Downgrade shocks Church university

BANGALORE, Jan. 21, 2010, 10.00 Hrs (CRIB):

An official of Bangalore’s Christ University is shocked that his college has lost its status as a “deemed” university.

It is among 44 universities to be de-listed by the federal Ministry of the Human Resources Development (MHRD) for violating guidelines and introducing unrelated courses.

Deemed university status is given to high performing institutes or departments of existing universities. The status gives the institution autonomy over setting course work and syllabuses and allows it to set its own rules concerning admissions, fees and the teaching of students.

There was something close to panic in academic circles in India as the list was released.

The ministry told the Supreme Court this week that its expert committee had found none of the institutions could produce evidence of quality research.

The universities in 13 states have a total of some 200,000 students.

Five, including Christ University managed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation, are in Karnataka, southern India.

Neither the MDRD nor the University Grants Commission (UGC) that controls higher educational institutions had given any warning, Christ University registrar J. Subramaniam said.

“We are shocked and surprised” because the committee sent by MHRD and UGC suggested on Nov. 13, 2009 that the university’s deemed status would continue, he told UCA News.

The registrar said the 11-member committee visited the university Sept. 22-24, 2009, and it had received “no adverse comments” from either the ministry or the commission.

He also said “natural justice” required that the UGC should have sought some kind of explanation from the university before revoking its status.

University vice chancellor Father Thomas Mathew addressed the faculty and students on Jan. 19 to allay their fears. He asked them not to panic and continue their studies.

Father Mathew pointed out that the institution had received the “deemed” status on July 22, 2008. UGC reviews that status after five years.

The priest also noted that their college was the first in southern India to get the top A plus (A+) status from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.