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Objective

To ensure sustained quality benchmarking in all functional aspects of the college

Functions

Some of the functions of the IQAC as suggested by NAAC  (http://naac.gov.in/index.php/info-for-institutions#iqac) are:

• Development and application of quality benchmarks for various academic and administrative activities of the College
• Facilitating the creation of a learner-centric environment conducive to quality education and faculty maturation to adopt the required knowledge and technology for participatory teaching and learning process

• Arrangement for feedback response from students parents and other stakeholders on quality related institutional processes
• Dissemination of information on various quality parameters of higher education
• Organisation of inter and intra institutional workshops, seminars on quality related themes and promotion of quality circles
• Documentation of the various activities/programmes leading to quality improvement
• Acting as a nodal agency of the institution for coordinating quality-related activities including adoption and dissemination of best practices
• Development and maintenance of institutional database through MIS for the purpose of maintaining/enhancing the institutional quality
• Development of Quality Culture in the College
• Preparation of the Annual Quality Assurance Report(AQAR) as per guidelines and parameters of NAAC to be submitted to NAAC

Composition

Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct for Students

Code of Conduct for Students
1. The Identity Card should be worn at all times on campus.

2. Students should get a Gate Pass from the Department / Office if they have to leave the campus during college hours in an emergency.

3. Students are not allowed to organise any meeting on campus or collect money for any purpose without the permission of the Principal.

4. Students should not participate in fashion shows, stage shows and TV programmes without permission from the Principal. Request for modelling / acting in movies will not be entertained. No matter for publication or interviews in newspapers, magazines, journals, radio, television or social media may be submitted in the name of the College by students without prior permission from the Principal. Strict action will be initiated and will lead to the expulsion of the student.

5. Students should not use mobile phones on college campus. If a student violates this rule, she will be suspended for 6 working days.

6. Students who come to College by two and four wheelers are required to strictly adhere to the rules issued by the college authorities. Two wheelers should be parked only in the student parking. Students parking on campus should pay a parking fee of 500/- for two wheelers and Rs.1000/- for four wheelers per annum respectively. The passes issued by the College should be prominently displayed on the vehicle.

Drivers are not permitted to stay on campus during class hours.

7. Students are not permitted to receive letters, parcels and visitors in college or use the college address for their personal mail.

8. Students misusing the facilities on campus, destroying college property and indulging in graffiti on the walls and furniture will be duly fined.

9. Important information to students will be put up on Notice Boards / College Website. It is the responsibility of every student to check this data regularly.

10. Ragging in any form is strictly prohibited on campus. Students who are directly or indirectly involved in ragging will be punished as per the Government rules. Incidents of ragging should be reported to the Principal and written complaints may be dropped in a “Black Box” available at the Principal’s Office.

ATTENDANCE

The College assigns top priority to regular attendance for all classes. Students are expected to put in 100% attendance for all courses, including field-trips, internships and on-the-job training. Attendance is taken every hour. Students are advised to maintain their individual record of attendance.

Rules regarding absence

A minimum of 85% attendance is required for each course to appear for the End of Semester Examinations. Absence for valid reasons such as illness and other emergencies will be condoned by the Principal provided leave letters from parent / guardian are submitted along with Leave Slips with signatures of the course teachers and the Head of the Department to the Principal’s Office within seven days of absence. Delayed submission of leave letters and letters without the required signatures will be rejected. In case of illness, the leave letter must be supported by a medical certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner. Unauthorised absence and lack of attendance for reporting late to class will not be condoned.

Students participating in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities in college / university programmes should submit duly signed leave requests in advance failing which they will be marked absent. Provision for attendance and other academic requirements will be made only when the student represents the College / University / State / Country. An official letter duly signed by the organising agency and the Head of the Department has to be submitted to the Principal’s Office along with a letter from the parents.

DRESS CODE

Students are expected to wear simple and modest clothes. Sarees, long skirts and blouses, salwar – kameez, jeans and shirts are acceptable. Short, tight, sleeveless and flimsy clothes are not permitted on campus

MALPRACTICE

Students indulging in malpractice during Continuous Internal Assessment (CIA) will be awarded zero marks. Repeated offence will entail zero marks in the consolidated CIA for all the papers of the Semester.

If malpractice is detected during the End Semester Examination, the student will be debarred from writing all the following examinations and all papers regular/repeat of that semester will be cancelled.

Code of Conduct for Staff

GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING STAFF

(Approved by the WCC Association at its extraordinary general meeting held on 15-4-2000)

Updated in June 2017

Commencement: These Rules shall come into force on 1^st June 2000.

SECTION I – ATTENDANCE

1. Attendance shall be taken every hour. Students shall be given 5-10 minutes grace. For the first hour of the day alone, students shall be given 15 minutes grace, depending on the circumstances. Students who come to class after the period of grace shall be marked absent (A/a) for the hour in the attendance register.
2. Students who are representing the College and have obtained official permission to be absent from class shall be marked ‘P’ (i.e. absent with permission) in the attendance register. Official permission to be absent from class shall be given to those who are participating in any of the following activities:
   1. Representing the College at inter-collegiate programmes
   2. Carrying out official duties within the College
   3. Attending University and other officially approved coaching camps or NSS camps
   4. taking part in the College Play
   5. going on field trips
   6. taking part in Department programmes, and
   7. for such other authorized programmes
3. If a student is to be admitted late and the date of admission does not allow for 65% attendance for that course, she may be considered for admission provided she gives an undertaking in writing that she shall take the examination as per the rules of the College.
4. Shortage of attendance:  For less than 85% attendance written requests for condonation will be considered by the Principal based on records that are available in the office as per the following guidelines:
   1. In the case of students with 65% to 75% attendance, the shortage may be condoned by the Principal in order to permit the student to take the end of semester examination. The prescribed condonation fee will have to be paid.
   2. A student with attendance above 50% and below 65% is not permitted to take the end semester examination. She may proceed to the next semester and can take these papers at any subsequent semester when these papers are offered. She is required to pay the prescribed condonation fee only (even if she takes the papers in different semesters).
   3. A student with less than 50% aggregate attendance will have to repeat the semester. Repeating the semester means that the student has to fulfil all the course requirements of the semester in the next corresponding regular semester. She has to take the courses with the syllabus applicable when she is repeating the semester.
   4. The Principal’s decision shall be final.

SECTION II – THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE

COURSE TEACHER AND HOD

1. The teacher is expected to be in the classroom for the entire duration of the period/class.
2. Attendance: The Course Teacher is responsible for marking the attendance in the register and for posting the attendance report online.
3. Syllabus distribution: The HOD after consultation with the members of the Department, shall give each teacher her workload before the semester begins.

The teacher should plan the syllabus distribution for each course.

When a course is shared, the teacher concerned should discuss how the units can be shared depending on the number of hours allotted.

The Course Teacher should prepare the Lesson Plan for the topics to be covered at the beginning of the semester and enter it in her register.

At the beginning of a course, the teacher should give the syllabus and the list of reference books to the students.

