Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu
Section 1: Preface
Thiru. Vi. Ka. Govt. Arts College, Tiruvarur, volunteered to be assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and conducted the preliminary self-study in October 1999. The self-study report was submitted to NAAC by the institution in November 1999. A Peer Team was constituted by the Council to visit the institution and validate the self-study report. The Peer Team consisting of Prof. J. Ramanna, Former Director of Collegiate Education, Govt. of Karnataka as Chairperson. Prof. M. Srinivas Mohan, Head, Department of Chemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, and Dr.Varghese K.Varghese, Head Department of Social work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Kochi, Kerala as Members visited the institution for two days from 28th to 29th December 1999.
The Thiru. Vi. Ka. Govt. Arts College , Tiruvarur, affiliated to Bharathidasan University , stands on a total land area of 40 acres. It was established in 1970 to offer the P.U.C. course with a strength of 300 students. The main aim of starting this college was to impart higher education to rural youth. Today it has 1141 students in the day college and 191 students in the evening college. The day college offers 12 programmes (including an M.Phil. Programme). The B.Com. Programme is offered in the evening college also.. The institution has obtained UGC recognition under 2f and 12B in February 1998.
The College has a well qualified teaching faculty with a strength of 55 members. There are 07 Ph.D.s, 40 M.Phil.s and 08 P.G. Degree holders. The non-teaching staff strength is 35.
The Peer Team carefully perused and analysed the self-study report submitted by the institution. The academic, co-curricular, extra- curricular, sports and extension facilities in the institution were assessed. The Peer Team also interacted at length with the Management committee of the college, the Principal, faculty, non-teaching staff, students, parents and alumnae of the institution. Based on the above exercises and keeping in mind the criteria identified by NAAC, the Peer Team has assessed the institution under various criteria. The following is the report on the assessment.
Section 2: Criterion-wise Analysis
Criterion I: Curricular Aspects
Thiru.Vi.Ka.Government Arts College, affiliated to the Bharathidasan University, follows the syllabi prescribed by the university for the humanities, sciences and commerce faculties both at the undergraduate and the postgraduate levels in the semester pattern. The institution operates as a day as well as evening college. It offers 12 programmes: 09 UG programmes of which 01 is vocational , 02 PG programmes and 01 M.Phil programme. The B.Com. programme is offered in the evening college also. The programmes are of conventional nature as the institution is not autonomous. One vocational course in economics- advertising, sales promotion and sales management, has been initiated by the department of economics in 1998. It would be beneficial to introduce other vocational courses funded by the UGC and other agencies. The computer literacy program may be given to all students in order to help them to meet the present day societal needs.
The main goal of the college since its inception has been to provide higher education to rural students, who cannot afford to pursue higher studies in far off places. The programmes are generally in conformity with the mission, goals and objectives of the institution . In spite of being a rural college the students’ results in most of the courses offered by the college are comparable to those of the renowned urban colleges. It occupies the 13th rank in the UG courses among 58 Govt. colleges in the state and 12th rank among 36 PG Govt. institutions in the state in the academic performance according to the report of the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, Chennai, 1999. The college has been consistently producing university rank holders at UG and PG levels for sometime. A college of 30 years standing, with the goal of servicing the rural poor, could have done better in devising a curriculum which responds to their needs. It may be true that constraints are severe in an affiliating system but it is equally true that there is sufficient openness in the system to accommodate.
Criterion II: Teaching-Learning and Evaluation
Admission to the various courses of study to the Day and Evening Colleges is based on the academic record of the applicants. The college adheres to the policy of reservation of the Govt. of Tamilnadu to extend the benefits of higher education to the under privileged.
There is no provision for assessing the student’s knowledge and skills for a particular programme after admission. However for weaker students the college conducts extra classes after college hours.
The syllabi are unitized according to the semester system of teaching. At the beginning of each semester the teachers make a plan of work for the whole year. Apart from the semester examinations, the periodical assessment of student performance is monitored by monthly tests, model exams, assignment, seminars, oral questioning, records, models and projects. For PG courses 25% marks for each paper are awarded for continuous internal assessment, in each semester. The overall drop out rate for UG and PG is low.
To supplement class room teaching, overhead projectors and audio visual teaching aids are used as study tools in a few departments. To meet the needs of all departments a readily accessible centralized audio visual facility may be established in the college. Steps to initiate participation in programmes such as COSIP and other similar programme may be expedited to strengthen the undergraduate courses.
