St. Xavier's University, Kolkata has drawn up a comprehensive plan and guidelines for faculty and students to return to campus as per the UGC guidelines. It has decided to commence the first year UG and PG programmes from September 2.
In the new session, "both for freshers and the intermediate semester students, each class will be divided into two batches of 25 to 30 students who will attend classes on alternate days. Students will be taught online on the days they are away from campus. Thus, no syllabus will be missed," said Fr. Felix Raj, Vice-Chancellor of the University.
He added that only one student will be allowed to sit in one bench. In the first semester, the university is planning to hold 25- - 30 per cent of its teaching-learning online.
For new session, the university will start accepting online applications immediately after the +2 results, sometime early August. "We have the responsibility of addressing the issue of anxiety and uncertainty among students and their parents. Thus, we plan to hold the terminal semester examinations in June, intermediate semester examinations in August and resume classes as early as possible, "Father Raj said.
"End-semester students don't need to return to the university. Adhering to the UGC recommendations, their remaining examinations will be conducted online and the final results will be announced on July 10.
The University will conduct admission tests for all PG courses and two UG courses including Law. The admission test for Law, XLAT will be held on July 26, Sunday. The admission tests will be conducted for one subject at a time.
"The protection of our students, staff and faculty is particularly important for us. The SXUK is taking all precautions and necessary measures to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19," Fr. Raj added.

Courtesy: Somdatta Basu, the Times of India: Read Online