New Delhi: In a relief for several premier institutions that had received notices for off-campus centres, the HRD ministry has accepted a UGC proposal which allows private (rpt) private deemed universities upto six campuses beyond approved geographical boundaries.


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However, government run deemed Universities like the Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, can expand much further as the restriction of having not more than six off-campuses does not apply to them.


Several leading institutions including the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBMI), Mumbai, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Indian School of Mines Dhanbad, Banasthali University (Rajasthan), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research are learnt to have been issued notices by the UGC over over their off-campus centres.


In another key development, the ministry has also approved a UGC proposal laying the criteria for appointment of Vice Chancellors.


Now a candidate to be appointed a Vice Chancellor of a deemed University should have a minimum of ten years of experience as professor in University system or ten years of equivalent experience in a reputed research or academic organisation.


The details for composition of search and selection committees for selection have also been finalised.


"The Commission (UGC) had in a recent meeting approved these amendments in the UGC regulations for deemed institutions which have found concurrence of the ministry," a senior HRD ministry official said.


The Vice Chancellor shall be a whole time salaried officer of the Institution appointed by the Visitor or Chancellor from a panel of three names suggested by a search cum selection committee.


As per the new norms, in case the management control of an institution deemed to be a University is with the Centre or the State governments, the VC shall be appointed in accordance with procedure laid down by these governments.


In case where funding of the institution deemed to be a University is more than or equal to 50 per cent, the search cum selection committee should comprise a nominee of the chancellor, a nominee of the government who shall be an eminent academic nominated in consultation with UGC and a nominee of Board of management.


In cases where the funding is less than 50 per cent of expenditure, the search cum selection committee should include a nominee of the Visitor or Chancellor, who would head it.


Other members of the search cum selection committee would include a nominee of Chairman UGC and a nominee of a Syndicate or Executive council or Board of Management of the Deemed University.