The college has well qualified staff with 07 Ph.D.s, and 40 M.Phil. degree holders. The faculty are recruited by the Teachers Recruitment Board, Govt. of Tamil Nadu. To meet the shortage of teachers, the Principal of the College arranges guest Lecturer with the prior approval of the Commissioner of Collegiate Education. The college encourages teachers to avail themselves of the faculty improvement programme of the UGC, to participate in orientation and refresher programmes, to participate in national seminars and to organize the UGC state level seminars.
The college follows the self-appraisal method to evaluate the performance of the faculty in teaching and by the confidential reports of Heads of Departments to the Principal of the College. The teaching staff are assisted by 35 non teaching staff.
Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension
Seven faculty members are recognized as research supervisors by the Bharathidasan University for guiding M.Phil students and one faculty member recognised as research guide for the Ph. D programme in chemistry. The Department of history has a research programme leading to the M.Phil degree. Six part time research scholars registered for this programme are involved in active research in the college. Faculty members are actively involved in research in many departments: Physics (20%), Chemistry (25%), Commerce (20%) , English (20%) and Tamil (67%). The faculty of the Tamil department have a number of publications to their credit. There are 02 ongoing minor research projects in the commerce department. A faculty member of the English department is presently pursuing out post-doctoral research in Canadian Literature in Canada.
Due to the rural location there is no demand for consultancy services from science departments. The experience of the college faculty in English and commerce and history is utilized for consultancy.
The college encourages students and staff to participate actively in a broad spectrum of extension activities (12 areas) by awarding certificates, medals and permission on working days. The college plans and carries out extension activities along with the NGO’s and GO’s including Rotary, and Lions clubs, PDS, Municipalities, Panchayat etc. A project on Campus Diversity Initiative funded by the Ford Foundation, USA.is an important part of the extension activities of the college. The NSS is actively functioning in the college whereas the NCC is not functioning presently. Steps have been taken to revive the defunct NCC Naval Wing in the college. It should be revived in the interests of the student community.
Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources
The College possesses an extensive area of 40 acres of land which allows future expansion of the buildings and other infrastructural facilities. The master plan must show the future expansion so that those concerned may be motivated to mobilize resources for the same.
The maintenance of the buildings by the PWD is satisfactory. The well-maintained and beautiful campus with a variety of trees gives an attractive appearance to the campus.
The “Madhavi Kalaiyarangam”, the auditorium of the college, provides facilities to students to develop their artistic and literary talents. The large space in the auditorium facilitates interaction among various batches of students.
The classrooms and laboratories are provided with adequate space and lighting arrangements. The sanitary facilities, drinking water facilities and separate cycle stand for girls etc. show the special care the institution has bestowed on its students. The college makes optimum use of the infrastructure by operating two shifts. The morning college runs from 9.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and the evening college runs from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
The equipment like OHP, tape recorder, T.V., V.C.R., xerox, fax machine, internet etc. facilitate communication within the college as well as with the outside world.
The central library has a collection of 35003 books. The library has an Advisory Committee and it seeks help from various departments for the purchase of new books. However the maintenance of the library has to be improved. The departmental library system is helpful to students for gaining an indepth knowledge of the subjects of their study. Xerox, video and audio cassette facilities may be provided in the library. The computerisation of the library is another area of development, the authorities may concentrate upon.
Computer facilities were added to the college during the year 1998 - 1999 since the inception of the B.Sc. computer science programme. The computer centre has developed software packages for office use. It is encouraging to note that the college has a plan to expand computer facilities to other departments also.
The college has shown special interest in the areas of sports and physical education. Facilities for playing football, basketball, volleyball, cricket, hockey, table tennis and the multi gymnasium are maximisely used by the students. Five percent of seats in UG & two percent of seats in PG are reserved for outstanding sportspersons. Because of the encouragements given to the outstanding sportspersons, the college could compete and win prizes at the university, inter-university and national levels.
Although the college does not directly run any hostel, students from far away places and those of economically weaker sections make use of the hostel facilities provided by the various departments of social welfare and the government of Tamil Nadu.
Providing facilities like a health centre, canteen and workshop will go a longway in the over-all smooth functioning of the institution.
