Shri Dhokeshwar Mahavidyala, Takali Dhokeshwar

	Assessment Report for Institutional Accreditation of Shri Dhokeshwar Mahavidyala, Takali Dhokeshwar, District Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
	Preface Shri Dhokeshwar Mahavidyala, Takali Dhokeshwar, Ahmednagar volunteered to be assessed by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and conducted the preliminary self-study in April 2003. The self-study report was submitted to NAAC. A peer team was constituted by the Council to visit the institution and validate the self-study report. The team consisting of Prof. M.I. Savadatti as the Chairman and Prof.G.Srinivas & Prof. A.G.Suneethy Reddy as members visited the Institution on 5th & 6th September 2003. Dr. M.S. Shyamasundar, Deputy Adviser effectively functioned as the co-ordinating Officer from NAAC. The Takali Dhokeshwar College of Arts, Takali Dhokeshwar, Ahmednagar is affiliated to University of Pune. It was established in 1994 and is awaiting UGC recognition. It is spread over an area of 2.6 acres and is currently catering to 481 students. It has been admitted to government aid recently. The College is located in a backward rural-tribal area (a village with about 6000 population) which is drought prone and has no industry worth the name. The College has teaching faculty strength of 16 members of which 14 are permanent teachers and 2 are temporary teachers. There are 8 non-teaching staff members. It is a single Faculty Arts College with 7 departments. The College has a central Library, Sports facilities, and a well-maintained campus. The peer team carefully perused and analysed the self-study report submitted by the Institution. During the institutional visit, the team went through all the relevant documents, visited the departments and facilities, and interacted with the various constituents of the institution. The academic, co-curricular, extra-curricular, sports and extension facilities of the institution were visited. The peer team also interacted at length with the Governing Body, Principal, Teaching faculty, non-teaching staff, students, parents and alumni of the institution. Based on the above exercise, and keeping in mind the criteria identified by NAAC, the peer team has taken the value judgement. The assessment of the institution under various criteria, the commendable features of the institution as well as issues of concern are mentioned below.
	Curricular Aspects
	The College has established educational facilities in a backward area. The College is affiliated to the University of Pune, and follows the Syllabi prescribed by the University at the graduate level in Arts. The subjects taught are English, Marathi, Hindi, Geography, History, Politics & Physical Education. The students have limited options in selecting the Special Subject.
	The academic framework of Pune University governs the programmes. In line with its goals to serve the rural area, the College makes it a practice to expose the pupils to health and environmental issues and social problems the residents face. This is achieved through group discussions, and guest lectures on different issues. With limited resources at its disposal, the College is striving hard to develop the inherent aptitude and talent of its rural students. Students are encouraged to prepare posters/charts/slogans on different social and academic issues.
	The Principal and Faculty carry out periodic review of all academic programmes. The students are encouraged to participate in Community development programmes

	Teaching – Learning and Evaluation
	The admission rules of University of Pune are followed at the entry level. The main objective of the College being to spread Higher Education in general to all eligible students and to girl students in particular, none is denied admission. Oral presentation, quiz competitions, paper reading, etc. are practised to improve and assess their learning.
	Teaching plans are prepared at the beginning of every academic year. There is a periodic review and when required, a correction is effected. The overall progress of the students is monitored through tests, term exams, seminars, group discussions and oral tests. Special attention is given to weak students.
	The teachers are recruited as per the guidelines of UGC and State government. Eight teachers have participated at university level in seminars/Workshops/Conferences. One teacher was a Resource person at national level. The College has conducted 14 one-day Seminars. The performance of the teachers is assessed through self-appraisal.
	Research, Consultancy and Extension
	Nine teachers have submitted research proposals to Pune University. Three faculty members have registered for their Ph.D. degree with Pune University. Books and articles have been written by a few teachers.
	There is a NSS cell with a teacher in additional charge. The extension activities include Community Development, Social work, Health and Hygiene awareness, Medical camp, Adult education, Blood donation camps, Aids awareness and Environmental awareness. In health related activities, the College takes the help of local hospital staff. 33 Extension lectures have been organised. Teachers and students are encouraged to participate in all these activities.
	Infrastructure and Learning Resources
	The College has basic infrastructure to run courses that are offered. The local Managing committee sanctions funds for maintenance. The infrastructure also serves the needs of local people and is lent to be utilised by other agencies for academic or social purpose. An Advisory committee guides the librarian. There are 3201 books and 20 periodicals in the library. There are 3 computers (Pentium III & IV). Internet and Fax facilities are also available.
	Study tours, NSS camps, Bahishal Shikshan kendra activities enrich the academic experience of the students. A local Medical practitioner is attached to the college for primary health care of the students. Physical facilities are available for playing and practising Kabaddi, Kho-kho, Volleyball and Cricket. The college also uses the sports ground of the nearby Navodaya School. It shares a playground with the neighbouring Junior college run by the same management. Infrastructure is provided in the Campus for indoor games like Chess, weight lifting, boxing, Judo and wrestling. Outstanding sports performance is recognised through trophies, rewards, merit certificates, sport jerkins etc. The college has organised 05 Intercollegiate competitions in Kho-Kho (1), Judo(2), Wrestling(1) and Kabaddi(1) at the District level. Many students were selected to represent the college at the University level in various events.
	The various welfare programmes for students include Medical check-up and Students’ welfare scheme. Three students are earning Rs. 500 per month for working in the library. Loans are available to the members of teaching and non-teaching staff through provident fund, Staff co-operative society.
