Assessment Report
Institutional Accreditation of
Holy Cross College, Nagercoil, Tamilnadu
Section I: Preamble
Holy Cross College, Nagercoil established in 1965, by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod, is an affiliated college of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tamilnadu The college was under the Madras University in the beginning and came under the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University when the latter was established in the year 1990. It is a minority college under the religious jurisdiction of the Catholic Bishop of Kottar. The college is recognised by UGC under 2f and 12B.
The college volunteered to be assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and prepared the self-study in 1998. NAAC constituted a peer team to visit the college and validate the self-study report. The team members consisted of Dr. M. Madaiah, former Vice-chancellor of the Mysore University (Chairman), Rev. Fr. Sebastian Thekkedathu, Principal of the Christ College, Bangalore (Member) and Prof. Pramada Devi, Principal of the Osmania University College for Women (Member). The peer team visited the college on 25th, 26th and 27th of January, '99. Prof. A Gnanam, Chairman of NAAC was with the team during the first two days of the visit. Dr. Antony Stella, Deputy Adviser of NAAC co-ordinated the visit.
The Holy Cross College, Nagercoil has a serene, beautiful and vast campus of 20 acres with excellent infrastructure. Nine undergraduate programmes and four post-graduate programmes are offered. The institution offers a Ph.D. programme m Zoology. 87 members are on the teaching faculty and 56 members work as non-teaching staff including 16 technical staff. The college has established a name m the surrounding area through its dedicated service with social commitment to the people around, providing quality education. The institution plays a vital role in the semi-urban setting with many students hailing from low-income families. The college caters for the educational needs of many first-generation learners of Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu.
The peer team carefully analysed the self-study report submitted by the institution. During the institutional visit, the peer team went through all the pertinent documents, visited the departments and the facilities - academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular, sports and extension - of the institution. The team interacted with the Governing Body. The Principal, faculty, staff students, parents and alumnae of the institution. Based on the above exercise, the peer team has given its objective assessment in the ensuing pages, keeping in mind the criteria identified by NAAC.
Criterion I: Curricular Aspects
As an affiliated college of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Holy Cross College follows the curriculum of the university meticulously. The syllabi incorporate multidisciplinary components and a certain degree of flexibility. The college offers nine under-graduate and four post-graduate programmes. In the choice of optional subjects the college was judicious in preferring job-oriented courses like computer progratning, PC software, Applied Chemistry, Sericulture, Horticulture, Biotechnology, Tourism, Entreupreuneurship, Journalism, and Mass Communication. Under non-core options, students get a choice of subjects which are socially relevant like Gandhian Thought, Ecology, Environment, Status of Women, Pollution, etc. Yet another set of course options exposes the students to the very useful avenues of self-employment and encourages them to cultivate hobbies like music, painting, dancing, karate, tailoring, etc. The college stresses the value education component in the curriculum which is the need of the hour in line with the thinking of the UGC and the Planning Commission. The curriculum design and transaction focuses on teaching as well as the overall development of students. The institution has a genuine concern in the holistic development of the students, taking personal care in their psychological, spiritual, social and emotional needs. Students appreciate the services of the management and teachers. Associations and clubs, about 18 in all, provide ample opportunities in co-curricular activities. Feedback from the students is taken and modifications are brought in wherever necessary.
However, the college can take some deliberate steps to provide a competitive edge to the students exposing them to the information technology in all departments. Feedback from academic peers, employers and industrialists can provide insights into the areas of future expansion. UGC vocational courses could be introduced, as career orientation is a concern of the management, which in turn would complement and support the traditional subjects and courses.
Criterion II: Teaching, learning and Evaluation
Teaching, Learning and Evaluation are carried on in a satisfactory and successful manner. Students perform well in the university examinations and get many ranks. Teachers are enthusiastic and dedicated, 65 teachers have M.Phil. Degrees and 11 have completed their Ph.D programmes. A few more are about to complete their Ph.D. work.
