Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7045
Submitted: November 10, 2020 at 10:06:57 PM
First Name: Geeththana
Last Name: Sriharigalan
Student Number: 10016922
Email: 0gs26@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BCP
Plan: COMP-G-BCP
Level of Study: 2
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
I am writing to you to request to return to studies after a requirement to withdraw for three years.
I had previously gone through a few requirements to withdraw at Queens between 2012 through 2016. While I had awareness of an impact to my mental health, I didnt have the resources and understanding to seek guidance on what was best to help me move forward. I do believe the time away from my academics has helped me resolve the issues that affected my previous academic progress.
Since my completion of the Summer 2016 term, I returned to my hometown. I began working full-time in March 2017. In May 2018, I began working for a tech company and continue to earn a comfortable wage which has allowed me to solidify my personal finances. I cleared all of the consumer debt I had, received health insurance to help subsidize costs for a therapist and built up sinking funds to pay for my schooling without relying on more student loans.
During the 30 months at the current company, I have received two promotions, have earned the Presidents Club award in the most recently completed fiscal year and have drastically improved my applicable technical skills. I was able to explore possible career paths in the tech industry which opened up my interest beyond the software engineering role I was previously considering. I completed a program in Product Management through an in-person course with BrainStation in March 2020. I also dedicate time in my role to work under a Product Manager to apply my training towards an entry level role. This has provided me with a career that I know matches both my interests and skills I can progress.
Beginning at the end of 2018, I sought out assistance to help me cope with the parts of my life that provide stress; in particular with relationships. I regularly see my current therapist since mid-2019 and have also completed a course on Mindfulness in March 2020 to further improve my ability to cope with times of unease. They have been able to provide me strategies to reduce the level of stress and burden I place on myself which was one of the issues I faced during my academic studies at Queens.
While the pandemic has hindered some of my hobbies this year, I continue to make time to socially (physically-distanced) and learn new skills through classes such as salsa dancing and pottery lessons. I also continue to make great friendships with those I met at my time in Kingston and am very close with my two sisters.
The company I work for is flexible and accommodating to helping me achieve my goals such as completing my academic studies at Queens. They would allow me to take courses that might be offered during the day or in the evening with an understanding and provide me with a regular schedule that I can build my studying sessions around. In my last term at Queens I was working three jobs to make ends meet and I am incredibly fortunate to be in a place where thats not required.
I am confident that I have the knowledge and strategies to excel at Queens and hope you feel the same to allow for my return.
Regards,
Geeth Sriharigalan
I am writing to you to request to return to studies after a requirement to withdraw for three years.
I had previously gone through a few requirements to withdraw at Queens between 2012 through 2016. While I had awareness of an impact to my mental health, I didnt have the resources and understanding to seek guidance on what was best to help me move forward. I do believe the time away from my academics has helped me resolve the issues that affected my previous academic progress.
Since my completion of the Summer 2016 term, I returned to my hometown. I began working full-time in March 2017. In May 2018, I began working for a tech company and continue to earn a comfortable wage which has allowed me to solidify my personal finances. I cleared all of the consumer debt I had, received health insurance to help subsidize costs for a therapist and built up sinking funds to pay for my schooling without relying on more student loans.
During the 30 months at the current company, I have received two promotions, have earned the Presidents Club award in the most recently completed fiscal year and have drastically improved my applicable technical skills. I was able to explore possible career paths in the tech industry which opened up my interest beyond the software engineering role I was previously considering. I completed a program in Product Management through an in-person course with BrainStation in March 2020. I also dedicate time in my role to work under a Product Manager to apply my training towards an entry level role. This has provided me with a career that I know matches both my interests and skills I can progress.
Beginning at the end of 2018, I sought out assistance to help me cope with the parts of my life that provide stress; in particular with relationships. I regularly see my current therapist since mid-2019 and have also completed a course on Mindfulness in March 2020 to further improve my ability to cope with times of unease. They have been able to provide me strategies to reduce the level of stress and burden I place on myself which was one of the issues I faced during my academic studies at Queens.
