Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
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
Page 2 of 10
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:
Page 3 of 10
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.
Page 4 of 10
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.
The Peer Team is inclined to recommend that all the teachers be provided
orientation in computer and similar technology based innovative teaching
methods.
Page 5 of 10
Committee be set up in the institution to identify thrust areas and to prepare
and process the project proposals.
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.
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.
Page 6 of 10
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.
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.
Page 7 of 10
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.
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.
Page 8 of 10
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.
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.
Page 9 of 10
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.
Prof. G. Shivarudrappa
Page 10 of 10