2013 South Asian University [STUDENT HANDBOOK 2013 -14] South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, India TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the President 2 Introduction 3 An overview of the South Asian University 3 Academic Calendar 4 Academic Regulations 4 Facilities of the University 10 SAU Library at a Glance 11 Details of Foreign Students and FRRO Registration 15 Health Insurance 16 Student Visa 16 Scholarships 16 University Hostel Accommodation 18 University Hostel Administration 19 Hostel Rules and Norms Governing Hostel Life 20 Hostel Level Committees – Students’ Participation 24 Committee Election 25 Functions of the Hostel Committee 25 Functions of the Mess Committee 25 Mess Secretary 26 Menu of the mess 26 Powers and Functions of Wardens 27 Grievance Redressal Mechanism 29 Use of “Unfair Means” in Examinations and Dealing Procedure 30 Procedure for Re-evaluation of Answer-scripts of Examinations 31 Class Attendance 32 General Discipline 34 Medical Rules of Students 35 Student Service-support Contacts 37 1 Student Handbook , 2013-2014 South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, India Message from the President Dear Student, It is with great pride that I extend greetings to each of you, as you begin your journey at South Asian University. Welcome to the University! By choosing to be in this University, you have made a smart decision. The University is unique in more ways than one and I encourage you to explore the many possibilities that will help you enrich your knowledge, while at the same time, experience the rich multi-cultural environment that it offers. You will soon understand, as you go along, learning here is a continuous process and is not confined to books and classrooms alone. You shall be exposed to a wide range of settings of highly competitive standards and each of these is being guided and resourced by outstanding faculty and experienced administrative staff. The courses that the University offers are designed to provide a holistic and in-depth understanding of the subjects, and are premised and built around the context in which we expect our graduates to play their citizenry roles. The University is envisioned to further develop into an institute of the highest academic credentials, thus becoming an educational hub for populace of the SAARC region and outside. This academic year particularly happens to be significantly important for us, as it marks the year in which we are starting our PhD programmes in various subjects. I am very confident that you will enjoy being in South Asian University as much as you will accept the responsibilities associated with it. This handbook will guide you about various aspects of being a student here. I once again welcome you to this wonderful community of inquisitive young minds and wish you all the very best in your academic journey. Prof. GK Chadha President 2 Student Handbook , 2013-2014 South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, India Introduction: South Asian University (SAU) is pleased to offer this edition of the Students Handbook in support for the 2013-2014 academic year and beyond. It may be subject to further changes from time to time in accordance to changes that the University may be mandated by its Board or any competent bodies that the SAU is subscribed to and accountable for its governance. The Students Handbook is a personal document of a student which is intended to inform and sensitize student on policies, rules, regulations, responsibilities; among many others, affecting the life of a student in pursuit of his/her academic study at the SAU. The University strives to offer excellent educational experiences of diverse nature, and to translate these into reality. It is essential that all students are abreast and adhere to the University policies and regulations, and in all the University activities wherein a student forms an integral part. South Asian University reserves the right to amend, modify, add to, or delete its rules and procedures without notice. Such right includes modification to academic requirements, curriculum, tuition, and/or a fee when in the judgment of the administration indicates that such changes are required in the exercise of its educational responsibility. The President of the University welcomes each and every student to the SAU, and assures his understanding and support to make your study at the SAU an educationally productive, rewarding and a memorable one. An overview of the South Asian University: South Asian University is an international university established under the auspices of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), whose member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is a non-state, non-profit self-governing international educational institution. It was established in the year 2010. SAU functions as a world-class institution of higher learning, which has the brightest and the most dedicated students from the SAARC member states. It has a pool of experienced, qualified and distinguished faculty, and equally supported by dedicated and professional non- faculty employees of the University. The University‟s library is equipped with rich collection of educational resources from across the world, and the laboratories (bio-technology and computer) have in them the state-of-the-art equipment. The University had its first batch of 22 students graduating in 2012. The profile of the University received further boost with the enrolment of students in the doctoral programmes to begin from the monsoon semester 2013. The University is currently housed at Akbar Bhawan Campus, Chanakapuri, New Delhi, and shall be relocated to a 100 acre campus in Maidan Garhi, South Delhi on completion of the campus infrastructure construction. 3 Student Handbook , 2013-2014 South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, India Academic Calendar: The University functions on a semester system, and has two semesters in an academic year as follows: • Monsoon Semester : 26 July to 10 December • Winter Semester : 11 January to 25 May • Summer Vacation : 26 May to 25 July • Winter Vacation : 11 December to 10 January Academic Regulations (As approved by the Academic Council) 1.1 Definitions: 1.1.1 “Course” means a course running for a full semester. 1.1.2 “Contact hours” for a given course is the number of hours students spend per week with the teacher for a theory course and half the number of hours spent per week with the teacher for a laboratory class. Thus, a course with two theory classes of one hour each per week for the duration of a semester would constitute a 2 credit course and a laboratory practical class where students spend 4 hours per week in the laboratory would also be a 2 credit course. 1.1.3 “Credit” (C) means the weightage assigned to a course in terms of contact hours as explained in 12.1.2. Further, credit weightage for a dissertation or a term paper or seminar given by a student may be fixed by the Board of Studies of the concerned Faculty. 1.1.4 “Grade” means a letter grade assigned to a student on the basis of evaluation of a course on the ten-point scale. 1.1.5 “Grade Point” (G) means the numerical equivalent of a letter grade assigned to a student in the ten point scale. 1.1.6 “Cumulative Grade Point Average” (CGPA) for a semester where a student has taken “N” number of courses, and obtained Gi grade point for a course with total weightage of Ci credits, a cumulative index grade point average of a student can be calculated in the following manner: 4 Student Handbook , 2013-2014 South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi, India 1.1.7 “Final Grade Point Average” (FGPA) is the final index of the performance of a student at the time of award of a degree and can be calculated by using the formula in 12.1.6 using grade point data of all courses taken over the entire duration of the course. 1.1.8 “Final Grade” is the letter equivalent assigned to a student on the basis of his/her final grade point at the time of the award of the degree. 1.2 Eligibility for Admission: 1.2.1 A candidate shall be eligible for admission if he/she has passed BA/B.Sc. degree under 10+2+3 pattern from a recognized institution or an examination recognized by the University as its equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks (or an equivalent grade) for admission to M.A. courses; and 55% marks (or an equivalent grade) for admission to M.Sc. courses. 1.2.2 No Candidate shall be eligible for admission to a Master‟s programme unless he/she has attained the age of 20 years for admission to the 1st semester of the programme as on 1st October of the year in which admission is sought. Provided that the age limit may be relaxed by the President on the recommendations of the Admission Committee on the merit of each case 1.3 Admission Procedure Procedure for admission to the programme leading to a Master‟s degree shall be laid down from time to time by the Admission Committee or Committee appointed by the Academic Council under Regulation 3.8. 1.4 Faculty Adviser 1.4.1 The Dean shall appoint a Committee of Advisers for students from amongst the members of the Faculty concerned. The Committee shall advise the students about the courses to be taken and record the selected Credit Courses on the Course Selection Card. 1.4.2 Registration of courses is the sole responsibility of the student. No student shall be allowed to do a course without registration and no student shall be entitled to register after the deadline to be announced every semester by the University.