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Draft Report of the Peer Team for the

Institutional Accreditation of the


Muthurangam Governement Arts College,
Vellore, Tamil Nadu

Section 1: Preface
Muthurangam Govt. Arts College, Vellore, named after the illustrious freedom
fighter of South India, is an affiliating, Govt. funded college established in
1965, with the professed aim of making quality higher education accessible to
the under privileged sections of the rural public at affordable cost. Starting
with only the pre-university course initially, it is affiliated to the University of
Madras and has grown over the years in strength, stature and dimension into a
premier center of higher education and research offering a good number of
programme options in the faculties of Arts, Science and Commerce at UG, PG
and Research levels. With more than 15000 graduates having passed through
its portals and several of its alumni well placed in various walks of life and
making meaningful contribution to the society, the college takes pride in
achieving its avowed goal in a large measure despite funding and other
constraints.

Present Profile of the Institution


The college has a sprawling campus complex on 32.30 acres of land on the
outskirts of the historical city of Vellore. With the backdrop of a verdant hill
the campus gets a serene and tranquil atmosphere conducive to academic
pursuits. The nucleus of the buildings, built in 1971, has withstood the test of
time and is functionally adequate by and large. Proposals with cost estimates
have been made for constructing additional class rooms. The institution offers
8 undergraduate, 4 postgraduate, 2 M.Phil (one part time & one full time) and
2 part time Ph.D programmes. It has a faculty strength of 61 of which 17 are
Ph.D holders and 41 are M.Phil. holders. As many as 14 faculty positions
remain unfilled and 12 ad-hoc guest lecturers have recently been appointed.
The non-teaching staff is 31 strong. The student strength is of the order of
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1619 of which 659 are girls. Of the total strength of 1619, undergraduate
courses have 1406 students, 193 are in postgraduate courses, 9 and 11 in
M.Phil & Ph.D programmes, respectively. Though the college has gone co-
educational in recent years, the enrolment of women students has nearly been
an impressive 41%.The temporal plan of academic work is Non-semester
annual system. Curricula of the University of Madras and its annual
examination system are being followed since it is an affiliated college.

The student drop out rate is around 5% and the success rate is around 60%.
The total teaching/working days in the academic year are the required
minimum of 180 days. The budget allotment for the college during the year
2001-2002 is Rs.5,83,000 excluding salary and allowances. The college is
recognized under sections 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act and has received
Rs.3,00,000 so far from the UGC as development grant in the 9th FY plan
period. Tutorials, student seminars and remedial classes are conducted in some
subjects to supplement conventional class room teaching. OHPs and CDs are
used as teaching aids. Quite a few teachers have participated in faculty
improvement programmes, attended seminars and conferences and acted as
resource persons with a view to updating their knowledge. The institution has
a central library with 35,779 volumes on its shelves and some departmental
libraries. Science laboratories are fairly equipped. A central Computer Center
is set up and two departments have computer facilities. A Boy’s hostel with 80
inmates, a canteen and a vehicle parking shed are provided. Sports facilities
and welfare schemes including a Student’s Consumers Co-op Society are
made available. The college has NSS units of 300 students and a NCC Coy. of
100 cadets. Under a state Govt. scheme of tie-up with NIIT, computer literacy
programme is made available to the students and as many as 318 students are
the beneficiaries of the scheme. Madras University (Institute of
Correspondence Education) Spot Admission Center is located in the college
and faculty members of the college are involved in enrolment of students as
well as in conducting contact classes.

After more than three decades of its fruitful academic presence and

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educational moorings, the institution felt the urge to find its present bearings
and its academic status. With this self assurance, Muthurangam Govt. Arts
College volunteered to submit itself for the process of assessment and
accreditation by NAAC. As the first step in the process it started with an in-
house appraisal and submitted its self study report to NAAC. In response to it,
the council constituted a Peer Team to visit and assess the college for
accreditation with Dr.S.P.Hiremath, former Vice Chancellor, Kuvempu
University, Shimoga as Chairman, Prof. N.G.Sabhahit, former Principal
Bangurnagar College and Coordinator, KUPG Center, Dandeli and
Dr.G.Shivarudrappa, former Dean, Faculty of Education, Karnatak University,
Dharwad as members. Mr.B.S.Ponmudiraj, Academic Professional, NAAC
was the Coordinator for the Peer Team visit.