4. Tests: The Vice–Principal should assign test dates for the semester. The Course Teacher should decide on dates for the submission of assignments and seminars. If the student is unable to submit assignments/seminars on time owing to illness or other emergencies, the Course Teacher shall assign new dates.

Test papers, after correction, should be given to the students before the next test.

The marks should be posted online.

The Course Teacher should give a Compensatory Test if the student has submitted a leave letter for absence for valid reasons within the stipulated time. The Course Teacher should download the consolidated CIA mark sheet and get the signatures of the students.  She should hand in the consolidated mark sheets to the COE’s Office by the last day of the semester.

At the end of each semester the Course Teacher, through the HOD should submit all attendance registers to the COE’s Office and get an acknowledgement of the receipt of registers.

5. Examinations: A faculty member who is unable to be present for invigilation should arrange for a substitute and inform the Superintendents of Examinations and the Principal.

If the external examiner is delayed the internal examiner may begin evaluation after half an hour of the specified time. Consolidation of marks should be done by the internal and external examiners together.

As members of the faculty are also members of the Board of Examiners they should scrutinise the consolidated marks and give recommendations for moderation. All recommendations are to be written down and signed in full.

6. Other duties of the Course Teacher: Members of the faculty are also members of the Boards of Studies and may give suggestions and help in framing or revising syllabi.

The Course Teacher should arrange guest lectures and field trips if required for the course. Prior permission in writing should be obtained from the HOD with an endorsement from the Principal for the field trips. When arranging guest lectures and fields trips, the Course Teacher should inform the HOD and other teachers whose classes are being used for the same. Consent letters from parents should be obtained before any trip.

The Course Teacher may be permitted by the Principal to leave the College during working hours to organise department work, provided she does not have classes at the time.

The Course Teacher in consultation with the HOD and with the permission of the Principal, should arrange for on-the-job training and internships to provide students with the training and experience necessary for employment.

The Course Teacher as an advisor to the students should establish a good rapport with her advisees and maintain the advisee files which are to be posted on the intranet.

7. The HOD: the HOD in consultation with the members of the Department is responsible for deciding the prize winners and awarding Department merit scholarships. The resolutions regarding the above are to be written down and signed by the HOD. The names of prize winners are to be given by the HOD to the COE’s office as soon as the Board of Examiners meeting is over in April.

8. All faculty members should take up responsibilities with regard to co-curricular activities such as the College Play, Sports; arranging for Assembly Programmes, teaching Scripture / Value Education by rotation and helping with assignments for special functions such as the Convocation.

SECTION III- CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

1. Continuous Assessment for Undergraduate Students: Tests.

For computation of CIA marks, 2 tests shall be given. The duration of each test shall be one to 2 hours and shall include questions of different types-essays, short and one word answers.  Short tests or assignments are to be given to complete the CIA marks.

The consolidation of final marks is the sole responsibility of the teacher concerned. 

Part II English:

The duration of each test shall vary according to the skill or unit that is being tested. More than 3 tests, based on different skills, shall be given and all the marks shall be considered.

2. Retest for Continuous Assessment:

Students are expected to take all tests as scheduled. However, retests shall be given for tests as shown below:

• If a student misses tests because of authorised participation in extra-curricular or co-curricular activities, a retest shall be given for each test missed. These retests should be taken in the same portions of the syllabus within a week after returning to college.
• If the student has been absent for valid reasons and submitted the leave letters on time, one compensatory test per course shall be given. This test shall be given after the second test and the portions for this test shall be decided by the teacher.

3. Break-up of marks for CIA:

The marks for CIA should be in accordance with the template prescribed in Academic Council book.

4. Right to Appeal:

A Student has the right to appeal for a review of her marks.

The procedure is as follows:

• Immediately after receiving the corrected answer scripts the student should appeal to her course teacher first.
• If additional clarification is necessary the student should appeal to the HOD.
• If not satisfied, she should make a written appeal to the Principal within 2 working days of the receipt of the marks. The Principal’s decision shall be the final.

5. Entry of marks by the Course Teacher in the Register and online:

The Course Teacher is solely responsible for the marks entered by her. The date on which the test was given should be entered.

There should be no blank spaces in the marks column, no overwriting or erasing of marks entered in the register and in the consolidated mark sheet.

If an entry has to be corrected in the register by the Course Teacher, she should score off the mark already entered, enter the correct mark legibly and initial the change made.

The marks should be posted on the intranet by the teacher.

6. Consolidation of CIA marks:

The consolidated CIA mark statement should be downloaded by the teacher and signatures of all the students obtained. There should be no blank spaces in the marks columns, no overwriting or erasures. This should be signed by the course teacher and the Head and then submitted to the COE’s office. 

7. Submission of attendance Registers at the end of the Semester:

At the end of each course, the Course Teacher, through the HOD, shall submit all attendance registers to the COE’s Office and get an acknowledgement of the receipt of registers. If there is a need to refer to the register again, the HOD should send a written request to the Principal which will be forwarded to the Controller. The Course Teacher shall be permitted to scrutinise the register only in the presence of the Controller. No entries should be made in the registers once they are submitted to the Registrar’s Office.

8. Improvement of CIA marks:

(1) A student who fails in a paper in the end of semester exams because her Continuous Internal Assessment marks are low, can improve her CIA marks only after she completes her VI semester (IV semester for PG students). She is required to apply to the COE’s Office within the specified time. This opportunity is given to the student only once.

For courses without ESE, a student who fails in her CIA, is given an opportunity to improve the marks by taking one test. This can be done in the VI semester (IV semester for PG students).

9. Improvement of CIA is done by:-

(1) taking CIA tests only – if a student has passed her end of semester examination but failed in the aggregate, she can improve her CIA marks by taking the tests. She does not have to take the end of semester examinations, if she so desires.

(2) taking CIA tests and end of semester examination – a student may be permitted to take CIA tests in the syllabus that she studied and take the corresponding end of semester examination, provided the end of semester examination satisfies the required  conditions. If not, she will have to take both in the revised syllabus.

(3) attending classes, taking CIA tests and end of semester examinations – If a student is required to re-register for a course, she has to attend classes and if the syllabus has changed she will have to take the CIA tests and the end of semester examination in the new syllabus.

SECTION IV – THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE

The staff of the Principal’s Office shall work under the direction and control of the Principal to whom they shall be accountable.

General duties and responsibilities:

They share the responsibility of ensuring that the following duties and any other duties assigned to them from time to time by the Principal are carried out: (Some duties require interaction with Head of the Departments, Bursar’s Office and Registrar’s Office)

1. Collection of material and maintenance of files : Staff appointments file, Staff workload (Staff workload details prepared as per recent GOs are to be obtained from the Heads of Departments), teaching staff post approval, employment correspondence, list of staff members, qualification approval from the University, agreement forms, joining report, relieving order, leave sanction order, staff appointment approval, FIP etc.

2. Printing of application forms and prospectus and issue as per following procedure :

The Principal receives and disseminates information from the Joint Director of Collegiate Education.

Departments and Bursar’s Office provide information regarding courses, fees, scholarships to the Principal’s Office.

