Four of the 10 constituent colleges of Bharathidasan University are to be converted into government arts and science colleges in the first phase.
They constitute the colleges in Perambalur, Orthanad in Thanjavur district, Aranthangi in Pudukottai district and Lalgudi in Tiruchi district.
The Higher Education Department, in its recent order, stated that out of 41 constituent colleges of State universities, those that were started in 1995-96 and 2010-11 will be converted in the first phase.
Fund crunch was cited as the reason for the phased conversion of the constituent colleges. Since the conversion of all 41 colleges into government arts and science colleges will entail an expenditure of ₹169.79 crore per annum, conversion of 14 constituent colleges will be taken up in the first phase.
Teachers' organisations believe that the remaining constituent colleges will be converted into arts and science colleges over subsequent years under the remaining two phases.
Among the State universities, the financial burden for Bharathidasan University has been the highest since it has the highest number of constituent colleges: 10.
The Higher Education Department has secured administrative sanction for appointing a principal, physical education director, librarian and an assistant professors in accordance with the number of departments for each of the constituent colleges identified for conversion.
Besides, every college will have among its non-teaching staff a cashier, superintendent, two assistants, two junior assistants, one assistant programmer, one typist and two office aides, according to the order.
The regular faculties appointed by the universities in the constituent colleges will retain their posts on deputation until the universities absorb them as and when vacancies arise. The guest faculties will be retained until appointments to regular vacancies.
Among the constituent units of Bharathidasan University, the highest number of regular appointments to the post of Assistant Professor will be made in the college at Orthanad as it has the highest number of departments: B.A. and M.A. Tamil, B.A. and M.A. English, B.A. History, BBA, B.Com and M.Com, B.S.W and M.S.W, BCA and MCA, BSc Biochemistry, BSC Biotechnolgoy, B.Sc and M.Sc Computer Science, B.Sc Geography, B.Sc. Maths, B.Sc Microbiology, B.Sc Physics, and B.Sc. Chemistry.
