Sir M V Government Arts and Commerce College (SMVGACC), Bhadravathi (Dist. Shivamogga) was established on 1st June 1968 by managed by Bhadra Education Society carrying the name Bhadra College.

It is one of the premier colleges established to impart & provide in the field of higher education for the deserving candidates and prove to be a milestone in the part of progress.
 
The college is affiliated to Kuvempu University, Shivamogga and it is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) on 30th August 1999 & 12(B) on 2nd May 2003 under Act, 1956.

It is re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "B" Grade (CGPA Score 2.23 on a 4 Point  Scale in 2nd Cycle) on 28th March 2010.

The college which began functioning in the New Colony Welfare School has shifted to an alternative campus on the New Town Board road shortly afterward. Prof. R B Nayak was the founder Principal of the college.

The B.A course was started in 1968-69 itself and in 1973-74 the B.Com degree course was introduced. To cater to the needs of the industries and equip the students in modern management skills BBM was introduced in the year 2001-02.

The two premier industries of the town, the Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited (VISL) and the Mysore Paper Mills (MPM) took over the management of the college in 1975. The institution was shifted to the present campus in 1976. The college was renamed as the Sir M V Arts, Commerce and Science College.

The B.Sc degree course was introduced in the college in 1976-77. The institution grew from strength to strength and in the year 1986-87, the college was bifurcated keeping in view the massive student strength. The Sir M V Science College was shifted to a new building in Bommanakatte area while the Sir M V Arts and Commerce College continued to function in the existing campus itself.

With the popularity of the institution increasing, the VISL and MPM managements decided that in view of public interest it would be better if the government took over these colleges.

Consequently, the government of Karnataka took over the two sister institutions in the year 1995.

In the year 1998, the college achieved the status of a Grade II college with the student strength crossing the one thousand mark. The first College Development Council was established in the year 2000-2001.

The college caters to the needs of both rural and urban students. Majority of the students come from rural areas. The college has 1085 students of which 119 are Postgraduate students, 67 faculty members, and 07 administrative staff.

Top priority is given to achieve and ensure academic excellence, professional skills, and life skills. We have adequate infrastructural facilities to fulfill these priorities. The institution is located on a sprawling campus of 4.34 acres of land.

At present, the college offers three years undergraduate courses in Arts, Commerce, and Management streams with various specializations and offers two years postgraduate courses in Arts stream with various specializations under Kuvempu University, Shivamogga. It also offers Add-On Certificate courses.

Motto:

"Innovate or Lag Behind"

Vision:

• Imparting quality education embodying goals of Excellence in Character, Learning, Research and Social Awareness

Mission:

• To create an environment of learning through a spirit of inquiry
• To inculcate interactive abilities for multicultural experience
• To achieve communal harmony through morally upright values
• To promote patriotic zeal through integrity of character
• To spot and nurture creativity for career oriented initiatives
• To create an environment of learning through a spirit of inquiry
• To inculcate interactive abilities for multicultural experience

Objectives:

• Imparting quality education in the fields of social sciences, humanities, commerce and management studies
• Updating students’ and teachers’ knowledge to enable them to face current challenges
• Sensitizing the students to the threats of social injustice and inequality through gap analysis
• Preserving the best values of Indian culture and tradition
• Arranging programs to meet the psychological, emotional and financial needs of the students
• Promoting and supporting extracurricular activities like NCC, NSS, sports and cultural activities
• Arranging special lectures in emerging areas
• Enabling students to acquire soft skills and technical skills through training in skill development
• Creating awareness regarding employment for women and gender sensitivity