The Assistant drafts the matter for the prospectus and the application forms and gives them for uploading on the website, after obtaining the approval of the Principal.

3. Printing and distribution of College Handbooks to students.

4. Maintaining the application registration, community-wise.

5. Posting of admission notices and maintaining of records regarding posting.

6. Collection and checking of all certificates of newly admitted students and keeping the certificates during the period of study

7. Maintenance of admission register with roll numbers and preparation of class lists for the use of all departments and offices.

A Provisional list of the first year students should be provided on the first day. The list should be updated periodically. The completed lists should be given to the COE’s office.

A list of student withdrawals should be disseminated to the Departments. This list should be updated periodically.

8. Forwarding proposals for new courses and preparation of material for Inspection Commissions.

9. Correspondence with UBCHEA – proposals for projects, visiting scholars.

10. Preparation of TC, Conduct Certificate, Course Certificate, Bonafide student certificate (to be done in consultation with the Bursar’s Office / the COE’s Office), Transcripts, Convocation applications etc.

11. Notices for various meetings in the College, Timetable, and Test date etc. are to be typed and copies are to be sent to the Departments and put up on the notice board.

12. Printing of Attendance Registers, Principal’s Office Letterheads, ID cards, Visitor’s list, Attendance cum Marks Registers, etc.

13. Preparation of the chapel list of Sunday evening Preachers in consultation with the Chaplain.

14. Preparation of condonation list of students, continued absenteeism etc. for COE’s Office use.

At the time of condonation, the Bursar’s Office shall indicate whether all dues have been paid.

The condonation lists (indicating various categories) shall be given by the Principal’s office, to the COE’s Office and the Chief Superintendents of Examinations.

Letters to be sent to parents regarding long absences of their wards. Withdrawal forms should include the signature of the Head of the Department.

15. Advertisements in newspapers for vacancies are to be issued well ahead of time (i.e. by the end of April for the following year).

16. Audit reply preparation and submission of replies to the Principal (parts relevant to the Principal’s office). The principal’s office should work with the Bursar’s Office on this.

17. Correspondence with the University, UGC, DCE, JDCE, NAAC or any other agency regarding issues other than finance.

This involves interaction with departments.

18. Typing of minutes of meetings and preparation for meetings of the Working Committee, the Executive Board, the Governing Body, the College Association and all sub-committees such as the Finance Committee and Building Committee has to be done. Typing work should be attended to without giving room for accumulation of work.

19. Miscellaneous correspondence.

20. Alumnae-queries & correspondence.

21. Assisting in preparation for various College functions such as Prize Distribution, Convocation, College Play, Open Day etc.

This involves interaction with departments and the Bursar’s Office.

Work allotted to the Record Clerk:

1. Opening and sorting the mail: The record clerk should record incoming and outgoing mail and hand-delivered mail and maintain records of stores and student attendance records. In addition, consolidation of student’s attendance and preparation of the list of students with insufficient attendance has to be done at the end of every semester.

As and when they are received from the Government and the University, GOs and University rules pertaining to particular departments should be photocopied and given to the Departments. Acknowledgements for the same should be obtained.

2. Maintenance of Registers and Attendance.

3. Issue of bus and Railway concession forms and preparation of details for monthly statement to the Railway Office.

4. Sending completed Convocation application forms to the University.

5. Issue of (1) ID cards to the students (2) self appraisal forms to the staff and maintaining these records.

SECTION V — THE BURSAR’S OFFICE

1. The Bursar in consultation with the Principal will draw up a job description for each post. A copy of the job description will be given to the person designated for the post and his/her signature indicating receipt and acceptance of the same will be obtained.

2. As and when required, work allocation will be reviewed and reassigned by the Bursar in consultation with the Principal.

3. Interchange of non-teaching staff among the Bursars’ Office, the Principal’s Office, the COE’s Office, the Library and the academic departments will be the prerogative of the Principal.

4. The Bursar will have overall charge of all the sections in the Bursar’s Office and should be able to retrieve any document in the Office with the help of the staff. The staff in the office should inform the Bursar where files/documents/records are kept by them so that in the event of their absence from work these documents may be located without difficulty.

5. The Accounts Officer should ensure that a daily closing of cash is done. All keys of the Bursar’s Office should be handed over to the Principal at the end of the day.

Distribution of work among Staff Members

Superintendent:

Checking & supervision of all office work, supervision & checking of Pay Bills & Arrears, career advancement/fixation of pay, non-teaching staff selection grade / special grade, increments for teaching and non-teaching staff, checking of bills for A.S.S. Account, non-salary account & Special Fees, checking of bills, maintenance of G.O. Stock Files and replies to Audit Reports.

Assistant:

Preparation of fees schedules & monitoring payments,  preparation of no dues list, maintenance of Daily Fee Collection Register, Term Fees Register, Refund Register (Tuition and Caution Deposit) for the students who have withdrawn, Preparation  of Fees Statements and other returns, working of bills for Earned Leave Surrender and Leave on Private Affairs, maintenance of Scale Register, processing of Management Scholarship & Defence fee concession applications, maintenance of Personal Register, Files and rectification of Audit objections and answering enquiries made at the counter.

Maintenance of Teaching & Non-teaching Staff Service Registers, Master Registers at the College & JDCE’s office, Teaching & Non-teaching staff attendance, leave letters & Attendance Registers, Fixed Assets Register, Income Tax calculation and preparation of Form-24, Financial Statement, Balance Sheet and budget work, correspondence and statements regarding UGC & Autonomy Accounts, Rectification of Audit Objections, Government Account Cash Receipts, Personal Register and  Files.

Accounts Officer:

The Accounts Officer verifies and passes the bill for payment; is responsible for fixed deposits; facilitates purchase of bulk stationery, equipment and furniture.

Accountant:

Verifies the work of the Junior Assistants and assists in the preparation of reports, budget and finalization of accounts.

Junior Assistant:

Maintenance of Non-salary Account Cash Book and Ledger (with N.S.S) including receipts and payments, Special Fees Account Cash Book and Ledger (including receipts & payments), Application & Registration Registers, Refund of Caution & Library Deposits, Cheques writing (Government Accounts), Preparation  of Financial Statement, Audit replies, DCE’s returns and University returns, Balance sheet and Budget work, Property Tax and Metro Water Supply & Sewerage Board-Tax and water charges, Government financial returns other  than Financial Statements, Personal Register, and Files.

Preparation of Pay Bill for Teaching and Non-teaching Staff members, Arrear claim and all other supplementary bills, Career Advancement, Fixation of Pay & Non-teaching Staff Selection Grade & Special Grade, Maintenance of ASS Account (Cash Book and Ledger/Receipts & Payments ), Acquittance Roll (JDCE’s Office) Scale Register (JDCE’s Office )Preparation of Financial Statement, Audit Replies, JDCE’s Office work, preparation of Teaching & Non-teaching staff increment statement, Balance Sheet and Budget work, Personal Register and Files.

TTP entries, Advance and Part-final withdrawal work, Management Current Account, JDCE’s Office  work, maintenance of register (payment to contractors), Collection of Telephone &amenities charges, management receipts and other collections on non banking days, maintenance of Fixed Assets Register, Furniture Register, WCC Provident Fund and Servants’ Provident Fund Account, Audit related work, Personal Register & Files.

