Colleges to reopen from 1 August for old students, for new students from 1 Sept: UGC

April 29: In view of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdown, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the body which controls and regulates higher education in the country has ultimately announced new session dates. In a notification issued by UGC on 29 April, it was stated that the 2020-21 academic session will commence for old students from 1 August, 2020; whereas for the new students, the session will start from 1 September, 2020. The much anticipated admissions for the 2020-21 session will be conducted between 1 August to 31 August, 2020.

The notification further stated that the pending examinations can be conducted in July by those states where the coronavirus situation has normalised. UGC also notified that six months extension will be granted to M.Phil and Ph.D scholars and viva-voice be conducted through video conference.

The guidelines further stated that universities may follow a six-day week pattern, develop virtual classroom and video conference facility and all teaching staff should be trained with the use of the technology, prepare e-content/ e-lab experiments and upload on their websites, and faculty should be adequately trained for the use of ICT and online teaching tools, so that they complete about 25% of the syllabus through online teaching and 75% syllabus through face to face teaching.

“Universities may conduct Terminal / Intermediate Semester / Year examinations in offline / online mode, as per their Ordinances/Rules and Regulations, Scheme of Examinations, observing the guidelines of “social distancing” and keeping in view the support system available with them and ensuring fair opportunity to all students,” it added.

Following Guidelines on Examinations and Academic Calendar have been approved by UGC today: pic.twitter.com/BkRC9uQcaa

— Ministry of HRD (@HRDMinistry) April 29, 2020

The scheme of ‘Carry forward’ (for the subjects in which the student has failed) will be allowed for the current academic year in the universities and every student will be promoted to next semester/year. However, such students may clear the examination for the course in which he/ she has failed/ remained absent. whenever the examination is held next. ii. The students may be allowed to improve their grades by offering one additional opportunity to appear for the current semester course(s) in succeeding semesters/ years or through supplementary examinations. The modalities for examination and other related activities be applied uniformly across all courses in a university.

Regarding the requirement of minimum percentage of attendance for the students/ research scholars, the period of lockdown may be treated as ‘deemed to be attended’ by all the students/ research scholars. The universities may adopt appropriate strategies to facilitate the UG/ PG students pursuing Projects/ Dissertations, in view of the prevailing circumstances. The universities may consider to assign review-based/ secondary data-based projects.

“Universities may adopt alternative and simplified modes and methods of examinations to complete the process in shorter period of time. Universities may adopt efficient and innovative modes of examinations by reducing the time from 3 hours to 2 hours,” it further said. The commission clarified that the guidelines are advisory in nature and varsities may chalk out their own plan taking into consideration issues pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To read the details UGC Guidelines click this link…UGC calendar press release 29th April 2020