CRITERIA 6

Criterion VI: Governance and Leadership

 

6.1 Institutional Vision and Leadership

6.1.1     Vision of the institution

• Mould students of the institution into well-meaning citizens of the nation through a socially committed, intellectually inclined, culture driven and future oriented paradigm of learning.
  
• Empower the students to aspire for significantly contributing to the nation's development through socialist and secular strategies of instruction.
  

 

Mission Statement

• The institution shall always strive to stride forward and keep pace with the changing needs and spirit of the times. It shall not lounge on its
  

  glorious past alone.
  

• The College shall continue to foster talent and build on its rich repository of fame and prestige.
  
• The institution shall continue to uphold its commitment to the nation in general and to the society in particular and perpetually strive to carry this out through a series of carefully crafted, tested and systematically executed steps of actions.
  
• The University College shall spare no effort to continue to spread and further its academic potential as well as effulgence by providing conducive academic ambience for all classes of students and teachers.
  
• The institution shall signify learning from the past, assimilating the present and planning for the future.
  

 

Give details on how the institution

1. ensures that the vision and mission of the institution is in tune with the objectives of the Higher Education policies of the nation?
   

   The College is a Government institution and functions in accordance with the
   

   the Government policies on Education which in fact is tailor made to suit the Education policies of the nation. The administrative bodies of the institution as well as that of the Government having supervisory role, has established a system of checks and balances to ensure that the vision and mission are achieved.
   

2. translates its vision statement into its activities?
   

   The Curricular and Co curricular activities of the institution which are directed towards the total development of the student personality are properly carried out and monitored by the teaching departments and the bodies such as the NCC, NSS, Navy, Women's Study unit and the different clubs.
   

1. Enumerate the Management's commitment, leadership-role and involvement for effective and efficient transaction of the teaching-learning processes.
   

   The College is being managed by a hierarchy of officials and teachers from the government level to that of the institution. The Principal is the administrative head responsible for the management of the institution within the campus. With the support of the college administration and the College Council, the Principal ensures the involvement of all stakeholders in the effective and efficient transaction of the teaching-learning processes.
   

 

1. How do the management and the Head of the institution ensure that responsibilities are defined and communicated to the staff of the institution?
   

   The administrative functions of the institution are carried out by the Head of the Institution through a series of committees at the College and Department levels. Powers are delegated to these different bodies for the smooth functioning of the academic activities with the Principal having a supervisory role. The College Council, Staff Council, Department Staff Councils and the Parent Teacher Association assist the Head of the institution in the academic activities. Responsibilities are well defined and communicated to the staff through office communications and the meetings of the various committees. Efforts are on to utilize the Computerised LAN of the institution for communicating with the teaching departments and staff.
   

2. How does the Management/Head of the institution ensure that adequate information (from feedback and personal contacts etc.) is available for the management, to review the activities of the institution?
   

   Department Staff Councils discuss the student feed back and overall academic performance through Staff meetings which are recorded properly. The College Council and PTA meetings similarly discuss feed back and academic progress which again are recorded and available for review as and when they are needed.
   

3. How does the management encourage and support involvement of the staff for improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the institutional processes?
   

   Meeting of the College Council, Staff Council, PTA, Advisory Committee of the NSS and the Staff Club which are presided by the Principal are the platforms through which all stake holders are encouraged to perform in an effective manner for academic growth.
   

4. Describe the leadership role of the Head of the institution, in governance and management of the institution.
   

   The Principal is the administrative and academic head of the institution who liaises with the Government and the higher administrative bodies of education in the State on the one hand and with the staff and students of the institution on the other hand. He establishes good rapport with these stakeholder groups and discharges his duties in an effective manner.
   

1. Organizational Arrangements
   

   1. Give the organizational structure and details of the academic and administrative bodies of the institution. Give details of the meetings held, and the decisions taken by these bodies, regarding finance, infrastructure, faculty recruitment, performance evaluation of teaching and non-teaching staff, research and extension activities, linkages and examinations held during the last two years.
      

 

 

    The College administration is carried out by the Principal with the help of various bodies including the office, the College Council, the College Development Council and the Staff Council. Principal delegates duties and responsibilities to these bodies for carrying out the administrative activities.

The College Council is an advisory board that helps the Principal in dispensing his academic and administrative functions. It is composed of the Principal, the Head of Departments, Librarian and nominated faculty members. The Council periodically meets to decide upon major academic and administrative matters concerning the institution. Minutes of the Council meetings are circulated among the departments for information.

