Nalanda University Student Handbook 2015-16
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NALANDA UNIVERSITY STUDENT HANDBOOK 2015-16 Rajgir Office: Nalanda University Rajgir, Dist: Nalanda Pin - 803116, Bihar, India Telephone: + 91- 611- 2255330 Fax: +91 6112 255766 Delhi Office: 53, Lodi Estate, Council for Social Development Building, 2nd Floor, New Delhi - 110003 Telephone: + 91- 11- 24622330 i CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 Note from Dean (Academic Planning) 1 Graduate Student Responsibilities 2 GETTING STARTED 3 Identification Card 3 Nalanda University E-mail Account 3 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 5 THE INTERIM CAMPUS AND FACILITIES 8 Access to Campus 8 On-Campus Shuttle 9 The University Library 9 Cafeteria 10 Rajgir Office: Nalanda University Laboratory 11 Rajgir, Dist: Nalanda Writing Centre 11 Pin - 803116, Bihar, India Telephone: + 91- 611- 2255330 Medical Facilities 11 Fax: +91 6112 255766 Special Medical requirements 13 Sports and Games 13 Delhi Office: 53, Lodi Estate, Campus Dining Facilities 13 Council for Social Development Building, Residence Hall 14 2nd Floor, International Convention Centre 14 New Delhi - 110003 Telephone: + 91- 11- 24622330 Weekend Shuttle Service to Patna 14 ii UNIVERSITY FEES AND SCHOLARSHIP 15 Tuition and other Fee 15 Boarding and Lodging 16 Scholarships 16 PROPOSED PERMANENT UNIVERSITY CAMPUS 18 Features of a Net Zero Campus Design 19 CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES 20 Safety Rules and Regulations 20 Safety checklist 21 UNIVERSITY POLICIES 23 Attendance Policy 23 Leave of absence 23 Disciplinary Measures 24 Press policy 25 THE GRADUATE SCHOOLS AT NALANDA UNIVERSITY 26 Faculty at School of Ecology and Environment Studies 26 Faculty at School of Historical Studies 30 Collaborations of School of Ecology and Environment Studies 35 Collaborations of School of Historical Studies 35 Structure of the Masters Programme 35 Internships and Field Trips 36 iii ACADEMIC POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS 37 Course requirements 37 Faculty Advisor 37 Faculty Consultation Hour 37 Registering for courses 38 Auditing a course 38 Adding or Deleting a course 39 Changing a credit course to an audit course 39 Withdrawing from a course 39 Credit requirements 39 Academic integrity 40 Removal of name from a programme 42 EXAMINATION POLICY, RULES AND REGULATION 44 Eligibility for appearing for exams 44 Examination questions 44 Assessment and Evaluation 45 Review of result 45 Modification of results 46 Moderation 47 Evaluation and Grading System 48 ABOUT RAJGIR 56 EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS 59 iv INTRODUCTION Note from Dean (Academic Planning) Let me take this opportunity to welcome all incoming and returning students to Nalanda University. This Student Handbook 2015-16 will serve as your guide to Nalanda University and its graduate programmes of study. The handbook is your reference tool for various concerns that you may have, ranging from course registration to degree completion. In many cases, it is the quickest path to an answer. If, after consulting the handbook, you still have questions or unresolved issues, please contact your graduate adviser. We are delighted to have you on-board for this exciting journey. Dean (Academics) Nalanda University 1 Graduate Student Responsibilities By taking admission in Nalanda University, all graduate students are understood to have accepted their responsibility to adhere to all the policies and procedures that govern their education at the University. The Graduate Student Handbook sets out minimum requirements of the Graduate Programmes at Nalanda University and lists (in a detailed manner) procedures that must be followed. All students are required to follow the guidelines laid down by the University. All students must also abide by the standards of conduct established at the University. This will ensure that the students, faculty and administration work together to create a community that is founded upon mutual respect for all members, honesty in all endeavours and responsible conduct at all times. 