Maintenance of Petty Cash, EPF Account, Management Current Account Ledger, SBI 1 & 2 FB Accounts’ Cash Book and Ledger, Balance Sheet and Budget preparation, Fixed Deposit due date diary & correspondence work, Foreign Grant Cash Book and Ledger, Personal Register & Files.

Maintaining the Self Finance accounts, examination accounts, Shift I and II, hostel accounts, nursery accounts; preparation of salary, DFC; defaulters list and maintenance of petty cash.

Junior Assistant cum-Typist:

Maintenance of exam fee account cash book and Ledger, Hostel Account, Cash Book and Ledger, Nursery School Cash Book and Ledger, Mess Accounts, Typing Letters and Statements, Salary and other bills for the Management staff, Personal Register and Files.

Typist :

Typing all correspondence, collection & scrutiny of all Government Scholarships & Fee concessions, Preparation of Scholarship & Fee concession proceedings & disbursement, typing of Pay Bill, Arrears Bills, Supplemental Bills, Earned Leave and Leave on Private Affairs, Bills, Banks letters, Pay slips and Salary Certificates, Income-Tax form-16 and Annual Income Statement, Maintenance of Students Admission record, Non-teaching Staff Norms (Appointment and Promotion) Teaching and Non-teaching Staff Salary Register, Personal Register, Files, and rectification of audit objections.

Typing all correspondence, Preparation of Pension Proposals (including death cases), DCRG, SPFG & Group Insurance closure and final PF Closure, Maintenance of nomination forms for SPFG, Group Insurance, PF & Pension, TPF new admission work, issue of form 16-A, JDCE’s Office Work, Audit Related work, Personal Register & Files.

The Bursar shall be accountable to the Principal for all actions taken by the Bursar’s Office.

SECTION VI-THE CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATION’S OFFICE

Functions and responsibilities of the COE’s Office Staff:

1. Examination Results:
2. Computerisation of the Final Examination Results.
3. Printouts and Validations of the Results.
4. Booklets containing the names of candidates recommended for the award of degrees are to be made and sent to the University.
5. Photocopying of CIA test papers
6. Preparation for and conduct of Examinations
7. Calculation of Fees (Repeaters and regular students):

1. The Departments are to be asked to give information on the number of papers and their students’ details to the registrar’s Office. Exam fees are to be calculated in consultation with the Principal and the Bursar. The Department should inform the COE’s Office of any change made in the pattern of papers in the Board of Studies.

1. Information regarding application for exams, repeat papers, repeating CIA, payment of exam fees is to be posted online/ sent to the Departments.

1. Applications of the students are to be checked (Regular and Repeaters).

1. Arranging for the scrutiny of the panel of examiners by the Departments, model papers and syllabus.
2. Selection of External Examiners by the Registrar and Invitation to the External Examiners.
3. Preparation of Examination Timetable (Tentative& Final).
4. Giving the details for seating arrangements etc., to the chief superintendents. Co-ordination with the Chief Superintendents on list of invigilators, arrangement of Halls.
5. Fixing of dates for Evaluation and intimation to the Examiners.
6. Typing and Checking of Question Papers: Scrutiny of the question papers is arranged. Typing of handwritten question papers is done when necessary. Copies are to be made and sealed in correctly labeled covers.
7. Preparation of attendance lists for the examination along with the covers for answer papers.
8. Arranging hospitality for examiners and the exams office staff.
9. Checking of mark sheets and scheme of valuation, preparation of master sheets and entry of marks.
10. Maintenance of Remuneration Register:
11. Entry of title of the papers and names of external and internal examiners and other
12. Checking of the remuneration forms and entry of the amounts in the register.
13. Ensuring that the claims for practical examinations are supported by relevant documents.

5. The sorting and filing of the remaining question papers of the End of Semester Examinations (II, IV &VI semester). The dispatch of the rest of the question papers to the respective departments.

Storing the files and the Duplicate Marksheets etc.

6. Preparation for the Board of Examiners meeting:

Printouts for the Board of Examiners and preparation of files for the same. These files are to be sent to the respective departments.

7. Preparation for the Academic Council Meeting:
8. Invitations and the Agenda are to be sent to the External and Internal Academic Council Members for the meeting.
9. Preparation of files for the meeting
10. Arrangement of rooms, refreshments and payment of TA to External Members are the responsibility of the COE’s Office.
11. Typing of Academic Council minutes.

8. Preparation of Statement of Marks.
9. Preparing the University results and sending the same to the University.
10. Preparation of duplicate statement of marks, attestation of mark sheets.
11. Online transcript services are supported.

9. Preparation of Grade cards:

The following shall be the responsibility of the Registrar’s Office:

1. Checking of marks and CGPA for individual grade cards.
2. Printing the Statement of marks.
3. Issue of the Grade cards to the Departments.

10. Revaluation:
11. a) The respective departments are to be asked for the name of an internal examiner different from the one who corrected the paper.

1. b) The external examiners should be chosen from the panel already given for the paper (other than the one who corrected it). In case the examiners from the same panel are not available, a fresh panel has to be provided by the Department.

1. c) Examiners are to be contacted and arrangements are to be made for revaluation.

1. d) In case of discrepancy of marks (more than 10) the marks are allotted as per the table.

1. e) The students are to be informed of the final results.

11. Stock checking of stationery and preparations of lists for ordering answer books, duplicate papers etc.

12. In exigent situations, the Registrar’s office staff shall discharge the Principal’s Office work during the summer vacation –e.g. Issue of Certificates (Transfer, Conduct etc.) to the students.

The COE shall be accountable to the Principal for all actions taken by the COE’s Office.
SECTION VII—GENERAL REGULATION

All staff should do any other work assigned by the superiors also apart from his/her allotted work. In case of need when another person is on leave that section of work should be done as instructed by the superiors.

Other Regulations for Teaching Staff

Staff members should inform the Bursar (in writing) three months in advance of their insurance and saving schemes for suitable processing by the Bursar’s Office.

SECTION VIII-NON-TEACHING STAFF

1. Discipline and decorum should be maintained in the offices.
2. All non-teaching staff should report for work when the College is in session, for e.g., on working Saturdays. There will be no compensation on account of this. For absence from duty on such days the staff will be required to apply for casual leave.
3. A Service Register should be maintained for every non-teaching staff member. Details of leave taken should be recorded in this register.
4. A Movement register should be maintained in every department or office and regular entries regarding time, purpose and place of visit during working hours should be made when non-teaching staff leave and return to their departments or offices.
5. During any emergency all non-teaching staff are expected to rise to the occasion and complete the work.
6. During vacations, the Principal shall prevent the vacation of the required number of non-teaching staff who shall be entitled to a nominal remuneration.

SECTION IX-MANAGEMENT STAFF

The services of any Management Staff can be requisitioned by the college on any Saturday. When a management staff member is not able to report for duty if so requisitioned, the staff member will be required to apply for casual leave.

