The functioning of three universities in southern districts is virtually at a standstill because of the absence of vice-chancellors. As the process of appointing VCs is delayed further, academics and teachers' associations have been expressing concern over the “void” caused due to lack of policy decisions and proper direction in matters of academic/administrative concern.
The three State universities waiting for a VC are the Madurai Kamaraj University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and Mother Teresa Women's University. Both in MKU in Madurai and MSU at Tirunelveli, there has been no VC since April this year. Mother Teresa University at Kodaikanal has had no one at the helm for a few months now.
“The government has to expedite the appointment process. Never before in its history, MKU has been without a VC for such a long time. Assembly as well as local body elections are over, but we are yet to get a VC,” says S. Vivekanandan, general secretary, MUTA (Madurai Kamaraj, Manonmaniam Sundaranar, Mother Teresa and Alagappa University Teachers' Association).
University authorities are now just “managing” the affairs and no important decision could be taken either on academic or administrative issues. Academic Council and Senate meetings are also not held in time, say officials.
“The situation is pathetic in MKU. It has no vice-chancellor, full-time Registrar and Dean (College Development Council). When the statutory posts lie vacant for a long time, how can any university have a direction — be it MKU or MSU or Mother Teresa University?” asks S. Krishnaswamy, convenor, Tamil Nadu Federation of University Faculty Associations (TANFUFA).
Since the MKU has no administrative head right now and the Syndicate too is said to be truncated due to vacancies, the university seniors say that local purchases could not be done in full swing even for routine requirements.
“We have been representing to the government to take quick decisions. The posts should be filled up and I can only say that the three universities are staying afloat. It is a challenging period for us now,” says Mr. Krishnaswamy.
To convey their concerns and demands, both MUTA and TANFUFA along with other associations held a demonstration in Madurai on November 11 seeking the government's immediate intervention. While the TANFUFA says that the three universities are facing a difficult situation, the MUTA points out that the 2011-12 academic year would end up as an “eventless year” for MKU due to lack of policy direction.
“Of course, there are certain legal tangles in constituting the VC Search Panel for MKU. Even the search committee process got delayed since the government did not take a position on this issue. There must be no delay in taking a decision on the Syndicate/Senate nominees for a search panel,” demands Mr. Vivekanandan.
Dr. Krishnaswamy argued that the government's delay in taking a call on VC appointment had led to “serious erosion” of university functioning. Even if the government starts the process this week, it is expected that it will take a minimum of one month for selecting a new VC.
The former Dean (College development Council) of MKU and presently Head of Commerce Department in American College, S. David Amirtha Rajan, observed that the interim convenors' committee formed to look after the routine functioning of MKU would only try to postpone taking any important decision, since it had no mandate or powers on policy matters.
“Every university must have a VC to take decisions on appointments, projects, new courses, construction and so on. Here there are no regular Syndicate meetings in Madurai,” he says.
All the more worrying is the fact that the annual convocation of MKU is getting delayed even though the university authorities had made alternative arrangements with the support of Higher Education Secretary to present degree certificates to candidates in urgent need.
After the change in regime, the post of vice-chancellor at the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University has also fallen vacant. The university has over 600 colleges teaching B.Ed affiliated to it.
Meanwhile, the government has constituted a search committee to appoint a new director to the Tamil Nadu Virtual Academy, formerly the Virtual University, which was converted into a full-fledged university by the previous government early this year.
