CHENNAI: Anna University has issued showcause notices to 225 engineering colleges and standalone institutions offering architecture, MBA and MCA courses found lacking in qualified faculty members and infrastructure such as labs and equipment. The university, which can de-affiliate a course or a college or reduce seats if it finds that compliance reports are not filed on time, has asked colleges to rectify discrepancies within two weeks to get the extension of affiliation. After a gap of two years, the university in May and June conducted physical inspection of 476 colleges which sought extension of affiliation for 2022–23.
“The committees found 225 colleges had more than 50% deficiencies in at least one programme. Most of them had much fewer faculty members than required for the sanctioned strength while some lacked lab facilities,” vice-chancellor R Velraj said.
As many as 62 colleges had dearth in infrastructure, ranging from 25% to 50%, and 23 principals were found ineligible as per the norms. “Colleges which have ineligible persons as principals need to appoint new principals as per norms. The colleges which have less than 50% discrepancies also need to file a compliance report,” he added.
The university said that 166 colleges found with less than 25% gap in infrastructure and staff would get the affiliation extended.
Professors who were part of inspection committees said some colleges reduced faculty strength and many did not pay faculty during the pandemic. “The university should follow-up on the showcause notices issued to colleges and take action like de-affiliating the course or a college found lacking the necessary infrastructure to offer degree programmes,” said E Balagurusamy, former vice-chancellor of Anna University.”For more than 10 years the same situation has been continuing. If the university had acted against these colleges in the past,these colleges would have rectified their deficiencies,” he added
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