2 GETTING STARTED Identification Card The University provides all students with an Identification Card. This card has a student number which will be used for all administrative and financial purposes. The card enables students to access the University library and use other facilities such as the University shuttles etc. Nalanda University E-mail Account Email is Nalanda University’s medium for all official communication with students. The University expects all students to read official e-mails on a timely basis. All students will be given a Nalanda University e-mail account upon arrival on campus. The account should be activated and passwords must be reset immediately. Students are required to use this account for all official university related correspondence. All University notices and other correspondence from the University Office will be sent to this e-mail account. All communication from students to University administration should be conducted via the University email account allotted to them. It is the responsibility of the students to regularly check their email account. Students must be aware that the University will send e-bills for fees and any other charges to their University email account. Failure to view a billing statement or inability to access the email account will not exempt students from late fees penalties. 3 In following the email route for all communications and billing, the University is showing its commitment to a sustainable environment. Besides reducing paper consumption, e-billing and e-notices ensure that all students have 24X7 access to important notices. Change in Address Students are required to inform the Registrar’s Office in case of any changes in their home addresses as well as the phone numbers of their parents/guardian. 4 ACADEMIC CALENDAR The academic year is divided into two semesters each of twenty weeks duration. The first semester starts in the first week of August and ends in the third week of December. The second semester starts in the first week of January and ends in the third week of May. Note: Only teaching weeks have been shown numerically in the “Instructional Period”. 5 6 7 THE INTERIM CAMPUS AND FACILITIES Until the University constructs its main campus, we function from an alternate campus in Rajgir, which has been made available to the University by the Bihar State Government to facilitate in commencing the operations immediately. This 4.5 acres campus is surrounded by lush greenery and consists of a large building in the front, which serves as an academic hub – housing all the academic offices, classrooms and the library. The campus also has faculty housing and an administration centre. The cafeteria and SEES laboratory are all located here. All the administrative offices including the finance and engineering wings are also situated within the Interim Campus. Students are expected to respect the privacy of the residential quarters and not access the housing zone on the Interim Campus. The Interim Campus is at a distance of three kilometers from the Tathagat Residence Hall. Access to Campus The Campus is open from 08:00 a.m. to 09:30 p.m. 7 days a week. Individuals who wish to enter the University campus should have a valid identity proof and legitimate purpose for their visit or be an invited guest of a student, staff, faculty member or University. The entrance of the interim campus will remain closed from 9:30 p.m. until 8 a.m. the following morning for visitors. 8 However, faculty, staff and students with valid IDs will be permitted to enter the campus. On-Campus Shuttle A shuttle service is provided to all Nalanda University community members from the Interim Campus to the Residence Halls daily from 8:40 a.m. till 9:15 p.m. All students have the permission to bring bicycles if they wish to cycle from the Residence Halls to the Interim Campus and also to generally move around Rajgir. The University Library The Nalanda University Library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Monday to Sunday). It is a fully air-conditioned library with Wi-Fi connectivity. It is fully automated with KOHA ILM software and also has locker facilities for the students. Though at a nascent stage, it is evolving at a great pace and is envisioned to become the hub of student activity in future. Library facilities are intended to help students in their academics and research work. (The facilities are primarily for the use of those holding University IDs.) Currently the library has over 6000 print books, 170 e-books and 16 lecture CDs/DVDs. Other facilities include: 9 1) Bibliographic database: Bibliography of Asian Studies 2) E-journals: Science Direct, Oxford University Press, Taylor & Francis, Sage Publication, JSTOR, Nature, Cambridge University Press 3) Interlibrary Loan/Institutional Membership: Center for Research Libraries, Chicago and DELNET, New Delhi 4) OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue): Can be searched by anyone, anywhere in the world, with no restrictions 5) Reprography Service: Photocopy, Printing and Scanning Research and Reference Service: Providing a requested article, recommending the most appropriate resources to consult, providing guidance on the use of information products, assist students and faculty in their respective projects and research. All visitors to the Nalanda University Library must comply with rules and regulations of the University Library that are specified