SELF STUDY REPORT - Part II

1.	Preface
The entire world has been a witness to sweeping changes on almost all fronts of human activity, especially during the last 10 years. The last decade of the 20th century will be remembered by posterity as the decade of change. It is, therefore, unthinkable that the field of education should remain immune to this change. 

One of the most distinguished features of this process of change has been to strive for excellence. However, with excellence becoming the hallmark of the industrial world, it became necessary to ‘grade’ this excellence. Consequently, an innovative concept like the ISO came into being. The buzzword obviously was ‘accountability’. Certification and regular audit ensures that the company remains ISO certified till it maintains its standards.

On similar lines, it became necessary that educational institutions across the country be graded according to their level of excellence. It certainly appears to our institution that this is not only a positive step towards maintenance of excellent standards in imparting education, but will also go a long way in assisting the learner in choosing the right institution.

Sanatan Dharma College (Lahore), Ambala Cantt, (SDC for short) was set up in Lahore in 1916 by the great Sanatanists Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and Pandit Deen Dayal Vachaspati. Pandit Reikhi Ram Ji was the moving spirit behind the inception of the institution and instrumental in arranging magnanimous financial grants in hours of financial crisis. The institution was uprooted from Lahore during the unfortunate partition of the country. It was rehabilitated in Ambala Cantt in 1948 due to the untiring efforts of Goswami Ganesh Dutt Ji. Thereafter, the local Sanatan Dharam Sabha played a key role in its upliftion and progress. Today, 86 years after its inception, the institution is serving the cause of higher education in the region by imparting quality education with the imbibing of human values. It also prepares its students towards responsible and active citizenship. The distinctive characteristics of the institution are:

•	Constant stress on classroom teaching and interaction
•	Vast, aesthetically pleasing, neat and clean, pollution free campus
•	A highly dedicated staff
•	Acutely aware of the changing trends in the field of education
•	Strives to achieve effective communicate with all components of human resource

A very interesting and distinctive characteristic of the institution is the heterogeneity of its students on roll. Although the college is located in an urban town, it is worthwhile to mention here that over 70% of the students are from the rural background (belonging to nearby villages), hence posing a challenge of sorts for the college. This challenge imbibes in itself the crucial challenge of understanding the psyche of a heterogeneous crowd — rural and urban. Further, this heterogeneity is reflected in the fact that the number of girl students, exceeds the number of boys. This issue of heterogeneity becomes still more complex if we take into consideration the fact that almost 22 % students belong to SC, ST, BC and OBC categories. Since most of these students are comparatively weak academically, the end-group that the teacher faces in the class requires clever teaching skills. The following table gives an idea about the heterogeneity of the students:

CATEGORY	PERCENTAGE	
Rural Students	69%	
Urban Students	31%	
Girls	51%	
Boys	49%	
SC/ST/BC/OBC Students	22%	

The college decided to go in for the process of assessment and accreditation chiefly for three reasons:
1.	It would give an adequate chance for introspection and thereby impose self-discipline and voluntary self-improvement. This would in turn fine-tune the entire teaching-learning process.

2.	It would help in presenting a realistic image of the institution, thereby benefiting the society in general and the prospective students in particular.

3.	It would help the management in formulating more relevant future policies and make the faculty aware of the need of self-appraisal and up-gradation. 

Consequently, the task of assessment and accreditation was taken up after threadbare discussions in the staff council. A Steering Committee, comprising the following members, as required under the NAAC provisions was set up for the purpose:

1.	Dr. Rajinder Singh Rana, Dept. of Electronics —convener
2.	Mr. A.K. Sharma, Dept. of Commerce — member
3.	Dr. Sushil Kansal, Dept. of English — member
4.	Mrs. Indra Yadav, Dept. of Chemistry — member
5.	Dr. Sunil Kumar Sharma, Dept. of Physics — member

The entire process of preparing the report can be summed up as follows:
•	Steering Committee meeting with the principal: Identification of key areas for survey
•	Survey carried out by the committee members for seven different criteria
•	Formation of project committees for various inputs
•	Inputs by all staff members
•	Special inputs by Heads of the Department
•	Augmentation and Analysis of inputs
•	Computer feeding of inputs
•	Brainstorming for Part-II of the Self Study Report
•	Preparation of the Part-II of the Self Study Report
•	Final editing and checking of the entire report for layout, typing errors and grammatical mistakes.

Since the entire exercise involved almost all areas of activity of the college, the entire staff was involved in the exercise.

2.	Criterion-wise report
•	Curricular Aspects
The college regularly deliberates on the ongoing needs of its students with respect to the courses they wish to pursue. As a large number of students come from rural areas, TDC courses are not only popular but also very relevant to the needs of the students. It is for this reason that the college has opted for what may be termed as ‘traditional’ subjects. The programmes of study offered by the college are highly ‘user friendly’, ‘user urgent’, although, however, they may not be ‘life relevant’ per se. Thus, it has been the continuous policy of the college to refrain from initiating such study programmes as have short-term-cosmetic-value only. No doubt that such programmes are initially crowd-pullers, but they soon lose their ‘sheen’ and hence create a negative image of the institution. 

