Financial Support

1. Introduction

There are colleges around the country where the quality of undergraduate teaching is good. Many of these colleges have used their “autonomy” in an innovative manner to achieve better standards in teaching. The UGC would like to identify such colleges and give them the status of “College with Potential for Excellence” and fund them substantially to help them attain even higher standards in teaching. In addition, colleges also impart postgraduate education. There is a need to pay special attention to this important sector. With this aspect in view, the UGC would fund colleges with postgraduate programmes to help improve and strengthen their infrastructure.

1. To strengthen the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching, research and outreach programmes.
   
   

2. To promote flexible and effective governance.
   
   

3. To enhance the quality of the learning and teaching process at the undergraduate and postgraduate level with the help of a flexible credit based modular system, and the whole range of innovations currently accepted globally.

4. To promote academic programmes relevant to the socio-economic needs of the nation.
   
   

5. To improve undergraduate education in colleges by the interfacing of the PG programmes.
   
   

6. To promote networking with Centres/departments and laboratories around the country.
   
   

7. To promote skill oriented programmes.
   
   

8. To achieve global standards of excellence in education, training and research.

Eligibility / Pre-requisites

1. Colleges should be 10 years old or more.
   
   

2. Autonomous colleges will be given preference.
   
   

3. Every college must enclose a copy of
   
   

   1. the self study report submitted by the college to NAAC
      
      

   2. the report of the evaluation undertaken by NAAC and
      
      

   3. any additional data which the college might choose to supply.
      
      Colleges, which are not accredited by NAAC, must submit the applications in the prescribed format.
      
      

4. Those colleges, which have not been accredited by NAAC, must try to get the accreditation within a year. If this does not transpire due to the slackness on the part of the college, the status would be reviewed and revoked, and the grant can be stopped.

5. The parameters for assisting colleges under the scheme are:-

   1. Academic improvement, use of IT and current technologies in respect of the office, the library and other related activities
      
      

   2. Strengthening of science laboratories
      
      

   3. Improvement of the college library
      
      

   4. Participation in sports as also other student facilities
      
      

   5. Retraining of teachers
      
      

   6. The examination system
      
      

   7. The tutorial system
      
      

   8. Emphasis on research
      
      

   9. Helping poor students
      
      

   10. Participation in community affairs
       
       

   11. Evidence of concern for environment
       
       

   12. Vocational courses and skill oriented programmes
       
       

   13. And any other relevant additional information.
       
       

6. Every college should work out a plan of action which will be completed within the X Plan period. This plan should be prepared in consultation with the staff and management. It should spell out in detail how the amount provided by the UGC would be utilized. The plan should also list the order of its priorities and the magnitude of expenditure on different items. Each of these will have to be justified in detail with the UGC after the status has been formally accorded.

7. The general participation of the community, the university and the academics and the opinion of the State Council of Higher Education will be considered.

Whether a college is to be visited or not will depend upon the merit of each case. Certain colleges have a history of good performance and it may not be necessary to visit them. In other cases, it may become necessary. In still other cases, it may be necessary because a certain college may have a slight edge over another and this matter will have to be determined by a Visiting Committee to be nominated by the Standing Committee.

The final selection will be made by the Standing Committee consisting of 10 Members to be nominated by the Chairman, UGC. The Standing Committee would broadly follow the criteria as indicated in Annexure for the purpose of Selection.

1. Standing Committee

2. Visiting Committee

3. Monitoring Committee

1. Standing Committee: This is a central committee, which will look into the policy and schemes, and will consist of the following members:

1. One Commission Member

2. Two Vice-Chancellors

3. Two Deans of Colleges

4. Five Experts to be nominated by the Chairman.

1. Visiting Committee: This committee will identify the colleges which have potential for excellence and will comprise:

1. One member of the Standing Committee

2. One Expert and

3. One UGC Officer.

2. Monitoring Committee: This committee will monitor the performance of the colleges assigned to it and submit its report to the Standing Committee.

1. 2 members of the Standing Committee and

2. 4 Experts from outside.

Colleges have to undertake not to transfer any Teacher/Principal for a period of 3 years. Indeed all postings should be so arranged that every teacher spends a minimum of 3 years in his place of posting.

Preference will be given to those colleges where, other things being equal, the Principal has a long tenure. The minimum acceptable period of tenure for a Principal would be 3 years.

Tenure

The scheme will remain operational during the X Plan period. There will be no extension beyond that period.

A college may apply for the ‘Excellence’ status even if it still has to get accreditation. Tentative sanction will be given subject to the College getting accredited within one year.

The Committee would visit the college for two days, interact with the faculty and others and work out a plan of action which would then be presented to the Standing Committee for approval and amendment, if necessary. The same Committee, without necessarily revisiting the college, would review the progress made at the end of one year and report to the Standing Committee within two months of the completion of the year.

1. The colleges which are not found to be performing well will be given a notice of six months to improve. The status will be withdrawn, if they still do not perform well.

2. Status will also be revoked in the case of misappropriation and misuse of funds.
   
   

3. If, the information and data supplied by any college to claim the potential of excellence is found to be incorrect, the status will be revoked.