PU syndicate to decide on May 30

CHANDIGARH:The Panjab University (PU) syndicate will take a call on a 7.5% fee hike for self-financed courses and 5% for traditional courses for new entrants in the 2020-21 academic session.

The PU syndicate will meet on May 30 with 23 items on the agenda, its first since the Covid-19 lockdown. The last meeting was held in March.

A 15-member PU panel set up by the vice chancellor had proposed the hike at a February 20 meeting. The 7.5% increase, however, will be capped at ₹7,500.

The syndicate decision, however, is subject to senate approval as it’s the supreme governing body of the university.

The hikes, 10% last year for traditional courses and 7% for self-financed programmes, are a way out for PU to deal with its funds crunch. Self-financed courses run on student fees and are relatively more expensive.

However, this year PU officials feel that implementing the new fee structure will be tough because of the lockdown since March.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

The syndicate will also take a call on the tentative academic calendar of the 2020-21 session.

The calendar has been formulated considering the Covid-19 lockdown that resulted into the suspension of classes. It has recommended that the ongoing semester be extended for 13 days from June 16 to June 30. During this period, internships, summer trainings, internal assessments and practical examination will be held on the campus.

Members will also decide on the recommendation made by the committee regarding introduction of certificate courses in Vedic studies. Payment of honorarium to staff members to be deputed on duty for senate elections 2020 will also come up for discussion.