An eight-member planning board, with eminent academicians as members, was constituted for Thiruvalluvar University by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, who is also the Chancellor of the university. The members would recommend policy guidelines for the developmental and academic activities of the university, said the Vice Chancellor, Professor P Gunasekaran.
Chairing the 16th academic council of the university (the first such council meeting after he took over as the VC of the university) on Friday, Gunasekaran said that the first meeting of the newly constituted planning board was held on November 28 and its recommendations would be placed before the academic council during its next meeting. The duration of the board would be three years.
The members of the board were Prof S P Thiagrajan, former Vice Chancellor of Madras University, Prof C Thangamuthu, former Vice Chancellor of Bharatidasan University, Dr K Sridhar, senior consultant and coordinator, Department of Plastic Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Dr Anandavalli Mahadevan, former Vice Chancellor of Mother Teresa University, Dr G Pankajam, former Vice Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural Institute, Dr Muthiah Mariappan, former VC of Bharatidasan University, Dr P Padmini, Assistant Professor of English, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai, and Dr Sitharam Gurumurthi, a retired IAS officer.
Speaking to reporters, Gunasekaran said that the academic council meet on Friday gave its approval for starting new courses in 48 colleges affiliated to the university. The affiliations of 55 colleges were also renewed. Before the commencement of the next academic year, steps would be taken to get 12 B status for the university, he added.