MADURAI: The Senate meeting of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) had witnessed a heated discussion here on March 31st 2023 as some members have questioned whether is it necessary for the university to offer Under Graduate courses and suggested taking the UG courses to MKU College (day college) instead of running those courses in the university.
Senate member Dr.P.Ponramu of Government Arts College in Melur had raised this matter and he was supported by former Registrar of MKU Dr.Sankar Natesan and others. They urged the Vice-Chancellor Prof.Dr.J.Kumar to consider their suggestion of leaving the undergraduate courses to MKU College on Alagarkoil Road in the city so that the university can focus on postgraduate courses and research etc and also that there will not be any complaints of shortage of classrooms, hostel rooms and other infrastructure etc.
“Please take the UG courses to MKU day college campus. Let the colleges take care of undergraduate programs and university faculty focus on higher things like quality research. This university is well known for its top class research in science departments and is very famous for other arts and humanities also. So, mu suggestion is to shift the UG courses that were started by our university to the MKU College in the city,” Senate member Dr.P.Ponramu said.
CLASSROOM FACILITIES:
Former Registrar in-charge of MKU Dr.Sankar Natesan had supported the suggestion made by Dr.Ponramu by saying that “I also endorse the suggestion and there should be a discussion on offering UG courses in MKU campus. Do we need UG courses in university? Do we have facilities in our university, is accommodation available for students? Already 60 B.Com students are sitting in seminar halls, and no classroom facility was additionally created in the university after 1992. When the university is telling affiliated colleges to follow rules for classrooms and faculty, is it not the duty of university also to follow the same norms,”? Dr.Sankar Natesan had questioned. At this stage, another member had pointed out that a sociology teacher is taking English class in MKU for undergraduate students.
COME WITH ME, I WILL SHOW YOU:
When members continued to speak on this matter, the Vice-Chancellor told them to stop making irrelevant statements and “don’t deviate from the agenda”. He continued and said: “UG is not below the dignity of university. Any university has to promote quality higher education, whether it is UG or PG courses. Come with me, I will show you the facilities and buildings available in our campus. There are many unutilized classrooms. Take pride in your institution.”.
Replying to the Vice-Chancellor’s remark, Dr.Sankar Natesan had clarified that they are not against UG courses, but only asking for creating of facilities first and then offer the courses. The Vice-Chancellor told the members not to provoke him and again told them that more rooms and accommodation facility-hostels will be available from coming June for students. “We can create step by step. So, this matter cannot be discussed anymore,” the Vice-Chancellor said and called for the next item on agenda.
WE WILL WALKOUT:
Responding to the VC’s reply, Senate member Dr.Ponramu got up from his seat and said “We will walk out if you don’t allow us to talk. There are many issues we had raised and we are here to give suggestions.”
The matter ended and members went to next item listed for discussion while Senate member Dr.Sankar Natesan had walked out of the meeting hall. Several issues pertaining to colleges, faculty and students were discussed in today’s Senate meeting as members including Dr.A.Velanganni Joseph, Dr.A.Chandra Bose, Dr.Sulthan, Dr.M.P.Ganesan and Dr.P.S.Nagendran had raised questions and gave their suggestions to MKU authorities.