The Peer Team, after pre-visit preparation, visited the college from 13th to
15th of February 2002. During the visit, the team made an in-depth appraisal
of the performance of the institution, its curricular and co-curricular programs
and activities, its infrastructure, support services and facilities available. It also
held exclusive interactive sessions with the various sections of the college
community including the Principal, the management representatives,
department wise faculty members, non-teaching staff and students.
Discussions were also held with other stake-holding groups like alumni and
parents in an effort to gain deeper insight into the functioning and perspectives
of the institution. Based on the self study report, its validation as well as the
interactions during the visit the Peer Team submits the following report in the
well-laid out criterion-wise format:

Section 2: Criterion-wise Analysis


Criterion I: Curricular Aspects
The institution being an affiliated college, syllabi prescribed by Madras
University and the temporal plan of academic work imposed by it are followed
leaving very little leeway for the faculty members in the matter of curricular
designing and innovation. No faculty member of the institution being on the
respective Board of Studies of the University, the contribution of the

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institution in this respect is not perceivable. It is observed that while in some
subjects the syllabi are updated at regular intervals such exercises are not done
by the University for the last ten years in a few subjects like Physics. While
sufficient programme options are offered at the UG level, they do not appear
to have any reference or relevance to any clearly defined goals and objectives.
The Peer Team suggests introduction of some more courses and additional
intake in the existing course like Chemistry at PG level. The college may
seriously consider introducing some interdisciplinary courses of vocational
nature such as Biotechnology, Microbiology, Sericulture, Tourism and some
short term courses in Commerce. It is also desirable that faculty members
involve themselves in the process of curricular designing by evolving
feedback mechanism and organizing workshops in syllabi framing.

Criterion II: Teaching- learning and Evaluation


With a large student strength of 1619, the learning capacities of the students
are bound to be of various levels requiring close monitoring by the teachers.
Moreover the students come from diverse socio-economic and educational
backgrounds. Many of them are reportedly first generation learners. It is
appreciated that the conventional lecturing method of teaching is
supplemented by tutorials, classroom seminars and group discussions. The use
of OHP, models, and charts is a welcome feature. Academic and general
counseling is also done by some teachers and HODs and the Principal himself
which is highly appreciated. It is really heartening to note that the Department
of History has taken the students for field study to places of historical
importance and maintained records of their field activities and learning,
independent of the curricular requirement. The Department of Chemistry takes
the students for industrial tours enabling them to have exposure to chemical
industries. It is gratifying to note that the Department of English without P.G
course has already produced a Ph.D. and is attempting some innovative
methods to enhance the language learning skill of general students.

The regular faculty is composed of well qualified and experienced persons.


The Peer Team recommends to fill-up 14 teaching positions which is vacant

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for a long period of time.

Academic counseling for freshers may help students choose right courses.
Faculty members may be encouraged to prepare academic schedules and
announce them to the students. To supplement classroom teaching, it is felt
necessary to give the students, field based, value-based education, and try to
inculcate in them, the much- needed scientific temper. Continual assessment
of students’ proficiencies through micro and macro evaluation techniques
could go a long way in rendering academic strength.

Modern methods of teaching and learning such as computer assisted


instruction; computer simulation could well be attempted. It is recommended
that increased number of faculty members involve themselves in
regional/state/national level seminars and conferences. Some departments are
capable of organizing such meets and seminars and may take them up in right
earnest with UGC funding or private sponsorship. The Govt. requirement of
self appraisal of teachers performance and evaluation by the Principal is
fulfilled but some suitable mechanism to obtain feed back from the students
my be thought of.

The Peer Team is inclined to recommend that all the teachers be provided
orientation in computer and similar technology based innovative teaching
methods.

Criterion III: Research, Consultancy and Extension


Research is being encouraged in the institution and the departments of
Chemistry and English have part-time PhD programmes. It is desirable that
they go in for full-time programmes. Since a good number of teachers holds
doctoral degrees, post-doctoral researches and publication of research papers
in reputed journals on a larger scale may be expected. The institution also
would do well to approach the UGC and other funding agencies for research
grants with proposals of major and minor research projects involving faculty
and students. For this purpose it is recommended that a Research Advisory

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Committee be set up in the institution to identify thrust areas and to prepare
and process the project proposals.

The institution has not attempted rendering of consultancy services to


industries and firms. In fact, the Department of Chemistry has enough
potential in this field which may be probed, leading the college towards
institution-industry interaction.

The college has done some commendable work in the area of extension
activities. The NSS units are rendering yeoman service to the community
around especially through blood donation and medical camps, AIDS
awareness campaigns, Health and Hygiene Awareness and Environment
Awareness Programmes. The institution has also collaborated with voluntary
organizations like the Rotary, Health Department and local administration.
Adoption of villages / slum areas by NSS units may also be thought of. Larger
number of students may be involved in Adult Literacy Programmes.

Criterion IV: Infrastructure and Learning Resources


The institution has adequate land for the present and future needs of campus
development. The college buildings constructed decades ago are in need of
renovation/ reconstruction partially. The playground is large enough to meet
the requirements of playfields at present. Science laboratories and the central
library are sufficiently spacious. The buildings are put to optimal use by
accommodating NIIT computer center and Spot Admission Center of Madras
University Distance Education Department. Central computer facility is
available as well as sports facilities (with multi-gym) and health services.