The strength of the institution lies in the fact that due emphasis is given to classroom teaching, student counselling, feedback and assessment of students’ academic needs.

 Since the college is affiliated to KU, it is imperative that it follows the curriculum designed and approved by the University. The curriculum designed by the University is now largely based on the latest guidelines issued by the UGC. Hence, the entire curriculum satisfies Regional and National needs.  

•	Teaching, Learning and Evaluation
The college believes that the three and five years spent by an undergraduate and post-graduate student respectively in the college go a long way in shaping his/her personality. It brings about a transformation in knowledge, skills and attitudes, which is almost permanent. It is, therefore, imperative that the student’s experience in college must be healthy, wholesome and contribute towards the enrichment of his/her total personality.

With this line of thought, the college has formulated a very strong and dedicated teaching, learning and evaluation network.

Teachers are recruited strictly on merit as per UGC/KU/Haryana Government guidelines. They are highly qualified and wherever required, specialists in their fields. The college provides large, airy, neat and clean classrooms with all infrastructure facilities including audio-visual facilities and power-backup to make both teaching and learning a joyful experience. A lot of emphasis is given to regular attendance and bringing of text books to the class. The teaching hours are so formulated that the learner does not have to stay for long hours. Students are encouraged to visit the library in their free periods.

Teachers have adequate autonomy in choosing the methodology of imparting education. While the lecture method remains the single-most powerful and appropriate method of teaching for classes above 60 students, the same is regularly supplemented by discussion sessions, brainstorming, games and buzz-groups in the class-room. Term-wise syllabus, regular attendance-taking, appropriate punitive measures for absentees and non-serious students helps in creating a conducive academic atmosphere.

For over three years now, the college has been following the latest evaluation guidelines formulated jointly by KU and the DHE. As per these guidelines, students are subjected to three annual periodic class-tests to gauge their term-wise progress. Besides, post-graduate students are required to submit written assignments on individual works/authors. All student scripts (term-wise tests and assignments) are returned to the students after evaluation and later discussed in the class.

Regular departmental and Staff Council meetings ensure up-gradation of teaching, learning and evaluation methods.

•	Research, Consultancy and Extension
By definition, the college being a degree college does not have professional research and consultancy facilities. However, a number of staff members are engaged in the process of supervising M.Phil and Ph.D students for research work. Seven members of the faculty have acquired PhD degree in the last five years.

Similarly, in the area of extension activities, the college is doing pioneering work in the following key areas:
•	Community Development		
•	Health and hygiene awareness	
•	Adult education and literacy	 	
•	AIDS awareness
•	Social work					
•	Medical camps		
•	Blood donation camps	
•	Environment awareness	
•	Women Development Cell

The college NCC Cadets, NSS Volunteers in particular and other students in general are engaged in extension activities. While these are extremely beneficial to the community in general, they inculcate a sense of responsibility, discipline and active citizenship in the students. Such extension programmes are imparted through camps, lectures, group participation, seminars, discussion sessions and exhibitions.

The college has a tie-up with the following NGOs and GOs for co-coordinating and planning its extension activities:
•	Civil Hospital
•	Deputy Commissioner’s Office
•	Rotary, Rotract & Inner wheel Club of Ambala
•	Lions Club
•	Bharat Vikas Parishad
•	District Red Cross Society
•	Ambala Scientific Instruments’ Manufacturers’ Association (ASIMA)
•	Private Hospitals

The college has a vast potential of offering consultancy services to ASIMA. While the same is being done on a low-key level, the college proposes to actively brainstorm on this issue and come out with professional consultancy by 2005.

•	Infrastructure and Learning Resources
The college campus is housed in a sprawling area of over 14 acres. To cater to the ever increasing and ever changing academic and co-curricular needs of campus life, the college has well equipped, well-ventilated classrooms with fixed furniture facility. Apart from this the college has almost every conceivable infrastructure facilities for its students and staff which includes a central library, sports fields and gymnasium, staff-room, seminar room, multimedia production center, departmental rooms, separate canteen and reading rooms for boys and girls, a girls’ hostel, vast stores for maintenance of records and other paraphernalia, well equipped laboratories, computer department and computer laboratories, a botanical garden, a spacious hall (proposed to be fully renovated) and separate offices for NCC, NSS, Sports and cultural activities.

All available infrastructures are put to optimal use by the respective users. There is proper maintenance of record of all ‘items’ in the college. Periodic checking of records is done to ensure their safety and proper usage. The college non-teaching staff ensures that all records pertaining to student admissions, tests, annual examinations and results are maintained properly. Consequently, old records of over 30 to 40 years are also available with the college. A full team of contractual/daily wages carpenters, helpers, electricians, gardeners and sweepers ensures that the entire machinery of the college is kept well oiled and running.

Periodic survey and inspection is carried out by members of the staff detailed for the purpose to suggest infrastructure changes, up gradation and changes in ways of maintenance (if any) to keep abreast with the changing trends.

