Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean,

I am appealing to be added into MUSC 415-003 (wind ensemble) for credit.

I am in my fourth year in BMUS and Con-Ed, and I need to take 39 units in order to continue to my 5th year of Education next year. I have been struggling with trying to get an academic schedule that is manageable, as I am needing to take 7 courses this term and 8 courses next term. I have struggled immensely with mental health (I have severe chronic depression, anxiety and ADD) my entire life, which has significantly amplified during university. Since I have always taken 8-9 courses per term, I felt that I would be able to handle this course load, however, my mental health is rapidly deterring already due to having only 7 courses (they are much more academically demanding). I also found it difficult to appropriately organize my course schedule since I only had a few weeks to decide, in which many music courses were not available to be seen or didn't have descriptions. Moreover, I have to work part-time in order to survive this year. I went over my courses for the winter term this past week and realized that I will not be able to manage an extra course next semester, and most summer courses offered online are courses I have already taken and/or have taken strongly related courses. Since I am enrolled in one ensemble, which is equivalent to 1.5 units, if I can enrol in one more then I will have 3.0 units and be able to drop an academic course during the winter term and ultimately relieve an immense amount of stress that will deter my mental health.

My future academic plan to be successful in this course (and overall with my academics) is to make a detailed schedule that will outline study sessions, as well as when to practice my instrument(s), attend the classes and participate adequately. I have already gone ahead and discussed with Dan Tremblay how I can essentially catch up in the course, in which there is one upcoming assessment and I have already chosen the piece I plan to present. Wind ensemble is also not an academically demanding course, moreover, since it is mainly a practical (playing) course, I find that it alleviates some stress when I am practicing an instrument, specifically trumpet. Dan is also my private trumpet instructor, so I feel confident that each week we can check in to make sure that I am maintaining a decent practice schedule, on top of any assignments that may be due. By including the wind ensemble credit, I feel I will be able to manage my courses and mental health significantly better, as well as maintain or raise my GPA in accordance to my 5th year in Con-Ed. I am appealing this course specifically because I have been in it before and thoroughly enjoyed it, and I know that it is not an academic stressor for me, thus allowing me to complete this academic year without extreme extenuating circumstances (or as many in other courses). In past years I have always had to ask for extensions or submit an academic consideration form at least twice a semester, so I am attempting to avoid this situation. I have personally discussed being in the ensemble with the prof/conductor, and Dan is fine with me enrolling in the course. If I become extremely overwhelmed and unable to handle the course-load in the winter term, I would have to take 1 course next year before continuing with my education portion. Therefore, it would be greatly appreciated if I am able to be added to the Wind ensemble for this academic school year so that I can attempt to keep my mental health in check and still obtain all of my mandatory credits. I have been taking immense and tedious measures in creating a schedule to complete all of my academic work, and I feel that I will and can be successful with the addition of the wind ensemble in turn of dropping an academic course of the MUSC 300 level to maintain mental health and adequate GPA.

Thank you so much for taking time to read my appeal, it is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Morgan Riel
20063679