Individual attention is given for the development of students in their academic performance. High achievers are encouraged and slow learners are given remedial and bridge courses, especially in English language skills. 18 clubs and associations provide the forum for co-curricular activities. Quiz and tests at regular intervals keep track of student performance. Teachers engage classes with adequate preparation and follow the unitised syllabus pattern. The mechanism to get feedback from students and using it for the improvement of teaching learning process is commendable.
Qualified and adequate number of teaching and non-teaching staff members are available. All teachers have adequate work load in teaching and co-curricular activities. The technical and supporting staff are found to be cooperative and willing to update themselves picking up new skills and techniques required for administration.
In spite of the success stories in the area of teaching and learning, the college seems to lag behind in introducing new technology. Although many teachers pursue M.Phil and Ph.D programmes as part-time in-service courses, some lack the enthusiasm and will for such career advancement. The institution needs to put in conscious efforts to increase participation of the faculty in various professional development programmes. It is recommended to have a centralised audio-visual facility and computer access may be provided to teachers as well as students. New technology will increase the efficiency and save the time for still better work. It will enable students to have access to more information which will give them the competitive edge.
Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension
After visiting all the departments, the committee is of the view that the research work done in the college is quite satisfactory. The research turn out of the Zoology Department under the able leadership of the present Principal is exemplary. The department has research collaboration with John Wayne Cancer Institute for Research and Training in California, U.S.A The Research Laboratory of the Department is in the process of getting recognized by Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. Similarly, a few other departments like Physics, Botany are also active in research. Research projects have been sanctioned to the departments of Zoology, Mathematics, Physics and Botany by the UGC. Many members of the faculty of the institution have publications to their credit. However the peer committee feels that the institution needs to pay more attention to scholarly research in all the departments. At present only 20 per cent of the teaching staff are engaged in research activities like guiding Ph.D and M.Phil research, minor UGC research projects and publications. There are adequate research facilities and research potential in the institution. These facilities have to be fully utilized and research potential has to be exploited for the benefit of the society at large.
There is not any appreciable consultancy service offered by the institution at present. There is adequate scope for improving consultancy services. The departments should interact with various industries, business groups and government agencies, baring and financial institutions to explore the possibilities to provide consultancy in the areas of expertise available in the institution. This will go a long way in boosting up the academic prestige of the college.
The committee is happy to note that almost all the departments are involved in extension services in one way or the other. Teachers, students and the N.S.S units provide many services to the community in the district. Extension activities need to be expanded, strengthened, and diversified to address various socio-economic and educational issues the society is confronted with in this area. Excellence in teaching, research and extension is the quest of the institution.
Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources
The College has adequate and excellent infrastructure for teaching, research, cocurricullar and sports activities on its 20 acre beautiful campus. There are thirteen well-maintained buildings catering for the needs of different activities of the college. The class-rooms are very spacious and they are neatly kept. Some departments have over-head projectors and other teaching aids. The Laboratories of the Science Departments are well-equipped. The Department of Physics possesses five computers to cater for the needs of students who do studies in computer applications as one of the papers. The administrative office is equipped with two computers. The college will have the e-mail and Internet facilities shortly. Comfortable residential accommodation is available for 300 students on the campus. Board is provided at reasonable costs. There is a canteen on the campus. There is a workshop and an animal house.
The college has a well organized central library with more than 35000 books and adequate number of periodicals to meet the needs of students and teachers. A couple of departments maintain departmental libraries. The peer team come to know that the college has been able to create this good infrastructure with the help of UGC, CSIR, AIACHE and with the regular liberal contributions of the management. There is much space for future expansion of the physical facilities on the college campus.
A large multipurpose auditorium is coming up on the campus with the support of the Parent-Teacher Association and also the Alumnae which will serve both academic programmes and co-curricular activities.
The institution has excellent facilities for sports activities. The peer team was pleased to witness the sports activities of students when it went round the campus. The college management with the support of the Parent-Teacher Association is planning to establish a computer centre with latest hard-ware and soft-ware, with internet facilities. On the whole, it may be said that this institution is not only maintaining the existing infrastructure but also adding new facilities both physical and learning resources keeping in view the changing requirements of the students and the teaching community.