SECTION X-CAMPUS MAINTENANCE STAFF

1. The Campus Maintenance Staff will have 9 hours of work per day, 6 days of work per week.

2. They will have 12 days of casual leave per year in addition to public holidays declared by the Tamil Nadu Government.

SECTION XI-ESSENTIAL SERVICES

Essential services to be maintained on Public holidays also with suitable deployment and compensation.

SECTION XII-PENALITES

Violation of any of the provisions of these Rules shall attract disciplinary action and punishment.

Code of Professional Ethics

I. Teachers and their Responsibilities:

Whoever adopts teaching as a profession assumes the obligation to conduct himself/ herself in accordance with the ideal of the profession. A teacher is constantly under the scrutiny of his/her students and the society at large. Therefore, every teacher should see that there is no incompatibility between his precepts and practice. The national ideals of education which have already been set forth and which he/she should seek to inculcate among students must be his/her own ideals. The profession further requires that the teacher should be calm, patient and communicate by temperament and amiable in disposition.

Teacher should:

i. Adhere to a responsible pattern of conduct and demeanor expected of them by the community;

ii. Manage their private affairs in a manner consistent with the dignity of the profession;

iii. Seek to make professional growth continuous through study and research;

iv. Express free and frank opinion by participation at professional meeting, seminars, conferences etc., towards the contribution of knowledge;

v. Maintain active membership of professional organisations and strive to improve education and profession through them;

vi. Perform their duties in the form of teaching, tutorials, practical, seminar and research work, conscientiously and with dedication;

vii. Discourage and not indulge in plagiarism and other non ethical behaviour in teaching and research;

viii. Abide by the Act, Statute and Ordinance of the University and to respect its ideals, vision, mission, cultural practices and tradition;

ix. Co-operate and assist in carrying out the functions relating to the educational responsibilities of the college and the university, such as: assisting in appraising applications for admission, advising and counselling students as well as assisting the conduct of university and college examinations, including supervision, invigilation and evaluation; and

x. Participate in extension, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, including the community service.

II. Teachers and students

       Teachers should:

i. Respect the rights and dignity of the student in expressing his/her opinion;

ii. Deal justly and impartially with students regardless of their religion, caste, gender, political, economic, social and physical characteristics;

iii. Recognise the difference in aptitude and capabilities among students and strive to meet their individual needs;

iv. Encourage students to improve their attainments, develop their personalities and at the same time contribute to community welfare;

v. Inculcate among students scientific temper, spirit of inquiry and ideals of democracy, patriotism, social justice, environmental protection and peace;

vi. Treat the students with dignity and not behave in a vindictive manner towards any of them for any reason;

vii. Pay attention to only the attainment of the student in the assessment of merit;

viii. Make themselves available to the students even beyond their class hours and help and guide students without any remuneration or reward;

ix. Aid students to develop an understanding of our national heritage and national goals; and

x. Refrain from inciting students against other students, colleagues or administration.

III. Teachers and Colleagues

Teachers should:

i. Treat other members of the profession in the same manner as they themselves wish to be treated;

ii. Speak respectfully of other teachers and render assistance for professional betterment;

iii. Refrain from making unsubstantiated allegations against colleagues to higher authorities; and

iv. Refrain from allowing considerations of caste, creed, religion, race or sex in their professional endeavour.

IV. Teachers and Authorities:

Teachers should:

i. Discharge their professional responsibilities according to the existing rules and adhere to procedures and methods consistent with their profession in initiating steps through their own institutional bodies and / or professional organisations for change of any such rule detrimental to the professional interest;

ii. Refrain from undertaking any other employment and commitment, including private tuitions and coaching classes which are likely to interfere with their professional responsibilities;

iii. Co-operate in the formulation of policies of the institution by accepting various offices and discharge responsibilities which such offices may demand;

iv. Co-operate through their organisations in the formulation of policies of the other institutions and accept offices;

v. Co-operate with the authorities for the betterment of the institutions keeping in view the interest and in conformity with the dignity of the profession;

vi. Adhere to the terms of contract;

vii. Give and expect due notice before a change of position takes place; and

viii. Refrain from availing themselves of leave except on unavoidable grounds and as far as practicable with prior intimation, keeping in view their particular responsibility for completion of academic schedule.

V. Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff:

Teachers should:

i. Treat the non-teaching staff as colleagues and equal partners in a cooperative undertaking, within every educational institution;

ii. Help in the functioning of joint-staff councils covering both the teachers and the non-teaching staff.

VI. Teachers and Guardians

Teachers should:

i. Try to see through teacher’s bodies and organisations, that institutions maintain contact with the guardians, their students, send reports of their performance to the guardians whenever necessary and meet the guardians in meetings convened for the purpose for mutual exchange of ideas and for the benefit of the institution.

VII. Teachers and Society

Teachers should:

i. Recognise that education is a public service and strive to keep the public informed of the educational programmes which are being provided;

ii. Work to improve education in the community and strengthen the community’s moral and intellectual life;

iii. Be aware of social problems and take part in such activities as would be conducive to the progress of society and hence the country as a whole.

iv. Perform the duties of citizenship, participate in community activities and shoulder responsibilities of public offices;

v. Refrain from taking apart in or subscribing to or assisting in any way activities, which tend to promote feeling of hatred or enmity among different communities, religions or linguistic groups but actively work for national integration.

Strategic Action Plan

• Facilitate student centric teaching learning methodologies
• Promote value additions in the form of certificate courses, internships, Service learning programmes
• Develop linkages with institutions, research institutes and the industry for academic collaborations and development of skills and global competencies
• Promote outcome based learning that produces job ready students with the potential and skills for also pursuing higher education
• Ensure credibility of the evaluation mechanism
• Develop a mechanism for regular collection of feedback from stakeholders and use of the feedback to make improvements and for designing quality enhancing strategies
• Conduct periodic audits to review and enhance the academic and administrative processes
• Organise need based development programmes for faculty, non-teaching staff and students
• Establish quality circles for enhancing the functioning of the student support services and the extension activity clubs
• Promote environmental consciousness and civic and social responsibility in the college community
• Develop an effective mechanism of collecting and documenting data pertaining to the quality initiatives

NAAC

SSR

Accreditation Documents

AQAR

AQAR 2019-2020

AQAR 2018-2019

AQAR 2017-2018

AQAR 2016-2017

AQAR 2015-2016

AQAR 2014-2015

AQAR 2013-2014

AQAR 2012-2013

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

Academic and Administrative Audit

2019-2020

2018-2019

SWOC Report

Feedback

Feedback from Students

Feedback from Parents 

Feedback from Alumnae

Feedback from Employer

Policies

Environment Policy

As a responsible institution, WCC recognizes the need to develop sustainable environmental and social stewardship among the college community. In our effort to integrate principles of sustainability into all our activities, we are committed to:

• Incorporating environmental sustainability into the Academic curriculum across disciplines.
• Enhancing and nurturing campus Biodiversity.
• Ensuring Compliance with all relevant environmental legislations and adopting a Deep Ecological approach.
• Identifying and Demonstrating environmental management best practices.
• Embedding sustainability into our daily activities which include procurement practices and exploring greening of our supply chain.
• Factoring the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) of waste management into every event/activity organised.
• Setting Goals and targets for resource management, specially energy and water.
• Honoring values and the mission statement of WCC by empowering and motivating our key stakeholders –the students, to be sensitized and take charge of minimizing and managing the college’s impact on climate change.
• Influencing and encouraging responsible consumerism leading to environmental and social consciousness thereby promoting good citizenship.

