5.1.1 Does the institution publish its updated prospectus/handbook annually? If ‗yes‘, what is the information provided to students through these documents and how does the institution ensure its commitment and accountability?
Our college does bring out an annual, updated prospectus covering the various aspects of the admission requirements and necessary admission procedures for the benefit of the admission aspirants and their guardians. The Student Notice Board too is kept constantly upgraded with relevant and necessary information regarding the date of their filling up of university examination forms, the dates and timings of their various examinations, or the issuance of their library cards and such like. Recently the college notice-boards have been organized according to specific categories in order to communicate the messages and notices more effectively to the students.
5.1.2 Specify the type, number and amount of institutional scholarships / freeships given to the students during the last four years and whether the financial aid was available and disbursed on time?
The college goes out of its way in providing a number of freeships (of varying degrees) to its financially-challenged students. While the monthly tuition fees are waived for the really needy ones, a number of students have also been receiving generous
sponsorships from the Students Union Fund of our College, covering their transport costs and stationery expenses. Some students are provided financial aid from the Computer Fund of the college. Fifteen endowments amounting to Rs 10,125/- and 67 freeships amounting to Rs 45,ooo/- were given in 2011. Some NGOs of repute like the Udayan Shalini Foundation too have taken salutary initiatives to fund the educational expenses of some of our deserving students. (Last year two meritorious candidates belonging to the English and History Depts. of our college had won the scholarships.) Moreover the Post -Matric Scholarship 2010-11, received from the West Bengal
Minorities Development & Finance Corporation too has been magnanimous enough to grant generous sponsorships . 22 students benefitted in 2011, while 47 students
received the above scholarships in 2012.
In 2010-11, the college granted twenty- nine students received full fee waivers, while fifty- seven students received half freeships. The total amount waived was Rs 2875/-. In 2011-12, twenty- one students were fully exempted from paying fees while fifty students were given half fee waivers. In2012-13, thirty- seven students were given full freeships and twenty -three half fee waivers. An Endowment Fund has been created through the generous donation of Rs 2 lakhs by the husband of an ex-student in her memory.
5.1.3 What percentage of students receive financial assistance from state government, central government and other national agencies?
In 2011, twenty two students and in 2012, forty seven students received scholarships from the West Bengal minorities Development and Finance Corporation.
Rupa Jhulki, a visually impaired student receives a scholarship from the District
In all 7.87% students in 2011 and 13.75% in 2012 have received Government scholarships.
Anurima Paul of the department of English has been awarded the Late Manjula Mitra memorial Award for her Excellent result in B.A, Part I (English Honours) by Eastern Railway.
It may be mentioned in passing that another recipient of a Government scholarship is Puspita Dey an ex-student of Philosophy Honours (yr of passing 2011) who is now pursuing Masters in Philosophy at Calcutta University. She has been awarded a considerable amount of financial help under the West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship Scheme.
5.1.4 What are the specific support services/facilities available for
Students from SC/ST, OBC and economically weaker sections
Students with physical disabilities
Overseas students
Students to participate in various competitions/National and International
Medical assistance to students: health centre, health insurance etc.
Organizing coaching classes for competitive exams
Skill development (spoken English, computer literacy, etc.,)
Support for ―slow learners‖
Exposures of students to other institution of higher learning/ corporate/business house etc.
Publication of student magazines SC/ST and Economically-weaker
The institution provides inspiration to the bright students of the economically weaker sections, particularly those from the SC and the ST categories to apply for the scholarships offered by The Foundation for Excellence and Access (FAEA). This organization has a programme to help under privileged students to pursue education in the institutions of their choice anywhere in the country. These scholarships are sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industries( CII). Some NGOs of repute like the Udayan Shalini Foundation too have taken salutary initiatives to fund the educational expenses of some of our deserving students. Two meritorious candidates, Sayantika Paul and Shampa Haldar belonging to the English and History Depts won the Udayan Shalini Fellowship of Girls for College level 2010-2011 under the Udayan Care Fellowship Programme.
