Page 485 - Compendium of UGC Regulations 1957-2023

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

3.3. Private University: A Private University established under a State Act shall be unitary
in nature and will be eligible to run Open and Distance Learning Programmes, which
have been conducted by the university in conventional mode for a minimum period
of five years. The Learner Support Centres or Study Centres shall be set up, within
the State, with the prior approval of the University Grants Commission and as per
University Grants Commission (Establishment and Maintenance of Standards in Private
Universities) Regulations, 2003. In the absence of University Grants Commission
approved Learner Support Centre or Study Centre, the University shall offer distance
education programmes at its main campus only.

4. Admission and Programme Fees
Admission of learners to a Higher Educational Institution for a programme in Open and
Distance Learning mode shall be offered in a transparent manner with Self Learning Material
designed and developed directly by the Higher Educational Institution which shall be solely
responsible for all activities relating to admissions or registration or evaluation processes,
duly approved by the respective statutory bodies of the Higher Educational Institutions.
In no case these activities shall be outsourced. However, quality Self Learning Material
developed by any other Higher Educational Institutions recognized by the University Grants
Commission to run Open and Distance Learning programmes could be used under a mutual
agreement after seeking approval of the University Grants Commission:
Provided that a Study Centre or Learner Support Centre shall not admit a learner to
any programme in Open and Distance Learning mode for or on behalf of any other
Higher Educational Institution.
Every Higher Educational Institution shall publicise a prospectus on the web portal of
the Higher Educational Institutions, before the expiry of sixty days prior to the date of
commencement of admission to any of its programmes in the Open and Distance learning
mode. Such a prospectus shall contain the following information for learners seeking
admission to any programme of the institution and for the general public:-
(i) each component of the fee and any other charges or deposits payable by the learners
admitted to such Higher Educational Institutions for pursuing a programme in Open
and Distance Learning mode, and clear terms and conditions of such payments to be
charged by the Institute;

(ii) the percentage of tuition fee and other charges refundable to a learner admitted in such
Higher Educational Institutions in case such a learner withdraws from the institution
before joining or after full completion of course or programme of study and the time
within, and the manner in, which such refund shall be made to the learner;
(iii) the number of seats approved in respect of each course or programme of Open and
Distance Learning mode;
(iv) Eligibility conditions for admission including educational qualifications specified by
the relevant statutory authority or body, or by the institution, where no such qualifying
standards have been specified by any statutory authority;
(v) the process of admission and selection of eligible learners applying for such admission,
including all relevant information in regard to the details of test or examination, if any,
for selecting such candidates for admission to each course or programme of study and
the amount of fee to be paid for the admission test;

(vi) details of the academic faculty at the Headquarters or Regional Centres or Study
Centre or Learner Support Centre, including therein the educational qualifications and
experience in teaching or conduction of Open and Distance Learning programmes and
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UGC Regulations