User talk:Arunraj Trichy

Kurinji College of Arts and Science ( KCAS ) is an arts and science college in Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli regarded as a college with Potential for Excellence with re-accreditation of B++ college rating from NAAC, an autonomous body of University Grants Commission (India)

It is one of the well functioning institution, known for its efficient management and pioneering organization structure for any rural higher education institution in the country, which is evident from the consistent good assessment over the years by UGC and NAAC.(see academic transformation in the History)

This college was founded by Thiru A.K.Karuppaiah and now corresponded by Thiru A.K.K.Ravichandran. The mission of the college is to produce disciplined, competent, socially committed and morally upright intellectuals through high quality education and research. This college which began its operations in 1963 with modest beginning of offering only Pre University programme today offers 18 U.G., 16 P.G., 12 Certificate, 6 P.G. Diploma, 2 Advanced Diplomas, 10 M.Phils., and 7 Ph.D. Programmes in Science, Arts and Commerce faculties with an intake of 2,900 students and research scholars. This is one among the 3 colleges which secured the status of Colleges with Potential for Excellence (CPE) in the Bharathidasan University area, the University to which it is affiliated. In the year 1999 the National Assessment and Accreditation Council awarded Five Star ranking status to this college. (See NAAC Assessment report 2006 here )

Situated in the heart of Tiruchirappalli district, the college has been serving as a beacon-light with emphasize in teaching, learning and research programmes in different faculties to the benefit of thousands of urban students of these region and in helping them to realize accessible quality higher education. Nearly after five decades of foundation, now it is established firmly and regarded as one of the leading educational institutions in Tamil Nadu with diversified courses, excellent infrastructure, competent faculty and very promising trained students.

The college volunteered to apply to NAAC for its assessment and reaccreditation over the years

History
The college was founded in 1963 by Ayya - relatively one of the old among post-independence educational institution in Tamil Nadu, established during the early phase of educational reforms and modernization of education system in Tamil Nadu brought by K Kamaraj during his chief ministership of the state. For the past five decades it has remained a pioneering institution in providing access to higher education for the people in southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

Campus
The college campus located in a sprawling 175 acres on the Sivakasi - Srivilliputtur road, five kilometers away from Sivakasi.

Organization
The college administration is primarily governed by the managing committee, that includes Ayya and Janaki ammal trust members, principal and university representatives. Autonomous functionaries and college council are responsible for the day-today activities of the academic programs

The two charitable Trusts, viz. Janaki Ammal Ayya Nadar Trust and P. Iya Nadar Trust manage the college and extend financial support. They contribute Rs.50 lakhs on an average. In 2004-2005 the contribution was Rs.88 lakhs for promoting various activities in the college. This being an Autonomous college, the management strongly believes in decentralized governing practices, following the democratic path. The entire faculty is involved in decision making at all levels. The faculties contribute their expertise in many major policy making bodies like governing council and college committee along with the managing committee members, the Principal, university and govt. representatives. All Heads of departments constitute the college council with Principal as President and it meets once in a month. Academic council deals with curriculum designing, student admissions, and co and extra curricular activities. The college council is concerned with day-to-day administration and related matters. The departments enjoy autonomy with regard to taking all decisions at their level and the same is conveyed to management. The practice of bottom-up communication is followed. The college is managed keeping in view its goals, vision and mission and has an organizational structure which effectively co-ordinates the academic as well as administrative planning. The college being an autonomous institution, has its own Board of Studies to prepare the syllabus and panel of examiners. The finance committee deals with capital expenditure and annual accounts. The planning and evaluation committee deals with campus discipline, teaching learning and welfare activities. The Awards Committee scrutinizes examination results, records and forward mark sheets and diplomas to concerned authorities. The college has co-coordinators for curriculum development cell, academic affairs and for student services. There are separate controllers of examinations for UG and PG courses who conduct examinations, fix examination fee, dates of examination, conduct terminal examinations and announce results. Under the organizational structure, ANJAC has constituted Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), the primary task of which is to develop a system for conscious, consistent and catalytic improvement in the performance of institutions. It has to be facilitative and participative unit of the institution. IQAC critically reviews and assesses the performance of all departmental committees and cells. IQAC had met 4 times during 2004-2005. Since the college is aided by Government it follows the guidelines of the Government of Tamil Nadu, University and U.G.C. Sufficient number of faculty is available in all the departments. The college has computers with Internet facility for office automation.

The college is effective in resource mobilization, planning and development strategies. The main sources of finance are : grant-in-aid from T.N. Govt., Central Govt., fee from the students, contribution by management, U.G.C. assistance, self-financing courses and other funding agencies. The finance are judiciously allotted and effectively utilized as per the budget proposed by the college. The accounts are duly audited. The finance position is sound. Relationship between faculty and management is satisfactory. Incentives for staff and students are provided by the management for meritorious services. The management gives freedom to the principal and other bodies to maintain healthy academic environment.

Curriculum
The curriculum of the college is formed to match its goal and mission, which is based on sound academic principles and serves learners to build up sound body and mind that contributes to the overall development of personality.

The mission of the college, to produce disciplined, competent, socially committed and morally upright intellectuals through quality education and research is observed in designing the curriculum. This aim is clearly stated and disseminated to prospective students through the prospectus, the website and meetings between parents, students and teachers of the college. Thus the stakeholders are having awareness about the education they are getting and benefits from it.