While the pandemic has hindered some of my hobbies this year, I continue to make time to socially (physically-distanced) and learn new skills through classes such as salsa dancing and pottery lessons. I also continue to make great friendships with those I met at my time in Kingston and am very close with my two sisters.
The company I work for is flexible and accommodating to helping me achieve my goals such as completing my academic studies at Queens. They would allow me to take courses that might be offered during the day or in the evening with an understanding and provide me with a regular schedule that I can build my studying sessions around. In my last term at Queens I was working three jobs to make ends meet and I am incredibly fortunate to be in a place where thats not required.
I am confident that I have the knowledge and strategies to excel at Queens and hope you feel the same to allow for my return.
Regards,
Geeth Sriharigalan
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
My academic plan reviews my approach to completing a Bachelors of Computing at Queens University. While I was previously pursuing a 4-year degree in Biomedical Computing, I am now seeking to complete the 3-year general Bachelors of Computer Science (COMP-G-BCP).
The idea of pursuing another degree plan was brought up in discussions with family and my therapist. Based on my current career, interest in the tech industry and desire to pursue Product Management in the technical field, I believe that Computer Science is the best field for me and have removed the barriers that were previously preventing me from academic success. I have rebuilt my drive to excel again and am confident that my time away from Queens in my work experience has provided me with a better grasp of how to prioritize and limit procrastination.
As I will be working full-time, I am requesting to return to Queens on a part-time status. I know this will provide me with the financial comfort of a steady income alongside completing a degree which will supplement my career but is not required to begin it. This is very different from my mindset during my last academic term where I was trying to rush through school so that I can begin my career. I hope to take two courses per term.
With my mindfulness practice and therapy sessions, I will be scheduling bi-monthly meetings to self-reflect on my progress and help stay on-track with my personal development goals. My manager at work is also aware of my plan to take courses and will be available as an aide to help me time-balance, if necessary. I also plan to partake in a hobby such as pottery where I can destress and take breaks from both work and school.
While my therapist was not present at the time of my extenuating circumstances that caused me to not meet the requirements in my last term at Queen's, they have worked with me to develop a plan that helped me move forward from it and develop empathy towards myself for that experience.
In my first semester, I intend to retake CISC 124 which I graded poorly in and CISC 221. I have begun an online course in Java to help me prepare for the course to ensure my technical skills are refreshed for the school term. It has also helped me begin implementing better time management skills towards a healthy work-school-life balance.
In the Summer 2021 semester, I intend to take electives such as a second French course.
Once I have successfully completed my academic probation, my intention would be to complete the Athabasca alternative to MATH 111, complete 12.0 credits in CISC courses through Athabasca when not available remotely through Queens and complete the remaining electives through correspondence courses at Queens.
I have recently reviewed the restrictions and degree plan requirements for this COMP-G-BCP with an Academic Advisor with the Faculty of Arts and Science to feel comfortable knowing that I can achieve this plan.
I understand that I have the Student Academic Success Services available to me and will be scheduling an academic skills appointment twice each semester at minimum to help review my performance and academic confidence to carry through each term. I have also completed the Academics 101 preparation course to help me acclimate to the current tools, expectations and resources available at Queens.
Ultimately, I did not equip myself to handle the events that were ongoing in my life during my previous time at Queens. I am grateful that I had the time to focus on developing stronger life skills to improve how I cope and prioritize what is important to me.
With the lessons I have learned and grown from and the resources I am comfortable making use of, I am extremely confident that my GPA will be above the 1.6 minimum by the end of the Summer 2021 term with the five total courses I will take.