	The college makes efforts to keep the campus beautiful by planting saplings in the college campus and rocks are placed in the garden to add an aesthetic touch. Class teachers or the Principal redress the grievances of the students.
	Student Support and Progression
	The college publishes updated prospectus annually and it contains information of the college about available facilities, activities of the college, subject options available, rules and regulations, fee structure and scholarships. 80% of students appear for the qualifying examination. The drop out rate is 20 %. About 20% of students progress to further study or employment.
	The various financial aids available from State and Central government are : EBC, BC Scholarship, and scholarships for physically handicapped and merit scholarship. Teachers counsel the students on academic as well as personal issues. The college has an Alumni Association. The various recreational facilities available to students are: Indoor and outdoor games, nature clubs, debate clubs, student magazines, cultural programmes, audio-video facilities, music and dance competition, essay writing, etc. The College takes special interest in functions like the Republic day, Independence Day, Women’s Day, etc., as occasions to create awareness about important events.
	Organisation and Management
	The college has a service and quality oriented management, which encourages staff to enhance their performance. The non-salary expenditure is of the order of 10.5 lacs in a total budget of 68.1 lacs. 68.02% of the non-salary expenditure is towards academic services and 19.02% is towards student welfare services. The financial resources are adequate to run the college. Staff members avail opportunities to attend Refresher courses, Orientation programmes, Extension lectures, Seminars, etc.
	Healthy Practices
	The college has adopted a mechanism to ensure internal quality. Weekly, monthly and annual teaching plans are prepared. Tutorials are conducted. The academic progress is monitored through internal assessments and term tests. Special classes are conducted for backward and economically backward students.
	The college imparts value-based education to students through display of good thoughts on the notice board and black boards in each class, organising programmes, lectures on moral values. Staff members to create awareness in students about current problems deliver two general lectures in a month. The college strives to inculcate civic responsibilities among the students as directed by the National Education Policy. The Institution motivates students to participate in various co-curricular activities like elocution, debates, essay writing, paper reading and competitions to awaken learners’ latent skills. The college makes efforts towards all round personality development of the learners to make them shoulder various responsibilities in the society and to mould them into useful persons in the society around, with the help of social organisation such as Saheli group, Jagruthi Mahila Manadal, Jivhala Ladies club. The college attempts to bring in community orientation among students.
	Overall Analysis:
	The Peer Team after going through the self-study report and visiting the various academic and physical facilities is impressed by the progress of the College in spite of it being located in a village with inherent deficiencies. The team would like to commend the college for some of the positive features of the college towards quality assurance and good standards. At the same time the team expresses its concerns for improvement. The peer team would like to commend the institution on the following aspects:
	• The spirit of collaboration and teamwork under the leadership of the Principal • Annual calendar for academic, co curricular and extra curricular activities • Good results in spite of no cut-off marks at entry level • Some students participate in sports at zonal, state and national level • Efforts to provide quality educational opportunities to a backward rural-tribal area. • Periodical assessment of students. • Providing financial aid to students in different ways. • Systematic preservation of college records with different colour codes. • Importance to extension activities through NSS and Faculty interaction.
	The team would like to suggest the following views to the institution for consideration:
	• Encourage increased participation, paper presentation at national/ international seminars/ workshops/ conferences and publication by the faculty • Introduce the use of new technology in teaching-learning-evaluation • Encourage faculty interaction with sister institutions to develop minor research projects and management may provide seed money to establish a research culture • Augment infrastructure and learning resources by installing facilities like intercom, computerisation of the library, internet, networking with other libraries and book bank • Expand the library by addition of more reference and non-text books • Introduce an effective mechanism to get feedback from all the stake-holders • Establish Career Guidance and Placement Cell • Provide better facilities for the sports, especially indoor games and full fledged gym • Introduce home assignments for students to learn more effectively • Involve students, through the system of class representatives, in decision making process • Provide canteen facilities • Introduce career-oriented programmes such as social work, food processing, rural technology, garment designing, marketing rural crafts, computer studies, repair of electronic gadgets etc., either through regular courses or short term courses • College may form Alumni association and Parent-Teacher association • Arrangements to be made for preparing the students for various competitive examinations • College may introduce add-on and bridge courses to help students to develop their language and communication skills • College may provide better medical facilities for students and staff • A central computer facility be established to benefit students and staff to develop IT skills • Establishment of Science and Commerce Faculties, if there is enough demand • Language laboratory may be established for development of communication skills to empower the students, girls in particular, since they are from backward classes and need it very badly. Cassettes and CDs on spoken English may be used optimally both in and out side the class • Building a hostel for girls and boys might attract students from nearby rural and tribal areas • Creation of additional sports facilities will ensure better performance in sports • Orientation Programmes for the staff and the Principal on innovative educational techniques, Human Resource Development, Planning & Development and Administration would help strengthen the quality of education, management in the future growth of the institution • Student’s feedback mechanism may be developed through questionnaire and other structured format to improve academic performance of teachers • All units – administrative, finance, extra-curricular activities etc. may be computerised and computer training may be provided to all categories of employees • A Development programme and road map for the college for the next 10 years may be prepared and acted upon • A grievance redressal cell may be constituted involving senior faculty
	The Peer team is of the opinion that this exercise will be useful to the Institution to initiate the quality enhancement strategies towards further growth and development.