Syndicate to request UGC for reviewing decision on exams

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 13

The Panjab University Syndicate today decided to send a request to the University Grant Commission (UGC) to review its decision regarding holding final-semester exams for various courses.

The Syndicate formed a committee to look into the possibilities of conducting exams, online admissions and other academic aspects during Covid-19.

The committee will be headed by the former Dean Student Welfare. Syndic Navdeep Goyal, along with other Syndics, DUI, Registrar and other officials will be a part of the committee.

Committee members are likely to meet the PU Vice-Chancellor on Wednesday to decide the future course of action. The priority of the committee will be deciding the dates for online admissions and sessions.

“The committee has been formed. Our priority is working on admissions and sessions. If things move in the right direction, we may take a decision tomorrow. Meanwhile, on the issue of conducting examination, the Syndics have decided to write to the UGC for reviewing its decision and we will take a decision soon. All these matters are likely to be resolved in a week. Any decision will be taken considering students’ interest,” said Goyal.

Sources said the PU authorities were in favour of promoting students to avoid any kind of hassle in view of Covid-19. “Considering the rise in Covid-19 cases, the authorities are not in the favour of conducting exams. Though a lot depends upon UGC’s reply to the Syndicate’s request,” said one of the sources.

DSW appointed

The Syndicate approved the appointment of Prof SK Tomar as the new Dean Student Welfare (DSW). Tomar, a faculty member of the Department of Mathematics, was earlier appointed as the interim DSW after the Syndics failed to reach a consensus on a name recommended by the Vice-Chancellor in the previous meetings. He has been appointed on the chair till May 31, 2021.

Online payment for hostels

The Syndicate also approved the minutes of a committee regarding modifications in the PU Handbook of Hostel Rules 2020-21. For this session, the mode of hostel, mess and canteen charges payment will be online for the convenience of residents.

Colleges based in Punjab and affiliated to the PU have been asked to promote online mode of admissions. There are around 196 colleges in Punjab. However, Syndics decided not to take any decision on the proposal of dropping OCET entrance exam for admission to postgraduate courses.

Other decisions

• Amendment to Regulations 3 of PU Calendar Vol I-2007. Faculty members and other staff are allowed to reside in Greater Mohali apart from the tricity.
• Approval of an MoU between the PU and National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research.
• Approval of all recommendations regarding cases for appointments on compassionate grounds.
• Approval of grant of one additional unit (comprising 60 seats) in BA LLB(Honors) from academic session 2020-21 and start of LLM one-year course with an intake of 20 students at PUSSGRC, Hoshiarpur.
• Approved admission guidelines for affiliated colleges for 2020-21. BEd admissions to be conducted as per the regulations of the National Council for Teacher Education.