The college has the latest resources available for imparting academic and co-curricular inputs to students. Besides basic classroom facilities, which are equipped with extra visibility chalk-boards, there are facilities for audio-visual teaching with the latest AV gadgetry available. The sports department has excellent resources for the sportspersons and it takes keen interest in its maintenance and optimal use. Our sportspersons, besides bringing laurels in National and University Championship have participated in ASIAD and Commonwealth Games and have been Youth Delegates in Olympics. The department of youth and cultural affairs is managed by a Dean and Associate Dean who have a strong team of over 25 teachers to assist them. The college has its own ‘dresses’ and other props required for cultural activities. In the annual Zonal Youth Festival, Ambala Zone, the college has created a record of sorts by winning the Overall Trophy for Outstanding Performance for a record number of 13 times in 15 years. During this period, the college won the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup 6 times for Outstanding Performance in the entire University in the Inter-Zonal Youth Festival.

It can, therefore, be said that the college has excellent facilities in the form of physical infrastructure and material resources for optimal dissemination of academic and curricular inputs.

•	Student Support and Progression
The student is the lifeline of the college. It is, therefore, an earnest endeavour of the institution that the time spent by the student in the campus must be put to optimal use. This is only possible if the college is sensitized to students’ needs at all levels.

At the very outset, the students are provided with the college prospectus, a printed copy of the academic time-table, student Identity Card and Leave Booklet. This ensures that the student is well-acquainted with the rules, regulations, conventions and norms of the institution where he is studying.

A complete computerized data of the student, which contains his profile, class, tests performance record, lecture statement, fee details etc. is maintained to ensure quick retrieval of information. Since the college aims at bringing about all-round development of the students’ personality, a well equipped library, counselling and guidance bureau, placement support, alumni association, cultural, sports, NCC and NSS facilities ensure that the student gets the best of everything.

After a student has passed out from the college, the college maintains contact through the Alumni Association. Outstanding students who pursue higher studies or those who prepare for competitive examinations are given special library memberships. The college maintains a detailed alumni profile and regular alumni meets are organized for long term association with ex students. A number of our students are registered with two leading alumni websites viz. www.alumni.com and www.batchmates.com 

•	Organization and Management
The management of the college vests in the Sanatan Dharma College Managing Committee with its headquarters at Delhi. It is headed by Shri B.K. Soni, the illustrious son of late Dewan Raghunath Sahai Ji with Dr. R.P. Vij, former principal of the college as its General Secretary and Shri O.P. Mohan as its Finance Secretary. It has been the staunch belief of the college management that the dictum “Plan your Work and Work your Plan” is the key to success. Consequently, the entire process of imparting education is done in a meticulously planned manner with self-checks and revision of goals at appropriate stages.

Recruitment is entirely done on merit thereby attracting the best talent. Participation of the entire staff is ensured in all areas of campus life through rotational assignments. Performance appraisal is done through Annual Confidential Reports and the college follows the self-appraisal system of self-evaluation.

To ensure transparency in its working, the college is on the verge of complete computerization of its finances and accounts.
	
•	Other Healthy Practices 
The college is of the firm view that every educational institution must act as a conscience keeper of the society. It is for this reason that in its over 86 years of inception, the college has been striving hard to strike a balance between technology and human values. It believes that there are limits, exceeding which in one direction, education tends to become pro science but inhuman and exceeding in another it tends to become too ethical but anti-science. Hence, the college strives hard to impart value-based education to its student but without losing the global perspective. It is the mission of our institute to prepare young men and women for the challenges of the millennium without compromising on human values and ethics.

3.	Summary
The continuous progress of the institution since its inception in 1916 and more particularly after 1948, when it was rehabilitated in Ambala Cantt in all related fields of higher education is a proof in itself that the college has vast potential to develop into one of the topmost institutions of higher learning. With a view to achieve this objective, the college has embarked upon an ambitious plan of self-improvement in all fields of activity.

The process of getting itself accredited by the NAAC is a positive step in this direction.

In the coming years, the college plans to carry out the following major additions/changes to fully exploit its potential:

•	Reconstruction of Girls’ Hostel
•	Maintaining of College Website 
•	Replacement of brick-paths with concrete-paths
•	Reconstruction of existing college hall into a modern auditorium with state-of-the-art sound system.
•	A Fully Equipped Gymnasium
•	Modifying of existing cycle shed to a more spacious Parking Venue with basement parking facility.
•	Introduction of Wall Magazine for Students
•	Organization of a cultural week with inter college contests in debates, poetry, histrionics and creative arts
•	Annual Celebrations of the Staff Club
•	Annual Seminars on latest developments in the field of Higher Education for teaching and non-teaching staff members.
•	Complete Library Automation
•	Floor Changing of existing corridors with Kota stone
•	Two-tier sitting place for students in the ground
•	LPG fitting in Chemistry laboratory
•	Railing around the gardens
•	Language Laboratory

The college has plans to computerize the entire process of admission, thereby achieving 100% transparency. It also plans to start consultancy services for the corporate sector in areas of instrumentation and soft-skills. 

Briefly, it may be said that while the college is trying its best to use its vast resources to their optimal level, yet there certainly is scope for improvement and constant efforts are continuing to achieve higher and higher standards of excellence.