on returning for the next fall semester as I felt that the breadth of course offered on campus, rather than at distance, as well as the learning environment would be much more beneficial if I was on campus.
Yours truly,
James R. H. Madell