The curriculum is flexible, interdisciplinary and based on modern technologies. 17 subjects and 70 programme combinations indicate its flexibility regarding the student choice. 16 new UG/PG courses all under self-funded category were introduced during the last five years, out of them 6 are IT based. In addition, computer foundation programme is offered to all non-computer students. Degree programmes are having inbuilt vocational modules. Vertical mobility is facilitated by newly started PG programmes. Such a multidimensional development of the curriculum is helpful to the learners.( See NAAC Assessment report 2006 here )

Students feed back, is obtained and processed formally. Combination of learners evaluation of programmes every year, opinions of the Curriculum Development Cell of the college, findings of departmental meetings, feed back from subject experts, alumni, views of prospective employers are considered while revising the curriculum as well as in planning introduction of future programmes.

Curriculum review is conducted every year and updating and minor changes are made on continuous basis while major over all curriculum revision is undertaken once in every three years for PG and every four year for UG.

Admission
The students are admitted to the different U.G. courses based on merit cum reservation policy whereas 25% weightage is given to entrance tests for admission in the PG courses. All the seats in all the courses are filled because of demand.

Degrees
The academics program offered in most of science and humanities streams. Three year under-graduate and two year post-graduate programs are offered in different discipline. M. Phil. and PhD degrees (relatively more in number in Tamil discipline) are also awarded as part of research program.

An undergraduate Bachelor program is offered in Physical Education discipline for those who interested in training to became professional in sports.

Exams
Learners are assessed through continuous internal assessment (CIA) and terminal examinations. Double valuation of answer scripts is followed for both UG and PG programmes. For PG programme the weightage for internal and external assessment carry 50% each. The break up of the internal assessment components is test (30 marks), quiz (5 marks), assignment (5 marks) and seminar (10 marks). UG internal assessment carries 40% weightage. Complete transparency is maintained in the internal evaluation.

In order to build up confidence in the evaluation system the valued answer scripts are returned to the student for his scrutiny and an opportunity is provided to put forward his grievances if any. To over come any dispute, provision is made for revaluation. Conduct of examinations and valuation are centralized.

Research
The research cell constituted in the college creates and sustains the research culture of the college. Faculty members are motivated by providing doctoral allowance at the rate of Rs.200/- per month. Monetary assistance is also extended for publication in National and International Journals as well as for preparing thesis. Receiving grants from funding agencies are also appreciated and rewarded. Teachers are encouraged to participate in seminars with paper presentation. During the last five years 24 teachers received Ph.Ds.

Forty-four out of 144 faculty members have Ph.D. 17 research scholars received Ph.D. during the last five years. There are three on going major research projects funded by DST, DBT, and DST-FIST (Chemistry) with an outlay of Rs. 66.16 lakhs. Another on going research project worth Rs. 7 lakhs is funded by the Management. 5 major projects have been completed during the last five years. Out of 16 minor research projects sanctioned by the UGC during the last five years, two are yet to be completed. UGC has sanctioned Rs.100 lakhs under CPE scheme. The presence of research culture in the campus builds confidence among faculty and students on independent enquiry. The College is publishing a bi-annual scientific journal ANJAC Journal of Science. Faculty members have published 64 papers in International journals, 215 in National and 535 papers were abstracted in various seminar proceedings during the last five years.

Transfer of knowledge and skill to industry and local community has given financial returns to the college to a limited extent. Consultancy Cell of the College publishes the expertise available through circulars to various stakeholders. Some of the consultancy services available are soil testing, water and soap analysis, mushroom culture, blood group identification and testing, bio-compost preparation and diagnosis of diseases.

Central instrumentation facilities

 * 1) UV-visible spectrophotometer
 * 2) Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer
 * 3) High-performance liquid chromatography
 * 4) Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer

Library

 * 69, 021 number of books
 * 1) International journal subscription - 10
 * 2) Number of online journal subscribed - 3142
 * 3) Reprographic facility is available,
 * 4) Computerization of the library has been done

Personal Care
For better individual personal assessment of students, each academic staff serves as a Staff Guardian for about ten students and maintains a record book for each.

Hostel
Four in-house student hostel halls for both gender For all above detailed information, see

Sports
A 16-station multi gymnasium facility is developed. Besides 4 volley ball courts, 2 basket ball courts, 2 tennis courts, one badminton court, 2 cricket grounds, 2 foot ball fields, 3 kabaddi courts, tennikoit court, 2 kho-kho courts, facilities for indoor games and Yoga are available.

Academic staff
According to the College annual book 2009 there are 56 PhD degree and 90 M.Phil degree holders among the academic staffs. Some of the staff get their PhD degree through Faculty Improvement Program supported by the management.

Recruitment of teachers is done purely on merit basis as per the rules, regulations and norms of the state government and UGC. The college has 100 sanctioned posts under grant in aid scheme out of which 83 are filled. For the self-funded programmes as well as for filling the substitutes U.G.C. norms are followed. 30 staff members were appointed in 2006 under this category of which 22 are for self-financing programme. Out of 144 full-time faculty 109 are male and 35 are female. During the last five years 24 teachers acquired Ph.D. and another 7 submitted their thesis and 22 have registered for Ph.D.

The teacher-student ratio is 1:17. During the last five years 86 teachers attended refresher courses and 38 teachers have attended orientation programmes. The college organized 42 staff development programmes during the post accreditation period. The college does mentoring where 20 students are assigned to each teacher. Remedial programmes and bridge classes are also offered to the learners.

Faculty accountability is evaluated by multiple appraisal systems based on self appraisal by teachers, evaluation of teaching performance by the students, and suggestions collected from parent teachers association.