Two-timing colleges may face varsity whip (TOI - Engineering College Chennai)
The University of Madras is cracking down on arts and science colleges that do not prescribe to norms. Self-financing arts and science colleges that have started other institutions, including engineering and teacher training colleges, on the same campus could be disaffiliated, it has said.
Three arts and science colleges were disaffiliated last month for not having adequate infrastructure and faculty and two other colleges given time till March 31 to fill up teacher vacancies and appoint qualified principals.
On the sidelines of the university's academic council meeting on Saturday,
vice-chancellor G Tiruvasagam, said, "Colleges are not supposed to encroach and make use of land exclusively meant for the use of an arts and science college. But we find that some managements share land, buildings, and sometimes even teachers between their arts and science and engineering colleges. Such flouting of norms can be considered as grounds for disaffiliation."
The land required to set up an arts and science college within city limits is three acres now. Some colleges, launched when the requirement was 10 acres have since used the same land documents to get approval for engineering colleges, teacher training colleges, teacher training institutes and even schools.
An inspection committee comprising members of the university syndicate has been set up to conduct inquiries and find out land availability, whether the same piece of land has been put to multiple uses and whether any other college or school has been started on the same land.
After its report is submitted, college managements will be given a chance to offer explanations. If found unsatisfactory, the syndicate can recommend their disaffiliation. The process will be completed before the start of the next academic year, Thiruvasagam said.
The university has only approved 42 of 114 new courses colleges have sought approval for.
It has received eight applications for starting new self-financing arts and science colleges and to start colleges that offer professional courses like MBA and MCA.
"Through the disaffiliation of the three colleges last month the university wants to send out a message to affiliated colleges to have adequate infrastructure and faculty. The university cannot always be a spectator," Thiruvasagam said.
The college development council has drawn up a list of faculty of each college with qualification and photographs, so there can be no duplication. This information will be soon put up on a website.
Colleges are not supposed to encroach and make use of land exclusively meant for the use of an arts and science college