Moreover the Post -Matric Scholarship 2010-11, received from the West Bengal Minorities Development & Finance Corporation too has been magnanimous enough to grant generous sponsorships . 22 students benefitted in 2011, while 47 students received the above scholarships in 2012.
Apart from this it may be cited here that, Lydia Aankhi Paskar of the department of English was awarded the Educational Merit Award 2008 from the Catholic Association of Bengal.
The college is also proud to record that Puspita Dey an ex-student of Philosophy Honours (yr of passing 2011) who is now pursuing Masters in Philosophy at Calcutta University has been awarded the West Bengal Merit Cum Means Scholarship.
Besides these disadvantaged students are given an advantage over other students during the admission process when their cut off marks are lowered in accordance with the national policy regarding Reservation for SC/ST candidates.
Students with physical disabilities
The faculty members of the institution show immense patience and compassion in dealing with the less-abled students in coping with the rest of the class. During the examinations, the visually challenged students are provided with the opportunity to be accompanied with writers of their choice from outside the institution. The advanced students with higher cognitive abilities are offered commensurate encouragement and motivation to excel in their academic pursuits. Visually impaired students sometimes avail of scholarships from the District Mass Education Fund.
Overseas Students
The college does not have any overseas pupils in its student rolls, although students belonging to states other than West Bengal are also encouraged to take admissions here. The latter are provided hostel accommodation and a friendly environ so as to make them truly feel that the college is in all essence ‗a home away from home.‘
Competitions
The students of the college, while participating in several intra and inter collegiate competitive events however have not participated as institutional representatives in any national and international competitions. In their personal capacities however, two students have reached the District, State and National levels in Karate.
Medical Assistance
The college has an institutional membership with the Students‘ Health Home, Kolkata.
Students can avail of any of its facilities. Local doctors are also given house calls in case a student falls sick in college. A first aid kit and a sick bed are kept ready. There is also an unwritten understanding with Ramkrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan, a multi-speciality hospital close to the college where students are removed in case of emergency. The Central Examination Committee for University Examinations also has a Doctor member to cater to the health problems of examinees. During final examinations a segregated room is provided for candidates suffering from infectious diseases like chicken pox or measles. They are invigilated separately and their answer scripts are fumigated before being handed over to the University. The students of the college are covered by ‗Nagarik Suraksha Policy‘ for personal accidents with hospitalization expenses under Oriental Insurance Company Ltd.
Besides, Health Awareness campaigns feature regularly in the institution‘s programme schedule.
In the past general awareness on Breast Cancer was highlighted by an Oncologist attached to Apollo Gleneagles Hospital.
Aids Awareness was sought to be raised by Pepsico India Holdings Pvt Ltd.
A workshop held by the NGO Durbaar, brought to the forefront sex workers who as the single most high risk group interacted with the students and answered their questions about AIDS. Dr Smarajit Jana of the School of Tropical Medicine also delivered a lecture on the topic.
Apart from this, Dr Madhuchanda Kar, a well known physician associated with an NGO, conducted an awareness campaign on how to avert cancer and other terminal diseases through life style changes.
Recently , the Women‘s Cell of the college invited another NGO ―Sanhita‖ to conduct a workshop ―Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights‖.
Education material was provided to the participants.
The college had approached the Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata to conduct an awareness campaign on Thalassemia . Part of the campaign constituting a power point presentation, a lecture and discussion was conducted during the annual camp of NSS in March 2011. The second part of the campaign involving blood test of the students and identification of ‗carriers‘ is to be carried out in the post summer recess session.
A Health Awareness programme named BIVA was organized in May 2013, under the aegis of the Alumnae Association, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical major CIPLA on women‘s health issues. It was conducted by Dr Smita Gutgutia
Bausch + Lomb in the past has conducted a free Eye Check Up camp under their
‗See Better Live Better‘ programme for the benefit of the students.