Food Policy

Women’s Christian College, Chennai, through a comprehensive and methodical strategy ensures safe, hygienic, wholesome, nutritious and affordable food for the college community in all its food service outlets. Food supplied or sold on campus must be prepared, stored and served such that microbial contamination or adulteration is prevented. The Department of Home Science will conduct periodic auditing and training for food handlers to ensure safe food handling practices in compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. In addition, awareness programmes on diet and healthy lifestyle will be organised. Restriction of foods high in calories, sugar, salt and trans fat and banning of packaged deep-fried foods, soft drinks and energy drinks is enforced to encourage the college community to make right food choices contributing to optimal health. Usage of non-biodegradable packaging material such as Styrofoam and plastic is strictly prohibited. Minimizing food waste, segregating waste at source and eco-friendly waste management is implemented in the supply, production, and service of food. Promotional campaigns involving any of the banned foods / beverages is disallowed. Non-adherence or violation of this policy is punishable by suspension of payment / termination of contract.

Information Technology Policy

Women’s Christian College, Chennai has a policy that governs the use, privacy and security of its computer systems, databases, networks and information resources. The users, namely, faculty, administrative staff and students are required to adhere to the policy relating to ownership, registration of IT resources, unacceptable use and disposal of e-waste. The primary purpose of IT resources being academic, users are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of material stored in the devices and must exercise discretion regarding personal use of these resources. WCC reserves the right to audit networks and equipment on a periodic basis to ensure compliance with this policy. Sharing or hosting material that is objectionable or illegal in any form is not permitted and will attract appropriate penalties and initiate disciplinary action or will be referred to cybercrime cell for legal action. Any hardware or software purchased must be registered in the campus asset management system before it becomes functional. Condemned hardware must be checked and approved by authorized technical staff of the college before handing over to certified e-waste recyclers. Users joining the institution will be allotted accounts with unique user IDs and passwords by the System Analyst which will be blocked on leaving the institution.

Research Policy

The Women’s Christian College Centre for Research and Development since its inception in June 2015 is theoretically positioned to be a catalyst for new thinking, innovation and excellence. It aims to strengthen the teaching-research-learning triad by initiating and sustaining the culture of research in all disciplines of study offered by the college. Therefore the centre aligns itself to the institutional policy for research as to:

1. Enhance research output within departments and across academic disciplines
2. Encourage and sustain excellence through innovation
3. Empower the society outside with research findings

CODE OF ETHICS IN RESEARCH

The code of ethics in research   is designed   to foster and uphold high standards of scientific integrity and social responsibility. Research   at Women’s Christian College has at its core a respect for the autonomy, dignity and privacy of individuals and the community. Research carried out at and by the staff and students of Women’s Christian College, Chennai-6 should be aligned to the institutional policy for research. The Purpose of the code is to streamline all research activities and safeguard all stakeholders of Women’s Christian College.

The term ‘research’ in WCC is defined as “the attempt to derive generalisable new knowledge by addressing clearly defined questions with systematic and rigorous methods”

-Research governance framework for health and social care (2^nd ed )(DH,2005)

“A process of investigation leading to new insights effectively shared”

The board for monitoring the code of ethics in research at WCC comprises:

1. Deans of Research
2. Heads of PG Departments
3. One Ph.D. research scholar from WCC

The board will monitor:

a.) Ethical practices in research and publication

b.) Misrepresentation of data

c.) Misconduct in academic research

d.) Procedures involved in screening research reports and publications and certify.

e.)The safeguarding of intellectual property rights for research undertaken in WCC

Ethical guidelines to check malpractice and plagiarism in research

• The research conducted should be original and not acquired/copied from data collected by other researchers or from research previously carried out in another organisation or institution with an alternate title.
• If secondary data, standard protocols or ideas are used, the same should be used after obtaining permission from and where required ,certification by the original author before it is included in the study.
• In case photographs, pictures, tables, graphs and other figures are used from other sources the same should be duly acknowledged mentioning the source.
• All references and quotations used should be acknowledged .
• If the research work involves clinical trials or animal studies the protocols should be approved and passed by the institutional ethics committee of the college as well as the institution where the study is to be conducted.
• All dissertations and research papers submitted by the Departments should be screened for plagiarism and given clearance before it is submitted or published.
• The same data and findings should not be published in multiple journals with varied titles.
• The quality and content of the research paper /proposal to be published or sent to government or non-government funding agencies should be checked and approved by the Research Deans before it is submitted to the Head of the Institution for approval.
• Research guides cannot force students/research scholars to publish their research work in paid journals. A student /research scholar may of her own volition and interest publish in a paid journal using her own funds. Collection of money from students/research scholars by the research supervisor or co-guide, for the purpose of publishing their research article is strictly prohibited.
• The student/research scholar conducting research leading to a degree will be the first author in all research papers pertaining to her work .The research guide may only be the second author or the corresponding author and never the first author of that research work.
• The authorship rights as first author belong solely to the researcher who has conceived, designed, executed and presented the work. This may be shared in case of research projects with more than one principal investigators
• All co- authors of a research paper should have had a specific role in the conduct of the study and analysis of data.
• Statisticians, researchers, suppliers of raw material and study material etc who have been paid for their contribution towards the study in the analysis of data or the presentation of results cannot feature as co-authors in the publication. They can however be acknowledged for their contribution.

POLICY ON CONSULTANCY AND RESOURCE SHARING

Consultancy is defined as professional affiliation and expertise offered to any third party that seeks such expertise. Consultancy will not include mandatory academic duties.

Ten percent of the total income earned as a result of such consultancy should be deposited into the college account and will be considered as consultancy generated by the respective Departments

Guidelines for Consultancy and Resource Sharing

• Students from other education and research institution can be permitted to use the infrastructure of the college if they approach the institution with a letter authorised by the head of the Department or institution of their parent institution, seeking permission.
• Such students or researchers may be allowed to use the laboratory and provided with necessary assistance after getting due permission from the head of the institution or principal with regard to the period of work and payment for the utilisation of infrastructure.

Policy for the disabled students

The policy has been framed with the objective to create an enriching learning environment for the disabled students.

• To provide easy access to classrooms and other facilities by adapting the campus to their needs for mobility and independent functioning so as to empower them to acquire education without any obstacles.
• To ensure timely and adequate assistance for enquiring and accessing necessary information.
• To provide special guidance and counseling to such students.
• To address any general issues concerning learning that they may encounter.
• To assess their educational needs and provide assistance accordingly.
• To study their aptitude and guide them accordingly.
• To provide them with special learning and assessment devices.
• To orient faculty to cater to their special needs.
• To sensitize the entire college community to their needs so that an inclusive environment is created for them.
• To provide special assistance to gain successful employment.

