Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Orissa

Rourkela

Notice No. BPUT/4129/09 dated April 11, 2009

NOTICE

Specific Academic Regulations of BPUT

[ Including Clarification on Recent Demands ]

Recently, a section of students have handed over a list of demands to BPUT. A point-by-point response would be provided here.

Before that, a few General Remarks are required to be made so that ALL STUDENTS of the University are fully apprised of the background situation. Further, the attention of the Parents and the General Public is also requested to these issues in order that every body may arrive at a rational conclusion.

[A] Background

· In 2007, the entire Promotion System was reviewed by BPUT with the help of an expert committee, also comprising members from IIT Kharagpur and NIT Rourkela.

• As per the recommendation of the above committee the YEAR BACK system was withdrawn; along with the same, the supplementary exams. were also withdrawn since a student is now allowed to carry unlimited number of back papers and move to higher semesters.

• The expert committee also recommended and BPUT introduced Special Examinations for students who have completed the 8th, Semester and still have back papers in 3^rd. / 4^th. / 5^th. / 6^th. / 7^th. / 8^th. semesters.

• In order to ease out extremely weak students from the BPUT system ( who would not have the capacity to complete a degree with a prescribed minimum of a final CGPA of 6.0 ), the committee had recommended that a student would have to quit if he has less than 4.50 SGPA in three consecutive semesters ( this was to apply for exams. held w.e.f Odd Semester 2007 ).

• Recently on the 28^th. of March, 2009 the Academic Council met and decided to withdraw the 4.50 SGPA rule from the 5^th. semester onwards; that means no student would be asked to quit once he / she has crossed the 4^th. semester .
  
  

• Further, in the Special Exams. after the 8^th. semester, all papers for 3^rd. and 4^th. semesters were also included. That means, all back papers of 2^nd.; 3^rd. and 4^th. years can now be cleared in the Special Exams if a student has not been able to clear them already in the various previous regular exams. ( he carries unlimited number of back papers to higher semesters today.)

• The results clearly show that very few students will actually be affected by the 4.50 rule at the end of 3^rd. or 4^th. semesters and that these are truly very weak and irregular students who are not likely to complete the B.Tech. / B.Pharm etc. in 7 years with a final CGPA of 6.0.
  
  

• The results also show that if the 4.50 SGPA rule continues till the 4^th. semesters, the students who have performed very poorly in the First Year ( 1^st. Sem / 2^nd. Sem. ) still have a good chance of climbing further without getting detained in the First Year (Originally, the only rule was that a student with CGPA of less than 4.50 must repeat the First Year); today he has an option due to the three consecutive SGPA rule.

[B] Demands Freshly Made and Our Comments

Now, Fresh Demands are being made only 9 days after the Academic Council had met and carefully considered all the demands for over 3 hours on March 28, 2009.

Even then, we would like to take up each demand and provide our response as follows:

1. ‘Demolition of NFT system totally for 2^nd year students.’

(a) If this is done, the students going up will never be able to score the minimum CGPA required ( 6.0 ) and will get more and more frustrated as they move up. Further, this condition for NFT ( i.e. less than 4.50 SGPA consecutively in 1^st,2^nd. 3^rd or 2^nd. 3^rd., 4^th. semesters ) is far easier to avoid than to secure minimum CGPA of 4.50 at the end of First year, creating more serious problems for the First Year students. Our results of the students clearly demonstrates this point. The Academic Council therefore decided that this rule should continue till the end of 4^th. semester only ( the recommendation of the earlier Expert Committee was to continue the rule for higher semesters as well, as was notified earlier by BPUT ).

(b) In addition, as per the 4.50 CGPA rule, several students having less than 4.50 CGPA in the 1^st year (Entry-2007) are repeating the 1^st year classes. On the other hand, some other students of the same batch having less than 4.50 CGPA in the 1^st year have moved to the 3^rd semester with an undertaking that if they secured less than 4.50 SGPA in consecutive 3 Semesters they will quit the BPUT system. If the NFT system is totally withdrawn from 2^nd year, these students of Second Year who in terms of performance are no better than their batch mates who are repeating the First Year as 2008 batch, shall get an unfair advantage.

2. ‘We want full - fledged Supplementary Examination’

(a) The recent Academic Council of March 28^th, did not accept the supplementary after a deliberation, since this would cause a total collapse of the University Calendar (please see the calculation of the total available number of days for various activities under item #4). In lieu of the same, the special exams. after the 8^th. Sem. are being provided.

(b) The Academic Council felt that if the supplementary examinations are to be re-introduced, the Year-Back system must also return. It may be noted that two colleges which were part of BPUT until recently, viz. UCE Burla and ITER are continuing with supplementary along with Year Back. Would the student community of BPUT like to go back to the Year Back system ?

Most of the other state level universities in other provinces have Year Back system; we are one of the exceptions and today represent the most relaxed condition already. Therefore, many would start doubting our credibility in the job-market particularly.

3. ‘The date of examination of all the semesters shall be shifted.’

By shifting the date of examinations the final year students would not be able to get their provisional certificate by June and therefore cannot get good placement. Therefore, any delay in conducting the examination will jeopardize the career opportunity for the graduating students of 2009. In the current market scenario, this is going create a serious problem. Will the Final Year students like it ? Further, this would completely upset next year’s calendar. Thirdly, sufficient advance information about the upcoming Exam. Schedule has been given; why should one create problems by shifting all dates ? Every year, more or less around the same dates the exams. are held.

4. ‘Proper gaps between two semester examinations should be given’

The schedule was decided after a careful consideration. During a year that consists of 365 days, the following events are to be conducted :

(i) Each Semester – 90 days per Sem. 2X90 = 180 days

(ii) Sundays = 52 days

(iii) Government & other Holidays = 25 days

(iv) Exam duration for Odd & Even Sems. (30X2) = 60 days

(v) Semester-break after Odd Semester = 07 days

(vi) Summer Vacation (May 21 – July 07) = 41 days

(should be a minimum of 45 days)

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Total = 365 days

[Evaluation of answer scripts tabulation of marks and declaration of results are also accommodated during the above activities].

The regular B.Tech. programme is of 4-year duration. By giving more gaps, the duration for completing the 8-semester academic programme would have to be extended. Considering that, further gaps in the semester examination does not appear feasible within the 4-year period. However, interested students could avail gaps and complete the B.Tech. programme within a total of 7-years.

5. ‘No merging of two semesters’ for examinations

As described above, there are only 30 days available for conducting odd semester (1,3,5 & 7) exams. and also 30 days for conducting even semester (2,4,6 & 8) examinations. Prior to October 2007, the examinations were conducted semester-wise i.e. after completion of examination for one semester, next semester examination was started. Because of demands from students to get gap in between the examinations, two consecutive odd semester or even semester exams. are held together during 2-weeks (approx.) time; this was done to benefit the students. However, if majority students want, the old pattern of examination-routine could be re-implemented from the next academic session after approval of the Academic Council.

Registrar I/C