The state of higher education in Tamil Nadu, experts say, is dismal with a large number of faculty vacancies. During the last budget session, the government proudly said that the State’s enrolment ratio was almost twice the national average. But the state of the universities is not healthy. Political interference and controversies over appointments have held sway with the result that policies to improve college education are put on the back burner.
Four of the major universities in the State are headless. While search committees have been constituted for three of the institutions for law university no effort has been made so far to have a committee in place. The following is the report card of the universities.
Madurai Kamaraj University
Last VC to hold the post: Kalyani Mathivanan: April 9, 2015
By February-end the University will be without any statutory authority
Original 3-member search panel committee was constituted in May 2015; reconstituted on December 1 2016 after a member resigned
Expected date of announcement of VC name:
The Controller of Examination holds additional post of registrar as in-charge. CoE’s term ends in February. Dean’s post is vacant; the Syndicate and Senate are truncated;
The two Chancellors’ nominee posts have been filled up. No election held to the Senate since two years. Post of 5 elected members in the Syndicate expired five months ago. These include three members elected from Academic Council and two members elected from Senate.
University of Madras
Last VC to hold the post: R. Thandavan: January 17, 2016
Expected date of announcement of VC name:
Controller of Examination post fell vacant on January 29, 2017. Syndicate nominates head of Criminology Depart. to hold the post; registrar post will fall vacant on March 7.
Post of Director of Distance Education is vacant; as many as 300 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff vacant.
Anna University
Last VC to hold the post: M. Rajaram: May 26, 2017
Last Date for submitting applications for the post: June 10
The 16-member Syndicate includes six ex-officio members representing various government departments; apart from the VC post, six other posts have remained vacant for nearly a year. These posts include two each for industrialists; college correspondents; and principals of colleges. The government nominates an MLA to the Syndicate. The government has not filled up this post.
Dr. Ambedkar Law University
Last VC to hold the post: P. Vanangamudi: Dec. 10, 2016
No search panel for appointing next VC has been constituted yet
Currently the post of registrar; the Dean of School of Excellence are being held by persons as in-charge. Dean of Academic Council (held by the former VC) is vacant
University faced a lot of unrest from students last year after appointment of guest lecturers.
