Utkal Varsity no longer affiliated to NAAC

Utkal Varsity is yet to seek re-accreditation under National Assessment and Accreditation (NAAC) which expired in 2009.

As per the UGC norms, NAAC accreditation is mandatory to be eligible for financial aid from University Grants Commission (UGC)

In the month of April, the Department of Higher Education asked the University to apply for re-accreditation, after NAAC brought a notification asking every institution to apply six months before expiry of the five year period of certification.

PK Shaoo, Vice-Chancellor of the University says "we are unable to seek re-accreditation due to large scale of vacancies in teaching and non-teaching staff along with a plethora of infrastructure issues."

"With the vacancies yet to be filled up and the university lacking necessary infrastructure including digital library, we are not in a position to apply for accreditation now."

This will deprive the University of UGC's potential excellence grant which can be used for developing research facilities, improving infrastructure and purchasing lab equipment, books and journals.

Sahoo further stated "We are to fulfill minimum requirement for the status due to lack of teachers. If the situation prevails, more departments are likely to loose their SAP (Special Assistance Programme) status."

This status is necessary to identify and support university departments that have the potential to undertake quality teaching and research in various disciplines including allied disciplines.

Meanwhile, amid repeated incidents of students' unrest and rift between VC and Registrar affecting the functioning of the university, Governor SC Jamir called for installing discipline.

The university has 350 affiliated colleges - 314 degree, 34 professional and two constituent colleges under its jurisdiction