Taking a serious view of the number of colleges that are functioning with principals-in-charge, the University of Madras has decided to restrict their tenure to a maximum of six months to ensure that a regular principal is appointed by the time.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam said around 30 per cent of the colleges affiliated to the university was currently functioning with a professor officiating as the principal-in-charge.
When this was brought to the notice of the Syndicate, it sent notices to all colleges informing them of the decision. If the colleges did not appoint full-time principals, their applications for new courses would not be entertained.
The university would also not recognise principals-in-charge and invite them for principals' meetings or appoint them as Syndicate members. They would not also be superintending officers for university examinations, Dr. Thiruvasagam said. The Syndicate had approved the setting up of a Department of Women's Studies and the proposal to waive 20 per cent of the fees for women students, he said.
It would send circulars to its affiliated colleges for conducting cultural and literary programmes on the theme ‘The World Classical Tamil Conference is the conference of our life-language.'
The colleges would have to hold at least one event and submit a report to the university by March 22. A competition for students and colleges would be held on June 18 and 19 at the Centenary auditorium.
Dr. Thiruvasagam said the university was in the process of repairing its clock tower near the present Secretariat complex.
Once the project was completed, the clock would recite a verse from the Tirukkural every hour.