The Parent Teacher Association consists of elected members of staff and parents with Principal as the President and an elected Parent member as the Vice President. PTA General body meets annually and the Executive Committee members meet occasionally to transact business. The PTA fund is utilized for student welfare and for the development of the departments.

The College Development Committee has the District Collector as Chairman and holds periodic meetings to discuss infrastructural development and maintenance of the institution.

 

1. To what extent is the administration decentralized? How does the institution collaborate with different sections/departments and personnel of the institution to improve the quality of its educational provisions?
   

   The administrative functions of the institution are mostly carried out in a participatory manner through committees. Major administrative decisions of the institution are taken in the meetings of the College Council and the College Development Committee. Teaching departments are given sufficient autonomy in taking decisions about the conduct of academic programmes. Teaching, evaluation and feed back systems are developed by the individual departments according to local situations.
   

2. Does the institution have effective internal coordination and monitoring mechanisms? If yes, specify.
   

   Internal co ordination and monitoring is ensured through a network in which the College Council, Staff Council and the administration are involved. A two way flow of information takes place between these bodies.
   

3. Does the institution have a Grievance Redressal Cell for its employees? If yes, what are its functions? List the number of grievances redressed during the last two years.
   

   The Principal is the appellate authority of the institution and all employee grievances received by the Principal are placed before the College Council which decides upon the issue based on facts. The minutes of the College Council is authentic record for the grievance redressals.
   

4. How many times does the management meet the staff in an academic year? What are the major issues discussed during the last meeting?
   

   Staff meetings are normally held twice or thrice during every academic year. However, under special circumstances such as that of a new Principal taking charge or that of a serious issue affecting the entire college, special meetings are convened. In the Staff meeting that was convened last time, i.e,. in the month of ----------------matters relating to online attendance management system, discipline and conduct of examinations were discussed.
   

5. Is there a Cell to prevent sexual harassment of women staff? How effective is the functioning of the Cell?
   

   In compliance with the directives of the Government based on the Supreme Court judgment, the College has set up a separate cell to prevent sexual harassment of women staff. One senior lady faculty member is the convener of this cell and it allows women staff to get their grievances redressed.
   

6.3 Strategy Development and Deployment

1. Describe the procedure of developing the perspective institutional plan. How are the Teachers, Students and Administrators involved in the planning process?
   

   The institution, being affiliated to the University of Kerala, has limited role in developing the perspective institutional plan. The College develops plans to comply with the broad guidelines being issued by the University and the Government from time to time in the successful conduct of the academic programmes. The College Council is the supreme planning body of the institution which discusses and develops institutional plans to match with those issued by the University. Developmental issues of the institution are discussed in the College Development Committee which has the District Collector as its Chairman.
   

2. How are the objectives communicated and deployed to all levels, to ensure individual employee's contribution for the institutional development?
   

   All administrative decisions of the College Council are taken keeping in view of the Vision and Mission of the institution. The objectives of the various academic activities to be taken up during any year are properly communicated through meetings and office circulars.
   

3. List the different committees constituted for the management of different institutional activities? Give details of the meetings held and the decisions taken, regarding academic management, finance, infrastructure, faculty, research, extension and linkages, and examinations held during the last two years.
   

   As already mentioned the administrative system is to a great extent decentralized and works through various committees. The IQAC is a committee that has been set up in the institution in accordance with the UGC's directives to promote quality initiatives in teaching, learning, administration and student support.
   

4. Has the institution an MIS in place, to select, collect, align and integrate data and information on the academic and administrative aspects of the institution?
   

   The administration is undergoing reforms towards achieving office automation. All organs of the institution such as the academic system, administration and the student support system are now part of a Local Area Network (LAN). It is expected that the institution would channelise all its data and information handling systems, which at present is done through manual methods, through a Management Information System.
   

5. Does the institution use the various data and information obtained from the feedback, in decision-making and performance improvement? If yes, give details.
   

   Student feedback, feed back from the Class PTA and the general PTA meetings and the inputs given by the teaching departments to the College Council are also considered while decisions are taken on improving the academic performance and administrative management.
   

6. What are the institution's initiatives for promoting co-operation, sharing of knowledge, innovations and empowerment of the faculty? (Skill sharing across departments, creating/providing conducive environment, etc.)
   

   Faculty members co operate in the areas of student development, sharing of expertise acquired through training and international programmes and in student support. Teaching departments encourage interdisciplinary classes during tutorial sessions utilizing faculty from other departments. Similarly, IQAC takes initiative in organizing programmes that enable faculty members share their experiences gained through training.
   

6.4 Human Resource Management

1. What are the mechanisms for performance assessment (teaching, research, service) of faculty and staff? (Self–appraisal method, comprehensive evaluation by students and peers). Does the institution use the evaluations to improve teaching/ research of the faculty and service of the faculty by other staff? If yes, how?
   

