Bangalore University’s (BU) Syndicate, in its first meeting conducted under the chairmanship of the new Vice-Chancellor, B. Thimme Gowda, here on Tuesday, decided to increase the strength of the Local Inquiry Committees (LICs) from four to five. The LICs are in charge of recommending renewal of affiliation, granting of new courses and increase of intake.
BU’s affiliation process, faced with delays last year, will be taken up on priority basis this time. “Instead of having three members along with the convener, some 20 [five-member] LICs will be constituted this time. A subject expert has been added to the composition to bring in more objectivity in the assessment,” Vice-Chancellor Gowda said.
So the new LICs will comprise a Syndicate member, an academic council member, a senior professor/dean, a member belonging to the SC, ST category and a subject expert.
The Syndicate approved research centre status to Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women (biotechnology), Institute of Wood Science and Technology, VHD Central Institute of Home Science, Government Arts College (Kannada), and National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology (also biotechnology).
Registrar (Evaluation and in-charge Administration) R.K. Somashekhar also said two new courses would be started under the Faculty of Science: a one-year self-financing postgraduate diploma in clinical embryology and assistant reproductive technology; and an MSc. in geographical information science.
It was decided to approve the recommendations of the D. Jeevan Kumar Committee Report that revisited 21 colleges. The report recommends granting of affiliation to six colleges out of 21.
Among the other significant decisions taken were promotions for teachers, including physical education and library staff, based on the 1996 University Grants Commission pay scales; and approval of statutes for teacher interviews as per UGC regulations.
Another meeting is scheduled for February 25 to discuss pending issues, including those approved during the meetings conducted through circulation last year under the former Vice-Chancellor N. Prabhu Dev. The government had annulled the proceedings of these meetings.