Best Practices

BEST PRACTICES-2019-20

BEST PRACTICE 1

Title: Integration of online admission process with institutional ERP system

1. Objectives

• To make the admission process more efficient and user friendly in terms of providing faster, transparent service and efficient maintenance of records.
• To reduce manpower requirements thereby ensuring confidentiality& objectivity.
• To facilitate applicants from across India and abroad.
• To facilitate quick retrieval of student details.

2.Context

The admission process was earlier complicated, time intensive and confusing for a student seeking admission. The huge volume of applications made data entry cumbersome. This was a challenge that necessitated a user friendly admission process.

3.The Practice

• The portal for registration for online admissions opens in the first week of May. Primary registration and payment for application is made after which an application number is generated. The applicant is then required to upload supporting documents.
• The applications are downloaded and a merit list is generated. The admission committee scrutinizes the merit list and generates the selection list.
• The process of generating admission notices, sending email and sms to the selected candidates is entirely automated.
• The selected candidate is permitted to download the admission notice and produce it to complete the admission process on campus.
• The admission process is complete once the necessary documents are verified, student photograph is taken and fee payment is made.
• This system facilitates generation of complete list of applicants, merit list, selected list and web notice for each programme.
• Since the online admission system has been designed to integrate with the ERP system of the institution, the admitted student details can be accessed directly by the administrative & academic departments of the institution.

4.Outcome, Evidence of success

• The number of applications has increased manifold after this.
• Number of international students and students from other states admitted in the College has increased.
• Integration of all processes related to admission made the procedure simple and seamless.
• Entry of unauthorized persons during admissions has been restricted to the campus.
• Applicants who do not satisfy merit requirements of a particular programme are able to transfer to another programme easily if they meet the requirements of that programme.
• Admission procedure is completed in less than 30 minutes due to integration of data through ERP and centralization of all functions relating to admission and enrolment.
• Because of this integration, updation of student information is reflected across the various functional departments of the institution thereby ensuring accuracy of the database.
• This system has facilitated quick generation of student ID cards, class lists, demographic details required for reports and queries.

5.Problems encountered and resources required

Problems encountered

• Considerable slowdown of the process time due to large number of users logging in concurrently.
• Interruption in internet connectivity.

Resources required

• High speed internet connectivity.
• Trained manpower to resolve technical issues.

BEST PRACTICE 2

Title of the Practice: Establishment of a Community Gardens on campus

1.Objectives of the Practice:

The idea behind student community garden in Women’s Christian College is to encourage organic gardening as well as to highlight the importance of healthy and sustainable food production and consumption habits. When students are practically involved in the process of growing plants, they also become aware of the need for patience and discipline in gardening and the effort that goes into producing food. A sense of community is developed among the students and knowledge sharing takes place between students as they become involved not just in their own crops but also in those of their friends.

2.The Context:

With rapid expansion of the urban areas, space for gardening and engagement with plants and the soil is a becoming nearly impossible. Therefore, for students who are interested in gardening, but are faced with the problem of a lack of space, the college provides as small patch of land on campus, where they can grow plants of their choice and share the organically grown harvest with the college community.

3.The Practice:

An area of 29 x 18m was identified on campus and each student interested in this project was allotted a plot based on the lot taken by her. The allotted strip of land was to remain with the student for a specific period of time, a year. Thirty three students participated in the first year of this project, with some choosing to work independently and others in small groups. Students are given the liberty to choose the crop of their choice, ranging from ornamental flowers to vegetables. The harvested produce is sold on campus.

Student work on their garden spaces after classes every day, and are responsible for every stage of the process, from the beginning with the preparation of soil, to sowing, and later on, weeding, and other tasks related to maintenance including manuring. Only organic manure is used and organic pest control methods are employed by students. This form of experiential learning takes place with occasional guidance from faculty members, whenever needed.

4. Evidence of Success:

Students become aware of different aspects of gardening, from preparation of the soil to protecting the plants from pests and diseases. A community effort and students involved in the project are also helped by other students and even staff members. The practical issues of food production, identification of pest, means of preventing and controlling them are learned by the students. Perhaps in future, the area allotted for each student will increase as well as more space will be allotted for this project.

5. Problems Encountered

The main obstacle is the difficulty of the project itself. A few students could not continue the work until the end, but the number of students who stayed on until the end of the year far outnumbered those who left midway. Another problem is the maintenance of the plants during holidays and vacation days. College gardeners help during these lean periods.

6.Resources required:

Man power in term of support staff and more land to generate substantial income.

Best practices – 2018-2019

Best Practice 1

1. Title of the Practice

Upcycling –The use of salvaged timber from fallen trees and steel from renovated buildings oncampus to furnish the academic/ residential/ administrative blocks.

2. Objectives of the Practice

Upcycling is better described as creative reuse. The goal is to prevent wasting potentially useful materials generated on campus, reducing purchase and consumption of new raw materials. It is the art of turning old/leftover materials into value added products. Upcycling becomes dually important because it reduces the amount of waste produced. It reduces the need for virgin material for newer generations of products. This is an environment friendly, sustainable practice that is cost effective and has helped the college cut down on expenses in furniture purchase and design to the tune of lakhs over the last few years.

3. The Context

The process itself can be time consuming and laborious and may require an Upcycling unit of some kind and people with the knowhow, for effective implementation. That challenge has been overcome by the institution. Having an in-house work force for upcycling resources on campus is a unique feature in WCC and is a challenge that the institution has admirably taken in its stride. A workshop on campus with the necessary implements, experts with an eye for design and a skilled workforce are some of the highlights of this arrangement.

4. The Practice

Academics and extracurricular activities are not the only areas of focus in WCC. A holistic approach in higher education is what the institution works towards, thus making a responsible citizen of every student who passes through its portals. Environmental Stewardship is something that the college firmly believes in. Whether protecting and replenishing its natural resources by planting more trees, rainwater harvesting systems, or reducing the waste generated on campus by recycling in the form of vermicomposting or building bottle benches, or as in this case, upcycling salvaged timber and steel from campus into furniture and other utility/aesthetic products, the institution has always been an exemplary model of a community that believes in being responsible for and conscious of its environment. Upcycling of salvaged wood and steel from campus is an initiative that has resulted in the completion of around 260 pieces of furniture/ aesthetic and utility items that are used in various academic and residential blocks. The only drawback/limitation in this initiative perhaps is the time taken for processing the timber/ steel and for completing the intended product. These are some of the finished products that have emerged from this initiative. Wood from fallen Samanea samanon campus were used to make student chairs with writing pads(Florence Theophilus Block), chairs and tables for teachers, platforms in classrooms at the Centenary Block, podium for the chapel, and partitions that are used in the Marjorie Conference Room and one of the hostels (Coon Hostel). Wood from the Thespesia populnea has been made into the two elegant almirahs that now grace the Staff Lounge. The Millingtonia and Tabebuia are some of the other trees whose wood has been put to good use in the form of chairs and teapoys. The chairs in the Elizabeth George Conference Room are of the wood from the Millingtonia on campus.The inner framework reapers taken from the Auditorium were crafted into Chapel benches, lampshades, frames for mosquito nets to be used in one of the hostels, and a stand that is used in the fabric dyeing unit of the Department of Chemistry.MS (Mild Steel) flats recovered from the Science Block ceiling have been used for making grills in the hostel and the framework required for the Shade House, (Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology).

