PU forms panels to solve student issues

Making an announcement in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Professor R C Sobti and all faculty members on Thursday,Dean University Instructions (DUI) Prof B S Brar gave an elaborate information on the constitution,members,working and nature of these committees to be formed before February 17.

“There is an immediate need of putting in place an institutional system to address students’ problems. These kind of systems are effectively in place at various other institutes,including JNU. Reforms,if required,will be made in these committees over time. It is also an attempt to resolve issues at the lower level only where they can be dealt in a better way,” said Brar.

Some of the faculty members,however,viewed this move as formation of just another committee to resolve an issue,as has been the case with the university. “First we need to ensure that the existing system is in place,only then any new committee or system will be effective,” said Prof Ronki Ram,Department of Political Science. Similar views were expressed by Prof Manjit Singh,Department of Sociology.

Sobti speaks to dental institute students

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Professor RC Sobti addressed students,faculty and non-teaching staff of Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital at University Law Auditorium. He made the students take a pledge to be a disciplined doctor and not to harm the image and the sanctity of the institute and the university in future. He also announced various cultural and academic events that will be organised in future at the institute for recreation and entertainment of students and their overall personality development. He also advised the faculty members to conduct with responsibility as they were being paid handsome salaries compared to other institutes.

The committees

* All departments,institutes,centres and schools to constitute their respective SFCC latest by February 17 and convey it the DUI office.

* An SFCC will have a chairperson/director/coordinator of the department/institute/centre/school; the senior most professor; senior most associate professor; senior most assistant professor; senior most female faculty member (if none of the above three is a woman); senior most research scholar or equivalent; departmental representative on the Panjab University Campus Students Council; most meritorious student from each class (based on result of the previous examination); a female student (if none of the above students is female); a representative to be chosen by students of reserved categories.

* SFCC to meet at least once every fortnight,but it must meet within 48 hours if any issue is being brought to its notice by either the chairperson or the departmental representative

* Minutes of the meeting to be maintained for record both by the chairperson and the departmental representative

* In case the SFCC fails to resolve an issue,matter will go to UCSFR

* The UCSFR will comprise two senior most professors of science faculties; two senior most professors of other faculties; two senior most professors from professional institutes,schools and centres; president and secretary of PU Teachers’ Association; president and secretary of the PUCSC

* UCSFR to meet once a month but its meeting must be held within four working days of an issue brought to its notice by an SFCC

* V-C and DUI will look into the matter after going through the reasons stated by the SFCC and UCSFR for their inability to resolve the issue