Criterion V: Students Support And Progression
The college regularly publishes annually updated prospectus with the admission procedures and other details.
The periodical student feedback if properly taken and analysed will be of great use to understand the level of students and to conduct classes in pace with their standards.
The students avail themselves of various scholarships such as national loan scholarship, B.C. , M.B.C. State Govt. scholarship, SC/ST Govt. of India scholarship and Tamil Medium stipend. More than 600 students take advantage of these financial aids for their studies, according to the data provided by the Principal.
The tutorial system through which academic and personal counselling is given to the students may be strengthened.
The encouragement in the form of various awards in the field of sports is commendable.
Other areas the college has to give attention to are the following:
1. An employment cell with a placement officer who can give information regarding the ever increasing number and variety of job opportunities and the type and place of training needed for these jobs. Initially some of the teachers may be in charge of this centre. Only through such help, students from weaker sections will breathe the air of democratic environment where all should have equal opportunity for development. Hence the starting of such a career guidance centre is very important.
2. An Alumnae Association will be of great support and strength to this college. At least a few of the old students will be able to give financial support and academic in-put for the growth of the institution.
3. Counselling, both personal and vocational, self-learning motivation, success at competitive exams /entrance exams, impact on society, leadership offered by alumnae, etc may be considered for efficient student progression.
Criterion VI: Organisation and Management
The College Council is an important academic/administrative body consisting of the Principal and Heads of all Departments and staff association representatives.
The confidential reports maintained by the college are helpful to the Principal to monitor the work-efficiency of the staff. At the same time provisions should be made to the non-teaching staff to undergo some special training to upgrade the knowledge and competence in office functioning.
The govt. norms are strictly followed in the admission procedures and in staff recruitment.
A grievance redressal cell consisting of the Principal and some of the senior teachers of the college may be formed for resolving various issues concerning students and staff.
The report of the college shows that it has not made any attempt to generate funds for developmental purposes. A strong alumni association and close association with industrial organizations will be helpful to generate funds for the extension and community outreach programmes of the college.
Criterion VII: Healthy Practices
The Peer Team has identified a few notable features which enhance the academic ambience of the institution.
1. Students are highly disciplined and motivated. There have been no student strikes.
2. There is strong co-operation between academic and administrative staff to ensure the efficient functioning of the college.
3. The college encourages the faculty to carry out research. Members of the faculty have presented research papers at national and international conferences.
4. The Campus Diversity Initiative (CDI) funded by The Ford Foundation is actively involved in community development programmes.
5. The consumer awareness programmes conducted by the college are of great help to the rural poor
6. The original mission of the college cater for higher education needs of rural boys and girls is being realized.
7. The college ensures that adequate facilities are provided to girl students.
Section 3: Overall Analysis
The Peer Team, after going through the self study report and after its visit to various academic and physical facilities is impressed by the progress of Thiru.Vi.Ka.Govn. Arts College is providing higher education to the rural youth. The college has earned a reputation for imparting quality education and inculcating a sense of discipline in the younger generation.
The Peer Team considers that these are a number of features of the college which it would wish to commend. Also the Peer Team would like to bring to the attention of the college certain concerns for its consideration.
The Peer Team would like to commend the college for the following aspects:
1. Dedication and commitment of the teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution.
2. Effective leadership and good human relationship resulting in efficient team work.
3. Strict discipline maintained in the institution.
4. Facilitating aspect of the institution to promote student participation and achievements in sports
5. Maintaining a clean and green college campus with support of students and staff.
6. Harmonious co-existence of boys and girl students in the college.
7. Students securing ranks in university examinations.
The Peer Team wishes to bring to the notice of the college the following areas of concern to be looked into:
1. Lack of diversity and flexibility in choosing academic programmes. The college may introduce need based vocational, certificate and self financed courses.
2. Lack of student support services such as career counseling and placement cell, canteen and health facilities.
3. Lack of formal mechanism for obtaining feedback from the students - to be initiated.
4. The central library facilities need to be considerably strengthened.
5. Departments having low percentage of passes to be given greater attention.
6. Absence of alumnae association and adequate consultancy services - need to be initiated and strengthened.
7. Shortage of teaching staff – should be set right soon
8. PG courses are very few – new courses may be initiated.
Having volunteered to be assessed and accredited by NAAC, the college should now strive for autonomy from UGC to fully realize it academic potential.
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