Criterion V: Student Support and Progression
The peer committee has assessed the student support and progression, going through the college documents and through interaction with the students and the alumnae. The college, apart from providing high quality teaching to students, has many student welfare programmes to its credit like various scholarship schemes, stipends and health care. The Self-study Report shows that more than 80% of the students admitted pass the final exam and this is assertained from the documents. The college has been charging comparatively low tuition fee keeping in view the socioeconomic background of the students. Tuition fee as a percentage of total budget of the institution constitutes only 3%. Fifteen percent of the students pursue post-graduate studies. However, only 0.5% of the post-graduate degree holders register for the Ph.D. degree. Since the college has taken extra care to develop the all round personality of students during their stay, many graduates have been absorbed in various administrative posts. Many hold responsible positions in different professions.
CSIR, NET, SLET results are moderately good. Feedback from students and corrective measures taken by the management are noteworthy. The Alumnae Association is an asset to the institution to get feedback for further improvement. The college seems to be taking care of their employment through the career guidance cell. Another good practice followed by the college is to update information made available to students in the prospectus. Staff involvement in counseling is well appreciated. Students are encouraged to participate in sports and several prizes won by them evidently reveal their achievements.
Criterion VI: Organisation and Management
The structure of governance of the college is effective. The powers delegated to the Governing Body and the Principal in managing the institution are satisfactory. Functioning of various associations and councils is also satisfactory. Informal feedback from all the possible sources (like students, parents, and society) that is in practice adds to the further improvement of the institution. Procedures followed in staff recruitment are acceptable. The democratic functioning of the institution, with the involvement of staff and students along with the management, is appreciable. Periodical staff council meetings are also held besides the Principal meeting the class representatives. The management is taking keen interest in providing adequate welfare support to the teaching and non-teaching staff. The College is making efforts to mobilise financial resources, in its own modest way. With the limited resources and a good internal audit system, the financial management is sound.
Criterion VII: Healthy Practices
The institution works with a specific goal to liberate and empower women with quality and value oriented education. The unique feature of the college is value orientation imparted even while teaching various regular subjects. Care is taken by the institution for the alround development of the personality of students which would enable them to face life’s challenges. The practice of continuous counseling by the faculty and other resource persons helps in achieving the ultimate purpose of education. The institution takes utmost care to inculcate the spirit of national integration and religious tolerance through observing various days of National importance and religious festivals. Another salient feature of the institution is holding its annual convocation. After assessing the need and necessity of access to the reading facility, the college has made the library facility available through the open access system. The team work and transparency in all the academic and administrative areas is another commendable feature of the institution.
Section III: Overall Analysis
The Peer Team would like to commend the institution for its initiatives:
· The vision and the goals of the college
· Attempts to uplift women and the downtrodden of the coastal area
· Values of social commitment and service pervade through all the activities of the college
· Commitment in the academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities of students
· Students are exposed to the social milieu and challenges of the outside world
· The management, administrative functionaries, teachers and staff have imbibed the spirit of academic excellence and service to the society
· Teaching, learning and evaluation get rightful emphasis
· Value education in a component in the syllabi
· Optimum utilization of infrastructure facilities
· Organisation and management are efficient and transparent
· An atmosphere of learning, discipline and hormony of vision in the academic fraternity
The Peer Team wishes to place on record the following suggestions for the future development of the college:
· Management to carry on the vision of the founders of the institution
· Parellel efforts to take note of the trends in socio-economic fields to open up the institution to catch up with the rest of the society in terms of new and relevant courses, modern technology and trends in education
· The college could be serious about its autonomous states since it has the necessary infrastructure and qualified faculty
· The college could introduce a few self-financing courses to augment the resources as well as to cater for the needs of the students population
· The courses containing more of Information Technology could be introduced and strengthened in the college
· Some of the areas like introduction of computers in administration, computerisation of library, internet, language laboratory, computer lab, academic linkages with national and international reputed institutions could be strengthened