Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean of Academics,
I am appealing to make adjustments to my current standing grades on my transcript for the Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 semesters, which have suffered greatly due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control. I am requesting a Credit Standing (CR) for my PSYC 205 (Fall 2019) and PSYC 251 (Fall 2019) grades, an Aegrotat Standing (AG) for ENGL 330 (Fall 2019/Winter 2020) and ENGL 340 (Fall 2019/Winter 2020), and to drop (DR) the grades of ENGL 441 (Winter 2020), ENGL 273 (Winter 2020), and WRIT 290 (Winter 2020) from my transcript.
Over the past year, I have experienced extenuating disability due to personal health struggles, which affected my academic attendance and performance greatly, as is reflected in the dramatic decrease in my grades. My health issues have been present since I was in middle school, but have increased greatly over the past few years, this year in particular being exceptionally difficult. I was struggling to pass my courses in the Fall term because of this, but was determined to improve my situation, so I applied to QSAS to receive proper accommodations, as well as sought out counselling at Queen's Student Wellness Services in an attempt to alleviate my stress and focus on my studies. Over my past three years at Queen's University, I have struggled greatly with receiving aid from Student Wellness Services due to long waits between communication and appointments. This lack of accessibility and little knowledge about acquiring accommodations set me back in my studies as my health declined, resulting in much lower grades than usual for my Fall 2019 semester. When I began my Winter 2020 semester, despite still facing struggles with my health, I was motivated to improve my standing in my courses at Queen's University and communicated this with my professors, as well as organized accommodations in each course. I was still fighting my health problems, but had hope to succeed in my academics by the end of the Winter semester. However, when COVID-19 became a pandemic in the months of February to March and tensions arose surrounding classes and public contact, which then led to the closing of Queen's for the remaining semester, I found myself overridden with stresses and health issues, as well as struggled with returning home to Labrador by car in the middle of this global epidemic. This semester's circumstances were completely unprecedented and derailed my attempts to improve my own situation, health, and grades. I felt my health slipping around this time and ultimately found myself unable to successfully complete my Winter Term courses given these circumstances, thus receiving failing grades in each one.
Since returning to Labrador, I have arranged regular counselling via video conference and appointments, as well as reassessed my medication needs, which have been adjusted. I find healthcare to be much more accessible at home, which has helped greatly with regaining my health. I have worked towards productivity with frequent activity, and now am employed at an 8-5 job for the rest of the summer. I feel confident with the vast support system I have of medical assistance, immediate contact, and people in my life at this time. In the future, I believe that with the proper support system in place, and the alleviation of stress that comes with working from home, I will be much more prepared to handle a reduced course load and succeed in my courses. I am hoping to take the unfortunate circumstances of this year as a learning experience for the extent of my abilities, as well as my personal necessities for optimal learning, rather than concrete evidence of my inability to perform under immense stress. I personally do not feel that this semester's results reflect my academic abilities and I would be grateful for an opportunity to demonstrate such without the aftermath of this unfortunate year holding me back.
Thank you for your consideration,
Emma E. Hussey
I am appealing to make adjustments to my current standing grades on my transcript for the Fall 2019 and Winter 2020 semesters, which have suffered greatly due to extenuating circumstances beyond my control. I am requesting a Credit Standing (CR) for my PSYC 205 (Fall 2019) and PSYC 251 (Fall 2019) grades, an Aegrotat Standing (AG) for ENGL 330 (Fall 2019/Winter 2020) and ENGL 340 (Fall 2019/Winter 2020), and to drop (DR) the grades of ENGL 441 (Winter 2020), ENGL 273 (Winter 2020), and WRIT 290 (Winter 2020) from my transcript.
Over the past year, I have experienced extenuating disability due to personal health struggles, which affected my academic attendance and performance greatly, as is reflected in the dramatic decrease in my grades. My health issues have been present since I was in middle school, but have increased greatly over the past few years, this year in particular being exceptionally difficult. I was struggling to pass my courses in the Fall term because of this, but was determined to improve my situation, so I applied to QSAS to receive proper accommodations, as well as sought out counselling at Queen's Student Wellness Services in an attempt to alleviate my stress and focus on my studies. Over my past three years at Queen's University, I have struggled greatly with receiving aid from Student Wellness Services due to long waits between communication and appointments. This lack of accessibility and little knowledge about acquiring accommodations set me back in my studies as my health declined, resulting in much lower grades than usual for my Fall 2019 semester. When I began my Winter 2020 semester, despite still facing struggles with my health, I was motivated to improve my standing in my courses at Queen's University and communicated this with my professors, as well as organized accommodations in each course. I was still fighting my health problems, but had hope to succeed in my academics by the end of the Winter semester. However, when COVID-19 became a pandemic in the months of February to March and tensions arose surrounding classes and public contact, which then led to the closing of Queen's for the remaining semester, I found myself overridden with stresses and health issues, as well as struggled with returning home to Labrador by car in the middle of this global epidemic. This semester's circumstances were completely unprecedented and derailed my attempts to improve my own situation, health, and grades. I felt my health slipping around this time and ultimately found myself unable to successfully complete my Winter Term courses given these circumstances, thus receiving failing grades in each one.
Since returning to Labrador, I have arranged regular counselling via video conference and appointments, as well as reassessed my medication needs, which have been adjusted. I find healthcare to be much more accessible at home, which has helped greatly with regaining my health. I have worked towards productivity with frequent activity, and now am employed at an 8-5 job for the rest of the summer. I feel confident with the vast support system I have of medical assistance, immediate contact, and people in my life at this time. In the future, I believe that with the proper support system in place, and the alleviation of stress that comes with working from home, I will be much more prepared to handle a reduced course load and succeed in my courses. I am hoping to take the unfortunate circumstances of this year as a learning experience for the extent of my abilities, as well as my personal necessities for optimal learning, rather than concrete evidence of my inability to perform under immense stress. I personally do not feel that this semester's results reflect my academic abilities and I would be grateful for an opportunity to demonstrate such without the aftermath of this unfortunate year holding me back.
Thank you for your consideration,
Emma E. Hussey