However, for the classes and courses offered and the student strength the
classrooms are inadequate. More class rooms and HOD rooms for
Departments need to be provided keeping in view the further expansion of the
college. Hostel and Canteen facilities are adequate but in due course of time
the institution may need a Women's Hostel.

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The upkeep of the buildings is entrusted to the PW Department. Campus
cleaning is done by NSS and NCC students which is a healthy trend.

In view of the rising cost of books and journals, the budget allotment for
library needs to be increased. More technical journals and periodicals need to
be subscribed.

Criterion V: Student Support and Progression


Student progression to higher studies and employment appear to be fairly
good. The Department of Chemistry arranges Campus interviews on its own
and other departments may do well to follow this practice. A placement cell
with a placement officer may be set up. The Alumni Association, which at
present appears to be dormant may be revived and reactivated. The college has
a distinguished array of alumni well placed in various fields of the society.
Some departments are in constant touch with their alumni and get regular
feedback about their progression.

The dropout rate is within limits. Nearly 75% of students are covered under
various Govt. freeships and scholarships. But during discussions with them it
was found that they receive their scholarships quite late, sometimes even after
the year is over. It is suggested to streamline the procedure in consultation
with the Govt. Departments concerned. Academic and general counseling is
made available to students whenever needed but there is no regular or
periodical counseling and no separate timing is earmarked for this in the
academic schedule. Some faculty members may be sent for professional
training in counseling and systematic counseling facilities extended to the
students.

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Criterion VI: Organization and Management
This being a government college the management has its own time honoured
structure and functions within the framework of government policies and
parameters prescribed from time to time. The vacancies in teaching positions
and supporting staff are filled up in accordance with the government norms
and practices with regard recruitment.

Performance of teachers and other supporting staff are periodically reviewed


through the self-appraisal reports and confidential reports which are sent to the
government.

The government allots funds to the college in its annual budget and the same is
allocated department-wise by the Principal. The peer team understands that in
view of the financial constraints the government is inclined to permit the
introduction of self-financing courses in government colleges.

Grievances of the staff are processes through the management council of the
institution and sent to the government for redressal.

The peer committee suggests that the government set up a local level
management body of the college in the interest of better monitoring of
management functions.

Criterion VII: Healthy Practices


The NSS wing of the college with three units is very active. The NSS
volunteers conduct regular camps in rural areas in which awareness is given
about AIDS and other programmes. The NCC is also very active. The NSS
volunteers and NCC cadets help the college in maintaining cleanliness in the
campus, Besides, some students have voluntarily come forward to whitewash
their classrooms and laboratories at their own cost. Students of some
departments have prepared charts and models required for the course. The
work done by the students of History Department is exemplary. Though not in
the curriculum they have carried out several projects on tourism and places of

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historical importance in the region.

What impressed the Peer Team most was the perfect discipline amongst the
students. The Peer Team expects that in the years to come many more healthy
practices will be adopted by the institution.

Section 3: Overall Analysis


In conclusion, the Peer Team is of the considered opinion that Muthurangam
Govt. Arts College has made significant progress over the span of 37 years of
its existence in the field of higher education. There are good many
commendable features that deserve appreciation. The Peer Team also feels
that there are certain areas of concern that need to be addressed with a view to
improving the performance and stature of the institution.

The Peer Team is appreciative of


1. The involvement and the commitment of the faculty in the
development of the college.
2. The discipline and hard work of the students coming from rural areas
and getting ranks in various examinations at Madras University level.
3. The leadership provided by the present Principal of the college to work
with all the teaching and non-teaching staff as a team.
4. Starting of Post-graduate courses and managing them with minimum
staff, especially the highly qualified and dedicated faculty members of
the Chemistry Dept.
5. The good Extension service rendered by the volunteers of NSS units.

Suggestions
The Peer Team also suggests the following:
1. Since a large number of staff members has Ph.D. degrees, research
facilities may be provided to them.
2. Job-oriented courses like Microbiology, Biotechnology, Sericulture,
Tourism and short term courses in Commerce may be started.

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3. Teaching learning process be made more effective by adopting
innovative practices.
4. To augment the financial position of the college self-financing courses
may be started with the approval of the Govt.
5. Efforts be made for the wholesome personality development of the
students and their communication skills to enable them to play their
roles effectively in their later life.
6. The Alumni Association be strengthened .
7. Suitable steps may be taken to improve the student performance in the
examinations.
8. Qualified staff be appointed for Library and Physical Education Dept.
9. Better furniture be provided for the hostel and the canteen.
10. Additional class-rooms and faculty rooms be provided.

Names and Signatures of the Peer Team members

Prof. S. P. Hiremath (Chairman)

Prof. N.G. Sabhahit (Member)

Prof. G. Shivarudrappa

Name & Signature of the Head of the Institution

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