Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 1897
Submitted: March 4, 2016 at 3:41:48 PM
First Name: Stephen
Last Name: Helmer
Student Number: 10072183
Email: 12sh28@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BMUS
Plan: MUSIC
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request to take more than 6.0 units of courses on a letter of permission through another institution
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Letter of Appeal
My name is Stephen Helmer and I am a 4th year student in the B.Mus program at Queen¿¿s University. I am writing this appeal letter in order to complete my remaining credits on a letter of permission at Wilfrid Laurier University.
I have been in good academic standing throughout my degree at Queen¿¿s thus far, making the Dean¿¿s Honour list for the past two consecutive years. I have enjoyed and valued my education through Queen¿¿s, and have a deep admiration for the faculty and academic community. However, some recent changes in my personal life have led to large struggles in my academics. I have lived in Kingston for 7 years now. When I first moved here it was to attend St. Lawrence College and acquire a diploma. I was successful in that endeavor, and I then was accepted into Queen¿¿s the following year. During my time at SLC and my first couple of years at Queen¿¿s I established good friendships and met my current fiancé whom I have been with for 6 of the past 7 years. I formed a musical ensemble which I performed with around Kingston for 6 years, and I had a good support system in place.
In May of 2015 my fiancé graduated from her program at SLC and was fortunate enough to be immediately offered employment in her field in Waterloo, ON, which she took. In addition to this the members of the musical ensemble I formed had also graduated and they left for Toronto, thus removing my social support circle. This has had a significant impact on my emotional well-being: I have managed to perform well in my courses despite my personal difficulties and depression, but have dropped several courses this term in order to manage my condition and overall stress levels on the advice of my academic advisor, Dr. Stephanie Lind. She or I can provide more details on request.
I have spoken with my fiancé, a counsellor from Queen¿¿s University¿¿s Counselling Services, and the Chair of Undergraduate studies in Music, Dr. Stephanie Lind, and we feel that the best option for me to continue to succeed academically would be to complete my degree requirements via letter of permission at Wilfrid Laurier University, in addition to taking online courses through both Queen¿¿s University and Athabasca University. This change will allow me to live with my fiancé in Waterloo as I complete my education, and her presence in my life provides the much needed support and stability I am currently lacking in Kingston. I have had email correspondences with Kathy Gauci, an academic advisor at Wilfrid Laurier University, and she has informed me that once a letter of permission has been acquired we can begin planning out the specific courses I will take to fulfill the requirements of my Queen¿¿s B.Mus degree.
I am attaching a supporting letter from Chair of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Stephanie Lind. Please let me know if there is anything else you require.
Stephen Helmer.
My name is Stephen Helmer and I am a 4th year student in the B.Mus program at Queen¿¿s University. I am writing this appeal letter in order to complete my remaining credits on a letter of permission at Wilfrid Laurier University.
I have been in good academic standing throughout my degree at Queen¿¿s thus far, making the Dean¿¿s Honour list for the past two consecutive years. I have enjoyed and valued my education through Queen¿¿s, and have a deep admiration for the faculty and academic community. However, some recent changes in my personal life have led to large struggles in my academics. I have lived in Kingston for 7 years now. When I first moved here it was to attend St. Lawrence College and acquire a diploma. I was successful in that endeavor, and I then was accepted into Queen¿¿s the following year. During my time at SLC and my first couple of years at Queen¿¿s I established good friendships and met my current fiancé whom I have been with for 6 of the past 7 years. I formed a musical ensemble which I performed with around Kingston for 6 years, and I had a good support system in place.
In May of 2015 my fiancé graduated from her program at SLC and was fortunate enough to be immediately offered employment in her field in Waterloo, ON, which she took. In addition to this the members of the musical ensemble I formed had also graduated and they left for Toronto, thus removing my social support circle. This has had a significant impact on my emotional well-being: I have managed to perform well in my courses despite my personal difficulties and depression, but have dropped several courses this term in order to manage my condition and overall stress levels on the advice of my academic advisor, Dr. Stephanie Lind. She or I can provide more details on request.
I have spoken with my fiancé, a counsellor from Queen¿¿s University¿¿s Counselling Services, and the Chair of Undergraduate studies in Music, Dr. Stephanie Lind, and we feel that the best option for me to continue to succeed academically would be to complete my degree requirements via letter of permission at Wilfrid Laurier University, in addition to taking online courses through both Queen¿¿s University and Athabasca University. This change will allow me to live with my fiancé in Waterloo as I complete my education, and her presence in my life provides the much needed support and stability I am currently lacking in Kingston. I have had email correspondences with Kathy Gauci, an academic advisor at Wilfrid Laurier University, and she has informed me that once a letter of permission has been acquired we can begin planning out the specific courses I will take to fulfill the requirements of my Queen¿¿s B.Mus degree.
I am attaching a supporting letter from Chair of Undergraduate Studies Dr. Stephanie Lind. Please let me know if there is anything else you require.
Stephen Helmer.
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: My academic plan will consist of taking courses at Wilfrid Laurier University, in addition to online courses through Queen's University and Athabasca University. The specifics of which courses will be taken where can only be determined once my appeal has been processed, as at that time I will begin talks with the academic advisors at both Queen's University and Wilfrid Laurier University to determine what courses will count as equivalent courses towards my Queen's degree. Any outstanding credits Wilfrid Laurier is unable to provide me will be completed through Queen's University and Athabasca University via online courses.
Documentation
Professional Letter: Stephen Helmer appeal letter 2016.pdf