Eye check-up camp Coaching classes
There is no provision for coaching classes for competitive examinations.
Skill Development
The college runs a compulsory self- financing course for students on computers. The college feels it absolutely mandatory to impart computer proficiency skills to all and sundry and hence the same forms an integral part of the academic curriculum. The college has over the years been associating itself with INTeRFACE 4U to conduct these classes, equipping its students with the required wherewithal to seek future job
placements. Of late the institution severed connections with the above organization and has designed its own syllabus to make it more conducive to job-market needs.
Slow Learners
Slow learners with below average cognitive abilities are identified by the Departmental teachers through Periodical Tests conducted by the Departments at regular intervals and are patiently dealt with by them and catered to with extra care.
They are given extra books and Xeroxed materials. The teachers also encourage them to write and rewrite answers which they examine on a personal basis and ensure that the suggestions are incorporated.
Exposure to other institutions of higher learning
Students are encouraged to present seminar papers at other institutions like Loreto College, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur, and even at places like Jadavpur University especially at the meetings and seminars of JUSAS and at the American Centre. Moreover the volunteers of NSS are constantly exposed to various events held at Calcutta University where they have the opportunity to hear and interact with eminent persons who often give inspiring speeches to motivate the students towards social activity.
Publication of student magazines
The college Wall Magazine ‗Udita‘ is run totally by the students. It is a collage of news and photographs of the multifarious student activities of the college. It is displayed on the wall outside the Principal‘s office and contains a wealth of information which is of interest not only to insiders but to guardians and guests as well.
The College magazine ―Srijan‖, published annually usually has many articles by students. Srijan published in 2011 was a special edition marking 60 years of the annual Reunion. It consisted of two parts ‗Looking Back‘ comprising essays from old editions and ‗Lets Go Forward‘ , a section of new writings.
Apart from this, many departments run their own wall magazines in their departmental rooms which are more specialized in nature.
5.1.5 Describe the efforts made by the institution to facilitate entrepreneurial skills, among the students and the impact of the efforts.
The compulsory computer education, which the students receive, stands in good stead in their subsequent professional lives. Moreover the apolitical/cultural student
committees (which is perhaps unique to our college) also go a long way in honing their leadership qualities, thereby bringing out the very best in them. Many of our alumni have in the past taken the plunge and carved out for themselves separate niches as modest entrepreneurs, in the realm of haute couture and pharmacy businesses.
5.1.6 Enumerate the policies and strategies of the institution which promote participation of students in extracurricular and co-curricular activities such as sports, games, Quiz competitions, debate and discussions, cultural activities etc. * additional academic support, flexibility in examinations
* special dietary requirements, sports uniform and materials
* any other
The institution places great importance on extra and co curricular activities. Every year it arranges the intra college Talent Search Competition, the Stella Bose Memorial Debate, Essay Writing Competition and the Annual Sports. In- house Quiz Contests have been intermittently organized by the Departments of English and Bengali. Besides the students are always encouraged to participate in inter- college festivals and
competitions so that their talent in the fine arts as well as writing and debating skills may be showcased. If necessary they are exempted from class attendance and allowed flexibility with regard to class tests, so that they may participate in these events.
However where the Test (selection) Examination before the university finals are concerned the college does not have the leeway to grant exemption even if the event is a prestigious one.
Overall, the institution makes special efforts to arrange for flexibly dealing with students, participating in any inter-college co-curricular or extracurricular activities so far as examinations and other academic activities are concerned.
5.1.7 Enumerating on the support and guidance provided to the students in preparing for the competitive exams, give details on the number of students appeared and qualified in various competitive exams such as UGC-CSIR- NET, UGC-NET, SLET, ATE / CAT / GRE / TOFEL / GMAT / Central /State services, Defense, Civil Services, etc.
The institute does not provide special coaching for competitive examinations. However students preparing for these examinations regularly keep in touch with the teachers of the college asking for help in the form of suggesttions, books and reading material.