Thank you for taking the time to read my academic plan
Regards,
Geeth
My academic plan reviews my approach to completing a Bachelors of Computing at Queens University. While I was previously pursuing a 4-year degree in Biomedical Computing, I am now seeking to complete the 3-year general Bachelors of Computer Science (COMP-G-BCP).
The idea of pursuing another degree plan was brought up in discussions with family and my therapist. Based on my current career, interest in the tech industry and desire to pursue Product Management in the technical field, I believe that Computer Science is the best field for me and have removed the barriers that were previously preventing me from academic success. I have rebuilt my drive to excel again and am confident that my time away from Queens in my work experience has provided me with a better grasp of how to prioritize and limit procrastination.
As I will be working full-time, I am requesting to return to Queens on a part-time status. I know this will provide me with the financial comfort of a steady income alongside completing a degree which will supplement my career but is not required to begin it. This is very different from my mindset during my last academic term where I was trying to rush through school so that I can begin my career. I hope to take two courses per term.
With my mindfulness practice and therapy sessions, I will be scheduling bi-monthly meetings to self-reflect on my progress and help stay on-track with my personal development goals. My manager at work is also aware of my plan to take courses and will be available as an aide to help me time-balance, if necessary. I also plan to partake in a hobby such as pottery where I can destress and take breaks from both work and school.
While my therapist was not present at the time of my extenuating circumstances that caused me to not meet the requirements in my last term at Queen's, they have worked with me to develop a plan that helped me move forward from it and develop empathy towards myself for that experience.
In my first semester, I intend to retake CISC 124 which I graded poorly in and CISC 221. I have begun an online course in Java to help me prepare for the course to ensure my technical skills are refreshed for the school term. It has also helped me begin implementing better time management skills towards a healthy work-school-life balance.
In the Summer 2021 semester, I intend to take electives such as a second French course.
Once I have successfully completed my academic probation, my intention would be to complete the Athabasca alternative to MATH 111, complete 12.0 credits in CISC courses through Athabasca when not available remotely through Queens and complete the remaining electives through correspondence courses at Queens.
I have recently reviewed the restrictions and degree plan requirements for this COMP-G-BCP with an Academic Advisor with the Faculty of Arts and Science to feel comfortable knowing that I can achieve this plan.
I understand that I have the Student Academic Success Services available to me and will be scheduling an academic skills appointment twice each semester at minimum to help review my performance and academic confidence to carry through each term. I have also completed the Academics 101 preparation course to help me acclimate to the current tools, expectations and resources available at Queens.
Ultimately, I did not equip myself to handle the events that were ongoing in my life during my previous time at Queens. I am grateful that I had the time to focus on developing stronger life skills to improve how I cope and prioritize what is important to me.
With the lessons I have learned and grown from and the resources I am comfortable making use of, I am extremely confident that my GPA will be above the 1.6 minimum by the end of the Summer 2021 term with the five total courses I will take.
Thank you for taking the time to read my academic plan
Regards,
Geeth
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Document: MindfulnessCourse-Registration.pdf
Documentation Detail: Copy of email correspondence for mindfulness course
Document: CanadaLife-TherapyHistory.pdf
Documentation Detail: History of therapy sessions taken with current therapist from June 2019-Nov 2020 labelled as Medical Services
Document: Receipt SriG July 30 2019.pdf
Documentation Detail: Receipt of therapy session from July 30 2019
Document: Receipt SriG Oct 13 2020.pdf
Documentation Detail: Receipt of therapy session from Oct 13 2020
Decision Letters
History
Originally submitted November 10, 2020 at 10:06:57 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | In Review | Spring Forsberg | 2020-11-11 9:13:56 AM | |
| status | N/A | In Review | Granted | Spring Forsberg | 2020-11-16 1:45:27 PM | |
| associate_dean | N/A | Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D. | Spring Forsberg | 2020-11-16 1:45:27 PM | ||
| decision_letter | N/A | N/A | Decision letter sent | Spring Forsberg | 2020-11-16 1:47:24 PM |