Smt. Giriyamma R. Kanthappa Shresti First Grade Women's College, Harihar (Dist. Davanagere) was established on 18th October 1984 under the management of Poura Seva Samithi (R), Harihar.

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.
 
It is affiliated to Davangere University, Davangere and it is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) & 12(B) on 26th August 1999 under Act, 1956, in the year 1999.

It is re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "B" Grade - (CGPA Score 2.22 on a 4 Point Scale in 2nd Cycle) on 15th November 2015.

Ever since its establishment, the college has seen a steady growth in terms of both quality and quantity. The students of this college are known for their gentle behavior and noble qualities.

The Management of this college, comprised of enlightened and philanthropic members, devoted to the cause of women education, registered Poura Seva Samithi under Karnataka Society‘s Registration Act 1960 on 28 September 1979.

They believed that all female students irrespective of caste, color, creed, and class should get the good education, become self-sustained and, thus, come out of the shackles of male domination and gender discrimination.

The students enrolled in the first year of its beginning were only 13. This college was started in three small rooms built of tiles with 05 teaching and one non-teaching staff and only 278 books in the Library.

The first affiliation was granted to this college in the year 1984-85 from Mysore University, Mysuru. From the academic year 1988-89, the college was re-affiliated with Kuvempu University, Shivamogga and from the academic year 2008-09, it has been re-affiliated with Davanagere University, Davanagere

The college was brought within the ambit of grant-in-aid by the Government of Karnataka from 18th April 1991.

The construction of the present spacious, well-equipped building with full-fledged facilities was started during the year 1992.

They opened their Rank account during the year 1994-95 with an III Rank in B.Com., and so far they have bagged 38 Ranks in all. With 9 Ranks in the academic year 2005-06, they have established the Record of Bagging Highest number of Ranks in the history of Kuvempu University, Shivamogga.

At present, the college offers three years undergraduate courses in Arts & Commerce stream with various optional specializations under Davangere University, Davangere. It also offers Add-On Certificate courses.

Motto:

"Educating and Empowering the Women"

Vision:

• To strive to become an institution of excellence in the field of higher education to ensure integrated empowerment of women for the service and progress of the mankind

Mission:

• To compulsorily follow Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
• To enhance the Quality of Education imparted
• To promote Faculty Development Programmes
• To promote Research to make it a significant activity
• To implement continuous and progressive evaluation of students
• To appraise the performance of Faculty
• To provide infrastructure and learning resources for desired growth
• To promote ICT for global outlook

Objectives:

• To deliver knowledge and skills envisaged in various programmes through innovative teaching, participatory learning, and reliable evaluation
• To make education an interesting, joyous, relevant, meaningful, and learner-centered activity
• To create social, cultural, moral, and environmental awareness among students
• To develop human values of concern, compassion, tolerance, and togetherness among students
• To instill in students a sense of discipline, honesty, confidence, and self-respect
• To facilitate holistic and integrated personality development of students
• To help students to adapt and excel by developing in them sensitivity to the changing times