5. Evidence of Success

This initiative has resulted in the reduction of the waste disposed. We have moved on from reducing, reusing, recycling to upcycling which has helped in promoting a regenerative design culture where the end products are cleaner, healthier and have better value than the original material. This practice showcases the ability of the institution to put to good use, resources available on campus beit raw materials or manpower and its unflinching efforts towards fostering a culture of being a community of environmentally conscious people. An initiative of this kind will go a long way in making a success of the efforts taken by the institution towards ensuring carbon neutrality. At a time when issues like global warming and deforestation are being discussed with great concern across the globe, this practice in WCC can be seen as a trailblazer of sorts.Not only has the institution retained and nurtured its green cover zealously over the past century, it has also put in place initiatives that foster a culture of regeneration and sustainability. Last but not the least, this practice is also a cost effective way of designing and procuring appropriate, sometimes even unique articles/products for furnishing the buildings on campus.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

Establishing a workshop/ recycle unit, lack of space and employing skilled manpower are potential problems that can hinder the effective implementation of this practice. In WCC, however, all three hurdles have been smoothly overcome and the practice has been carried out effectively over the last few years. The only exception, perhaps, was during the onslaught of Vardah in December 2016, when the cyclonic storm had wreaked havoc on campus leaving in its trail fallen trees, branches and debris everywhere. Even in the face of this crisis the college community, swung into action. Within a very short span of time the campus was cleared of the fallen trees and branches. Each one of them was stacked neatly in unobtrusive corners on campus and most of them are already being upcycled into functional finished products.

7. Notes

Upcycling is a practice that is restorative and regenerative and can lead to the fostering of an environment conscious community that works towards sustainability and development in a disturbing global where wasting resources has become a reality. As an institution that believes in the motto ‘Lighted to Lighten’, it is yet another step that WCC has taken in the recent past to make its mark on the community and the environment by playing the role of a corporate body that is conscious of adopting cost effective methods of meeting requirements wherever possible, while remaining conscious of and upholding its commitment to its self-imposed responsibility of environmental stewardship. Other institutions of higher education may do well to emulate its example as the need of the hour is to put into practice measures and initiatives that will make a responsible individual of every student who passes through their portals.

Best Practice 2

1. Title of the Practice

Proficiency Based English for Communication Skills Course offered in four levels

2. Objectives of the Practice

The Department of English has been offering a unique, level based Foundation English Course, for learners with varying proficiency levels. Its objectives are Shift from following a content based approach to a skill based one Equip the student with the skills required for effective communication and employment, on graduation. Consideration of the different proficiency levels of the learners develop their skills in homogenous groups, through an outcome based module Bridge the gap between the rote learning, content based approach encouraged in schools and thecompetence based, outcome oriented training provided in college.

3. The Context

The Course was designed keeping in mind the spectrum of student competencies ranging from those proficient enough in the language skilled at creative/ journalistic/ academic writing and communication to others from regional medium of instruction for whom framing simple sentences in English pose a problem. Learners are divided into different proficiency levels based on diagnostic tests. A syllabus for every semester in each level is framed using a task based framework that will help training in required skill sets in gradual progression. Conventional content based text books were done away with and a three-level General English Course, Courses I, II and III was launched, with Course III intended for learners Proficient in English. Material production, therefore, was another challenge faced by the faculty. This initiative evolved over the years and is now a four-level English for Communication Skills course, offered at the Advanced, Intermediate, Basic and Fundamental levels. The faculty of the Department was put through sufficient training before implementing this course, with inputs and guidance from academic experts at EFLU, Hyderabad.

4. The Practice

Taking on an experimental learning endeavor of this kind was a ground breaking effort on the part of WCC at a time when conventional pedagogical methods were still being followed in many other institutions of higher education across the State. This Course, which can be considered a pioneering effort by the Department of English, was launched with the aim of training students in effective communication skills and to equip them with the competence required to face the demands of societal roles and the challenges of the workplace. This is a brief overview of the Course. At the entry level, the learners are put through a series of diagnostic tests and writing tasks to assess their competence in the language. Based on this assessment, they are placed in the level that is best suited for them. This may not necessarily be the case for the entire course, spanning four semesters. Upward mobility is possible between levels. At the end of two semesters the learner may, depending on her performance, be able to move up to the next level for the subsequent semesters. The Course is designed in such a way that the four skills required for language learning – listening, speaking, reading and writing (LSRW) – are incorporated into the curriculum. This Course is further enhanced and complemented by a two-semester Skill Based Course offered by the Department (also in four levels) on English usage and spoken & presentation skills. In both courses, each level has a syllabus for every semester. Over a period of four semesters, therefore, this amounts to twenty-four independent language training modules offered by the Department of English for students pursuing their undergraduate study. The Course has been welcomed and put to good use by the students who are the primary stakeholders benefitting from this practice. The two language labs have also helped in enhancing the learning experience. Periodic revisions have been made in the curriculum based on the feedback received from students. This is in addition to the inputs from members on the Department’s Board of Studies which includes (besides student representatives and the faculty) academicians/ subject experts, representatives from industry and alumnae of the Department. As a Course that is designed on the principles of relevance and functionality, its aim was and continues to be bringing about tangible outcomes in terms of learner progression, personality development and employability.

5. Evidence of Success

Besides employment statistics and the number of students pursuing higher studies within the country and abroad, other indicators of the success include positive student feedback received at the institutional level during the Academic Council and Board of Studies meetings. This Course aims to rise up to the challenges and demands of the contemporary world. It attempts to address the language needs of the learner in order to equip them for employment, social interaction and roles they will take on in the various spheres of life. This approach falls within an international frame of reference for language learning, teaching and assessment. Be it the British Council and its CELTA course for teaching English as a foreign language or CEFR(Common European Framework of Reference) designed by Cambridge English Language Assessment, or the eligibility tests for studying/working abroad such as the IELTS, each one of them follows this competency based approach. Some institutions in the city, which have experimented with this system t have given up this approach and moved on to conventional methods again. However at WCC, this pedagogy has been an effective and sustainable practice.

6. Problems Encountered and Resources Required

The Course has been effective over the years because of the methodology adopted. One of the recent challenges faced in running of this Course, however, is dealing with the large number of students in every class. Though the Department has taken this challenge in its stride, a more realistic teacher student ratio in any institution of higher education will in fact go a long way in enhancing the success of such courses. Bridging the gap between learner competence/requirements and expected outcomes is and will continue to be a challenge as long as the methodology adopted in schools remains unchanged. It is becoming increasingly important to train the student in the skills required to meet the challenges outside the institution. A shift from a content oriented approach to a skill based one will make the transition to higher education and employment less daunting for the student.

Activities

2020

2019

2018

2017