CHENNAI: The University of Madras has been given `A' grade under the new assessment and accreditation system of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Where the earlier five-star status meant the university enjoyed the highest academic status, the new accreditation puts Madras University two notches below the highest A++ grade.

Despite Tamil Nadu having the highest number of accredited universities in the country, only Anna University enjoys the five-star status — equivalent to the A++ grade — and, that too, because it is still under the earlier accreditation window. Five universities, including Madras University, have `A' grade.

"All institutions from the State, which applied for accreditation/re-accreditation, have cleared the process. While institutions accredited under the earlier system are allowed to have the star rating till they go in for re-accreditation, others cannot do so," NAAC Director V.S. Prasad told The Hindu .

The new NAAC listings are of institutions accredited/re-accredited between February and March 2007.

The NAAC is an autonomous organisation created by the University Grants Commission to assess and accredit higher education institutions on the basis of curriculum, teaching and research, infrastructure, student support, organisation, management and healthy practices.

Only three institutions in the State — the newly accredited Meenakshi College for Women (Autonomous), Chennai; the reaccredited Bishop Heber College (Autonomous), Tiruchi; and St. Xavier's College of Education (Autonomous), Palayamkottai, — now have an A+ status.

Tiruchi region

fares better

Colleges in the Tiruchi-Thanjavur-Perambalur region have done exceedingly well with Veeraiya Vandayar Memorial Sri Pushpam College, Poondi; Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College, Tiruchi; Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College for Women, Perambalur; and Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts, Tiruchi getting A grade.

Three universities in the State — Periyar University, Salem; Mother Teresa Women's University, Kodaikanal; and Tamil University, Thanjavur, — have been newly accredited, along with 22 colleges. Nallamuthu Gounder Mahalingam College (Autonomous), Pollachi, gets `A' grade. Among those re-accredited are Annamalai University, Chidambaram.

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