Mumbai University convocation to break tradition

The convocation ceremony of the University of Mumbai to be held on January 14 at Fort will be one of the rare occasions when the degrees will not be pronounced by the deans of the individual faculties. According to officials, the situation has arisen as the term of the previous deans ended on August 31, 2015 and new deans were not appointed as the government was planning to introduce the New Maharashtra Universities Act which would lay down norms for the appointment of deans.

According to former senate member Sanjay Wairal, the convocation ceremony of the university — a momentous occasion for lakhs of students who graduated last year — will be a drab affair.

“Just like the formation of senate, management and academic council has been deferred for the enactment of the new University act, the appointment of deans to various faculties has also been deferred. The ceremony will lack the appropriate aura and atmosphere that are linked to such events,” said Mr Wairal.

When asked about the same, a former dean said it would be a rare occasion when a convocation is held without the deans of the respective faculties.

“The dean pronounces the degrees, which are then conferred by the vice-chancellor. The intention behind this procedure is to portray that the dean, who is an expert of his or her respective faculty, took the responsibility of each graduating student and deemed them eligible for the degree. It has been heard that Dr Anil Patil, director, Board of College and University Development (BCUD) will be pronouncing the same this year.”

Confirming the same, Dr M.A. Khan, registrar, Mumbai University, said Dr Patil would pronouce the degrees in place of the respective deans of the Arts, Science, Commerce, Technology and Law faculties.

“There was some contemplation over whether or not the former deans should be invited to pronounce the degrees, but as per the protocol that cannot happen hence it was decided that director, BCUD, would do the honours,” said Dr Khan. He added that apart from the absence of deans the convocation procession would have the ad-hoc senate, management and academic council members participating too.

Around 1.45 lakh students will pass out this year from all the five faculties and the Maharashtra governor and chancellor of all universities C. Vidyasagar Rao will preside over the ceremony. The convocation address will be delivered by Dr Balkrishna Pisupati, chief of biodiversity, land and governance programme, division of environmental law.

Union calls off agitation The Mumbai Vidyapeeth Karmachari Sangh (MVKS), the employees’ union of the University of Mumbai that had threatened to disrupt the convocation, has called off its agitation after university officials met its leaders on January 12 and assured them of fulfilling demands. The MVKS had demanded implementation of promotion grades for around 60 employees, release of provident fund and pension for around 111 retired employees and reinstatement of four employees who had been suspended over allegations of misuse of their posts.

MU’s grant for new graduates The University of Mumbai has instructed its affiliated colleges to conduct the degree distribution ceremony for the benefit of their students from January 18-23 in their respective colleges so that students get the recognition they deserve for the milestones they have achieved. The university has added the colleges can conduct the ceremony on more than one day if the number of graduating students exceeds the capacity of their auditorium. The university has undertaken to pay Rs 50 per student and has stressed each college should avail of the grant.