The proposal to grant honorary professorship to former higher education secretary Ashok Thakur in the university's department of public administration has been cleared, inspite of the dissent from some members of the Punjab University (PU) syndicate.
The PU calendar mentions such a post to be offered to 'distinguished teachers' and so the item was a topic of debate for almost eight hours in the syndicate meeting that started at 10:30 am, as it was opposed on certain grounds.
On the lines if the foreign universities, the term "visiting professor" or "visiting fellow" could be used in place of "honorary professor" said the Syndicate Member Dinesh Kumar. Five members expressed their dissent after the item was put to vote.
On similar grounds of PU's decision making bodies, the appointment of Colonel G S Chadha (retired) the as PU registrar had also faced opposition last year.
The title of 'honorary professorship' has also been recommended by the syndicate for the former secretary of Department of Science & Technology T Ramasami in the department of chemistry and Padma Bhushan.
As no faculty member wants to be posted in rural areas and it was unfair to transfer the teachers from regional centres/affiliated colleges to the PU campus in Chandigarh it was another item that saw heavy debate.
The PU Teachers' Association (PUTA) has also submitted a resolution expressing reservations against such transfers to the VC as there is no proper transfer policy.
Demanding to take a lenient view against the teachers, PUTA put forward to refer the grievances of teachers writing directly to the PU chancellor to a central panel.
Considering the concern that certain faculty members have directly sent representations to the PU chancellor, the syndicate has authorised Arun Kumar, PU vice chancellor Grover to constitute a committee on the issue.
Discussing the item on child care leave for teaching and non-teaching staff of the university another committee was constituted. A 15-member body formed a panel comprising syndicate member professor Rajesh Gill and dean student welfare (women) Nandita Singh, feeling that certain clauses in the proposed policy were erroneous.
For admissions to Bcom courses for the colleges of Ludhiana District no central admissions will be made as the syndicate approved the proposal.
For the session 2015-16 the colleges will make admissions at their own level.
The merit list of students for admissions to Bcom course will be put on the website of the colleges.
Finance Budget gets a nod
PU is expected to earn revenue of Rs 245.90 crore during 2015-16 according to the budget estimates.
The budget of Rs 555.3 crore has been approved by the syndicate for the financial year 2015-2016.
PU to get choice based credit system:
The peer team of National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) advised Panjab University (PU) to implement the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS). And the syndicate approved implementation of the same and has decided to adopt the Credit Framework for Skill Development (CFSD).
Ensuring seemless mobility across institutions the system will provide students with wider options
The University Grants Commission chairperson, Ved Prakash recommended PU along with other universities and higher educational institutions in the country to implement the above mentioned two systems.
.Semesterization of curricula, restructuring of syllabi in the form of modules, standardization of examinations and switching over from marking system to grading system are the issues covered in the system .
Some Other Items Discussed by the Syndicate
Proposed by the Board of Finance, a new 100-bed girl's hostel exclusively for sports students has been approved.
The students will now get admissions to the Mtech, ME courses on the basis of GATE score replacing the system of getting admission through an entrance test. Whereas an entrance test has been introduced to seek Admissions in NITTR, Sector 26.
The fee structure of PU hostels will have minor changes.
Tags: Punjab University
Pu Syndicate
Ashok Thakur
Dinesh Kumar
Professorship
Retired Bureaucrat
