Kuvempu University has bifurcated the Government Sahyadri Arts and Commerce College, its unit college in the city that is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
The college, established in 1942, offers courses in science, arts and commerce streams. For administrative convenience, the college was bifurcated into Sahyadri Science College and Sahyadri Arts and Commerce College in the year 1984. Both Sahyadri Science College and Sahyadri Arts and Commerce College, then functioning under Mysore University, came under the jurisdiction of Kuvempu University in 1992.
Jogan Shankar, Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University, told The Hindu that the decision to bifurcate Sahyadri Arts and Commerce College into Sahyadri Arts College and Sahyadri Commerce College was taken for administrative convenience and to upgrade academic standards.
He said the economic liberalisation has created a wide range of opportunities for the students who pursue education in the commerce stream. After the bifurcation, along with the existing regular Bachelors and Masters programmes in commerce and management, the university will introduce add-on programmes including diploma courses in secretarial practice, business management and personnel management, apart from holding training sessions for those attempting exams conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The bifurcation will help the university to give better focus to the different streams, he said.
New building
According to Mr. Shankar, Sahyadri Commerce College will come into existence on May 1 and will function in the existing building for the time being. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who participated in the programme organised on April 24 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the college, has announced sanction of necessary funds for upgrading infrastructure on campus. With this fund, a new block will be constructed for the commerce college on the same campus.
The construction work will commence soon and is expected to be completed in a year, he said. After the commerce college is shifted, the existing building will house only the arts college.
Meanwhile, Kuvempu University has passed an order appointing H.M. Vagdevi as the principal of Sahyadri Commerce College.
