City colleges told to appoint principals or face the music

The University of Madras has refused applications from these colleges to start new courses

Around 15 self-financing colleges affiliated to the University of Madras in the city that are yet to appoint principals. If they fail to appoint qualified principals soon, the University would take stringent measures against them, said vice-chancellor G. Thiruvasagam.

The University has refused all requests from these colleges to entertain applications for starting new courses. For approval of qualification of faculty members of various courses, a committee including the principal will be formed. However, in the absence of a qualified principal, the qualification of the faculty members cannot be approved, which would mean their courses will not get sanctioned either.

Nine of these colleges have refused to take cognizance of any warning given by the University to fill the seat with an eligible candidate, he said at a meeting organised recently. The syndicate of the University decided to take action against the colleges since only qualified faculty will be eligible to sit in the committee that decides the qualification of the faculty members, said Mr. Srinivasan, at a meeting organised recently.

The principals need to have at least ten years of teaching experience, and should be below 62 years. “Some colleges continue to have principals who have crossed the eligible age. In around five colleges, principals are retiring soon,” he said.

The action to be taken against colleges that do not appoint the principals by June, will be decided soon, said Mr. Thiruvasagam.

The following colleges have failed to appoint principals, the website of the University said: Apollo Arts and Science College in Sriperumbudur, Chennai National Arts and Science College in Avadi, Christ Arts and Science College in Thiruvallur District, CSI Ewarts Womens Christian College in Kanchipuram District, Dr MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science, John Bosco Arts and Science College in Thiruvallur, Madha Arts and Science College in Thandalam, Mahalakshmi College of Arts and Science in Avadi, Prof Dhanapalan College for Women in Kelambakkam, Sri Muthukumaran Arts and Science College near Mangadu, Sri Ram College of Arts and Science in Thiruvallur, SSS Jain College for Women in T. Nagar, St Josephs College in Mangadu, St Louis College for the Deaf in Adyar and TMG College of Arts and Science on Mudichur Road.