Page 460 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

Regulations pertaining to Credits, Academic Programmes and Award of Degrees:

15. Learner Support Services –
(1) A Higher Educational Institution offering programmes in Open and Distance Learning
mode shall have guidelines for learner support services which is made available to all
Learner Support Centres and accessible to the learners.
(2) The learner support services to be provided by the Higher Educational Institution shall
include the following, namely:—

(i) pre-admission counselling for prospective learners to provide information to
facilitate them in taking an informed decision on joining a specific programme;

(ii) support for admission related matters;
(iii) details of study material and information shall also be available on the website of
the Higher Educational Institution;
(iv) arrangement to ensure the delivery of study material to learners within a fortnight
from the date of admission.
(v) A full time dedicated help desk well versed with the learner information data base
providing single window services for all learner related queries.

(3) The University Grants Commission (Grievance Redressal) Regulations, 2012 shall
be adopted and operationalised by the Higher Educational Institution, and the Higher
Educational Institution shall institute a system of Grievance Redressal, in accordance
with the guidelines specified in Annexure XI.
(4) The Higher Educational Institution shall provide facilities for on-line guidance and
counselling facilities to the learners.

(5) The Higher Educational Institution shall create ‘on-line’ discussion forum for learners.
(6) The ‘Self Learning Material’ in printed form shall be provided compulsorily to the
learners and in addition, the Higher Educational Institution may provide additional
learning resources through on-line mode, Compact Disks etc.
PART-V
ASSESSMENT, ACCREDITATION, AUDIT, INSPECTION AND MONITORING

16. Assessment, Accreditation and Audit—
(1) A Higher Educational Institution offering programmes in Open and Distance Learning
mode shall comply with University Grants Commission (Mandatory Assessment and
Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012 and in any case
shall apply for assessment and accreditation under those regulations for assessment and
accreditation of the programmes offered by it in Open and Distance Learning mode:
Provided that this sub-regulation shall not be applicable to Open Universities till the time
they become eligible for National Assessment and Accreditation Council accreditation
shall be mandatory for Open Universities to get National Assessment and Accreditation
Council accreditation within one year of their becoming eligible for the same.

(2) A Higher Educational Institution recognised under these regulations for imparting
programmes in Open and Distance Learning mode shall get all its programmes
assessed through the Centre for Internal Quality Assurance once in a year in the format
prescribed by the Commission and the report on quality assurance shall, before the end
of the academic year, be prominently placed on its website and a copy furnished to the
Commission.

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University Grants Commission