   The institution uses self appraisal method and comprehensive assessment by students to assess the performance of the faculty and staff. The feed back is communicated to the respective faculty members and staff for better performance. Department staff meetings address broad issues in teaching-learning pointed out by the students and suggest appropriate corrective measures to address them.
   

2. What are the welfare measures for the staff and faculty? (mention only those which affect and improve staff well-being, satisfaction and motivation)
   

   The strategies adopted by the Department of Collegiate Education, Government of Kerala for faculty welfare include monetary benefits for those with higher qualifications such as M.Phil and Ph.D and benefits in promotion schemes for those possessing Ph.D degree. At the institutional level, the College Council motivates faculty members through appreciations for merit and talent and by providing opportunities for self expression. The Staff Club of the College is committed to faculty welfare and it offers a platform for members having talents in the field of arts.
   

   
    

3. What are the strategies and implementation plans of the institution, to recruit and retain faculty and other staff who have the desired qualifications, knowledge and skills?
   

   The institution being owned by the Government is subject to the recruitment policies and procedures of the Kerala State Public Service Commission in accordance to the U.G.C norms and conditions and the rules laid by the State Government and the University of Kerala from time to time. Faculty members are selected through a competitive examination and interview conducted by the Public Service Commission. To fill short term gaps in faculty positions that arise due to long leave and other causes, the institution recruits guest faculty from qualified graduates with requisite skills in accordance with Government rules and procedures. The staff is recruited by the PSC by interviewing qualified candidates in accordance with Government norms on recruitment of staff.
   

4. What are the criteria for employing part-time/adhoc faculty? How are the recruitment conditions of part-time/adhoc faculty different from that of the regular faculty? (Eg. salary structure, workload, specialisations).
   

   When a need arises for guest faculty, the institution advertises the same in the news papers (local and national). Walk in interviews are held on a designated date and candidates are selected based on merit. While the regular faculty receives pay according to the pay fixed by the Government, the guest faculty is paid a consolidated sum taking into account the number of teaching hours engaged by each.
   

5. What are the policies, resources and practices of the institution that support and ensure the professional development of the faculty? (Eg. budget allocation for staff development, sponsoring for advanced study, research, participation in seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. and supporting membership and active involvement in local, state, national and international professional associations).
   

   The institution promotes professional development of the faculty to a great extent. The Plan fund is appropriately utilized for professional development by enabling the Teaching departments to organize seminars, conferences and workshops. Faculty members of the institution actively take part in national and international seminars and conferences both in the Country and abroad. The institution encourages faculty members to get trained through training programmes and workshops in their respective areas. Most of the teaching staff have membership in professional bodies, both national and international.
   

6. How do you assess the needs of the faculty development? Has the institution conducted any staff development programmes for skill up-gradation and training of the staff? If yes, give details.
   
7. What are the facilities provided to faculty? (Well-maintained and functional office, infrastructure and other space to carry out their work effectively etc.,)
   

   Faculty members are given adequate facilities for their academic work. While there are separate office rooms for faculty members in some departments, some others have common rooms and rooms for groups. All staff members including non teaching staff are given required office furniture including table, chair and shelf. Provisions are made in staff rooms for internet connectivity through the LAN facility.
   

6.5 Financial Management and Resource Mobilization

6.5.1 Does the institution get financial support from the Government? If yes, mention the grants received in the last three years under different heads. If no, give details of the sources of revenue and income generated during the last three years?

1. What is the quantum of resources mobilized through donations? Give information for the last two years.
   
2. Is there adequate budget to cover the day-to-day expenses? If no, how is the deficit met?
   
3. What are the budgetary resources to fulfill the institution's mission and offer quality programmes? (Budget allocations over the past two years (provide income expenditure statements)
   
4. Are the accounts audited regularly? If yes, give the details of internal and external audit procedures and the audit reports for last two years.
   
5. Has the institution computerized its finance management systems? If yes, give details.
   

 

6.6 Best Practices in Governance and Leadership

1. What are the significant best practices in Governance and Leadership carried out by the institution?
   

 

For Re-accreditation:

 

The same assessment framework will be used. However, additional information has to

be provided for the following probes:

 

1. What were the evaluative observations made under Organisation and Management in the previous assessment report and how have they been acted upon?
   

 

1. What are the other quality sustenance and enhancement measures undertaken by the institution since the previous Assessment and Accreditation with regard to Organisation and Management?
   

 

* Responses to questions from 6.1.1 to 6.1.7 should be based on data of five years after accreditation