SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Nov. 22: St. Xavier’s College, one of the premier educational institutions in Jharkhand, has regained its autonomous status.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) sent a letter to the college in this regard on November 15.
The college, started by the Ranchi Jesuit Society, on July 3, 1944, had lost its autonomy last year after the NAAC grading held in May 2022 granted a B+ grade to the institution.
As per the UGC (Conferment of Autonomous Status upon Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Autonomous Colleges) Regulations, 2023, colleges that have secured a minimum ‘A’ grade by NAAC shall only be granted autonomous status.
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Ranchi University took over the college’s examination procedure under UGC norms after the autonomy expired.
Expiry of autonomous status deprived the college of designing its syllabus, restructuring and introducing courses, preparing its own admission rules and conducting its exams.
“We suffered a lot after RU over the examination procedure. Our session got late as the university did not hold examinations in time. Also, our syllabus did not match the syllabus adopted by the university,” pointed out a teacher, requesting anonymity.
Principal Dr Father Nabor Lakra SJ told this writer that the UGC has restored the autonomy status since 2022. It was a gift from the UGC for us on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Now, the Ranchi University (RU) will take a call and issue a notification regarding this,” he added.
Lakra said that he has called a meeting of senior faculties when the college reopens after the puja vacation tomorrow. “We will reconstitute the statutory bodies, including the Academic Board of Studies and the governing body based on the UGC guidelines,” he said.
The principal said that we will redesign our syllabus given the New Education Policy to enable the students to become employable.
Notably, St. Xavier’s College was first affiliated to Patna University; from 1950-1960 the college was under Bihar University and when Ranchi University came into existence in 1960, the college was affiliated with Ranchi University.
The University Grants Commission conferred Affiliated to Ranchi University, Ranchi status in 2005 and granted “College with Potential for Excellence” status in 2006.