Needless to say the teachers are always ready to help them out.
Very recently Rajyasree Ray Chaudhuri, of the Department of Economics and Amrita Basu Roychowdhury, an ex student of the Department of English have qualified in the UGC- NET in 2012 and 2010 respectively. Debasmita Rang and Mayukhi Roy Choudhuri also of the English Department have qualified in the School Service Commission Examination of the State of West Bengal in 2009 and 2011 respectively.
Manimala Seth and Mou Banerjee in 2008 and Sonia Mukherjee in 2009 ex students
of the Sanskrit Department have also qualified in the state School Service Commission examinations.
Our students have often entered into the fray for places in the leading universities of the state and have secured places in the Masters‘ Courses after succeeding in stiff competitive examinations. This year (2011), Piyali Mondal a student of the Department of Political Science joined a Masters course at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University after having faced competition at an all India level.
5.1.8 What type of counseling services are made available to the students ( academic, personal, career, psycho-social etc.)
There has been a continuous effort on the part of the Faculty of the Institution to enable the students to keep pace with the changing needs of the times. Thus the students feel free to approach them with their myriad queries and problems.
The teachers are patient listeners to the personal, family and other problems as well as queries related to their adolescence and counsel them accordingly.
So far as academics is concerned, the faculty have always put in their best efforts to counsel the students regarding identifying the career options and avenues before them, which competitive exams to sit for and means to come out with flying colours eventually. In keeping with the times, the college has a Placement Cell. Various MNCs and organizations from the IT Sectors have been conducting placement interviews from time to time and our students have been recruited successfully in some of them.
As a means for offering psycho-social support to the students, the Guidance and Counselling Cell is the first of its kind. On 8th September 2010, the cell conducted a training workshop with the students on the following areas: facing job interviews, developing self confidence, effective public speaking, grooming, beauty, style, and ideas on health and hygiene. The very next year, on 10th November, 2011, the Guidance and the Counselling Cell together with the NSS conducted a programme on Thalassemia detection under the able supervision of a lady doctor from the Calcutta Medical College. On 13th December 2012, Young Concepts conducted an informative and interactive programme called ‖It‘s Time We Talk‖ on women‘s wellbeing and reproductive health with the help of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India.
Activities of the Guidance and Counselling Cell
5.1.9 Does the institution have a structured mechanism for career guidance and placement of its students? If ‗yes‘, detail on the services provided to help students identify job opportunities and prepare themselves for interview and the percentage of students selected during campus interviews by different employers (list the employers and the programmes).
In keeping with the times, the college has a Placement Cell to encourage students to opt for employment instead of aimlessly drifting into domesticity for lack of a viable alternative means of livelihood. Various MNCs and organizations from the IT Sectors have been conducting placement interviews from time to time and our students have been recruited successfully in enviable positions in a number of reputed firms so far.
The efforts of the Placement Cell to collaborate with the corporate sector and organize campus recruitment programmes remains a continuous process. The software giant WIPRO initiated campus recruiting in our institution in 2008 and hired nine of our bright young students for its different centres. In 2009, one such programme was conducted by the IBM and three of our students got job offers in the IT enabled sector.
In 2010, Brainware, a reputed computer firm organized a recruiting drive within the college and provisionally selected nine students for training after graduation with indications of future employment.
In 2013, twelve students of the college have been selected for Summer Intership by the State Bank of India.
The Placement Cell also takes the initiative of organizing awareness programmes to keep students informed of various professional courses for which they can opt in order to gain a competitive edge in the job market.
It may be mentioned here that Durga Sarkar of the department of English was awarded Certificate for completing training in English Communication and Basic Corporate Etiquette under Affirmative Action by TCS – BPO, in association with University of Calcutta.
5.1.10 Does the institution have a student grievance redressal cell? If yes, list (if any) the
5.1.10 Does the institution have a student grievance redressal cell? If yes, list (if any) the