MCC — a success story
ONE OF Chennai's oldest and well known institution, the Madras Christian College (MCC), Tambaram, has secured the highest possible accreditation (`A'+) rating from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
The principal, Alexander Mantramurti, and his team are a proud group today. Not without good reason. A peer team of NAAC, which visited the college, in its final report, hoped that ``the college will be able to share its success story with other institutions in the country.''
Prof. Mantramurti sees the rating awarded as an honour for the ethos promoted by the college founded in 1867. More than anything else, he sees three of the `best practices' (as also highlighted by the peer team) as the most striking features that past and present students of MCC savour. ``MCC's objective is always to produce a complete person ... as someone who stands up to
the challenge of the future. Also MCC is known for allowing each student a freedom that one can enjoy more than in any other institution... '' he notes.
The colleges puts a premium on inculcating leadership quality in its students.
Consider the list of outstanding alumni, which includes former President, S. Radhakrishnan; academic leader, A.L. Mudaliar; scientist, Dr. Raja Ramanna; former Finance Minister, T. T. Krishnamachari; former Chief Election Commissioner, T. N. Seshan; industry leaders such as Mammen Mappillai and Suresh Krishna, and writer, C. S. Lakshmi (Ambai).
The reason is simple. Students are part of the college's Senate, Boards of Studies, Academic Council or disciplinary committee. They all offer a unique opportunity or avenue for student participation in college affairs.
The second feature is the concept of family that the college fosters. The wives of teachers and staff participate in organising community or social activities. The third is the self-governance that the college promotes among its units, hostels and even during academic activity.
In an affirmation of these statements is the peer team's report which says ``If the shakti of the college were to be identified, it could be found not in any one place but diffused in many of the units; as much as in the library and archives as in the cafeteria and sports field; as much in the classrooms as in the halls of residence; as much in the salubrious 365-acre campus and staff colony as in the adopted village and neighbourhood; as much in India and abroad...''
With 2,900 students, nearly 200 well qualified staff and an equally big support staff, the college is poised to start all its activities anew. From next year, it will introduce choice-based credit system in all its programmes. This will provide students in any programme to move across different programmes to study electives of his/her choice from other faculty. The quality profile of MCC can be gauged from the NAAC's assessment report which awarded very high ratings for its curricular aspects; teaching-learning and evaluation, research and consultancy; infrastructure; student support services, and organisation.
Prof. V. Rajagopalan, Reader, coordinated the Self Study report of the institution, a work, which the principal concedes took a lot of burden away from his shoulders.
What next? A new MBA course and a Bachelor's course in Journalism.
In the long run, ``We are looking at seeking a university status.'' And why not?
K. Ramachandran
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