CHANGES TO THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR OF THE UNIVERSITIES IN VIEW OF

COVID-19 LOCK DOWN

by
Prof. Venugopal K R
Vice-Chancellor
Bangalore University

PREAMBLE

The lockdown in the state of Karnataka has been imposed to prevent the
spread of COVID-19 from March 14, 2020 to May 31, 2020. Nearly two
and half months - 75 days of online teaching would have been completed
across the universities in Karnataka. The online classes has been successful
to an extent of 60 to 70%. The students from remote areas have not been
able to attend the online classes. So the study material and recorded
classes have been sent to all the students via email, you tube, whatsapp
etc. However, it is not sufficient to involve all the students on the online
classes. Hence, regular classes have to be conducted to all the students to
supplement the online classes.

SUGGESTIONS :

Final year UG students (sixth semester) :

1) For the final year UG students, there has to be a settling time of one
week, three weeks of regular classes including laboratories, and
another one week of preparations for the examination totaling to five
weeks before the examination can be conducted from the date of lifting
the lockdown. The examinations for the final year UG students can be
conducted in the first week of July 2020 (if the lock down is lifted on
May 31, 2020).

First and Second year UG students (second and fourth semester) :

2) The second and fourth semester of UG classes can be started in the third
week of July 2020 with one week of settling time, four weeks of
 regular classes including laboratories. The examinations can be
conducted in the 2nd week of August 2020 (if the lock down is lifted on
May 31, 2020).

3) Alternatively, the second and fourth semesters students can be moved

to third and fifth semesters and the examinations can be conducted
later at a convenient date.

The higher third and fifth semester classes can be commenced in the
second week of September 2020 for the present 2nd and 4th Semester
students.

Final year PG Students (fourth semester) :

4) For final year PG students (fourth semester) there has to be a settling

time of one week with four weeks for regular classes and additional one
week for preparation of examination totaling to six weeks after lifting of
the lock down. The fourth semester PG examinations can be conducted
in the third week of July 2020 (if the lock down is lifted on May 31,
2020).

5) The classes for second semester PG students can be started in the third
week of July 2020 with settling time of one week and regular classes of
four weeks with the examinations in the third week of August 2020 (if
the lock down is lifted on May 31, 2020).

The second semester PG students can be moved forward to higher

semester (third semester) and the examinations can be conducted later
at a convenient date.

The classes for the next higher semester can commence in the first
week of September 2020.

6) The modes of examination can be of following types :

I) The examination can be conducted on online mode with the

students at home with virtual supervision
 a) Using Note Pads where the answers can be uploaded to the servers.
b) where answers can be written on a answer paper and uploaded by
the web scanners/ cameras.
c) where multiple choice questions and OMR sheets can be used.

II) The examinations can be conducted at designated examination

centres with physical supervision

a) Using Note Pads where the answers can be uploaded to the servers.
b) where answers can be written on a answer paper and uploaded by
the web scanners/cameras.
c) where multiple choice questions and OMR sheets can be used.

III) The Examinations can be conducted in the respective colleges

IV) Alternatively the examinations for the final year students of UG and
PG can be 50 % internal assessment (test and assignment), 20 %
presentation/seminars and 30% can be of MCQ/OMRs or a open
book examination and open choice.

V) Finally, If none of the above modes are possible, then average marks
of the previous examination can b considered for the final year UG
and PG students.

7) Question Papers

Both the number of questions to be answered and the number of

questions asked can be altered including the duration of the
examination.

8) The viva-voce examinations can be conducted online and the period for
submission of thesis/dissertation can be extended for another six
months for the Ph.D and M.Phil Scholars.

9) Social distancing, sanitisation, seating arrangements can be followed as

per the guidelines of the Government.
10) IT infrastructure has to be created in all the universities for conducting
online classes and also for online mode of examination in future. Create
Virtual class rooms and develop E-content and E-labs to gradually cover
50 % of the syllabus on online mode. The learning/ study material can
be sent through emails, whatsapp and you tube.

11) Two months of vacation for the academic calendar 2019-2020 in the
month of June-July 2020 and another two months of vacation in June-
July 2021 during the academic calendar of 2020-2021 totaling to four
months can be utilised for conducting the examinations. The
universities have to switch over to six days week.

12) The students attendance during the lock down period shall be treated
as deemed to be attended. The project and dissertation of the student
can be submitted on the basis of secondary data instead of laboratory
and field survey.

13) The existing faculty have to be trained for online mode of teaching and
new faculty have to be appointed.

14) Appropriate amendment /ordinances to be issued by the Government

for bringing out the changes in the Academic curriculum.