Dialogue to end American College row

Dialogue to end American College row

TIMES OF INDIA | COIMBATORE EDITION |  19-05-2012 | PAGE 3

Madurai: The governing council of the American College convened on Friday decided to initiate dialogue to end the row between two factions over the administration of the college.

Addressing media persons after the council meeting, Rev G Devakadasham, president of the council and Church of South India (CSI) moderator said, "We see the problem in three aspects as students, staff and administration issues and have decided to initiate a process to tackle them," Devakadasham said.

The governing council has decided to form an expert committee headed by P Chelladurai, director, department of youth welfare, Madurai Kamaraj University to solve issues like problems with internal marks and certificates. He said that the college has appointed two different groups of management staff due to internal conflict in the administration.

The college will accommodate all the self-financed staff after verifying their qualifIcations. "The staff can be assured that they will not be sent out and we will try to accommodate all of them. We will also work on the pending salaries of the 83 management staff who were not paid their salaries

for the last 17 months," Devakadasham said.

       Talks would be held with both the warring parties in the college to find an amicable solution, he added. "With the internal conflict, the college could not fill the vacancies and salaries. Promotions of the staff were also affected. The college should also work on its minority institution status. The government is ready to provide but we should first solve our domestic issues," Devakadasham stated. He said that the dialogue has been initiated which should happen in two or three rounds and that the council would try to solve the row before the academic year begins.

     The American College, renowned institutions in the the city was caught in a conflict over the administration between two groups and the college activities were affected after November 2010. There are also court cases slapped on both parties .


-------------------------------

Efforts to resolve American College  imbroglio under way: moderator

We will ensure that no staff member is sent out of the college: 

G. Devakadasham

THE HINDU | 29-05-2012 | PAGE 05

MADURAI: Moderator of the Church of South India G. Devakadasham has begun consultations with various stake holders of the American College here to resolve the issues concerning its management over the past few years.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Most Reverent Bishop G. Devakadasham, who is also now the President of the Governing Council of American College, said that a Governing Council meeting was conducted earlier in the day in which all but two of the Governing Council members took part.

Talks were also held with the former Principal of the American College T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, and other officials in which three main issues concerning the college were discussed. They include: issues concerning the students and parents such as examinations and issuing of degree certificates; the issue concerning the teaching and non-teaching staff such as non-payment of salaries; and finally the administration of the college.

Holding of exams

The issue of holding examinations for students who had missed them for various reasons would be taken up with the Madurai Kamaraj University. Further, an expert committee headed by P. Chelladurai, Professor and Head, Department of Youth Welfare Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, would be constituted soon to look into the issues concerning the students.

"We will ensure that no staff member is sent out of the college. I am optimistic that all issues concerning the management of the college would be resolved to the satisfaction of all stake holders within the next academic year."