The Equal Opportunity Cell at St. Andrew’s College aims to make our campus disability-friendly, queer friendly, anti-caste, and gender-sensitive The EQC conducts several sensitisation events throughout the year.
Equal Opportunity Cell
The Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC) of St. Andrew’s College functions as per the guidelines given by UGC regulations of promoting equality, inclusion and non-discrimination within the higher education institution. The EOC of St. Andrew’s College ensures that all students and staff have equitable access to opportunities, facilities, resources, services and support provided by the college. The EOC functions as the central coordinating body for promoting inclusion, addressing grievances and discrimination, and monitoring the implementation of policies related to equality and diversity. The EOC includes specialized sub-cells such as the SC/ST Cell, the Minority Cell, Women’s Development Cell and Inclusion Cell, which focus on the needs of specific groups. The EOC is working towards achieving the following objectives in the college.
Objectives
∙ To address and eradicate discrimination based on Caste, Religion, Race, Sex, Physical condition and Place of Birth.
∙ To promote equal access to education for all students irrespective of their Caste, Religion, race, Sex, Place of Birth and Physical condition.
∙ To provide a safe and inclusive environment to all students and staff in the college.
∙ To ensure support for the marginalized students by establishing specialized cells like SC/ST/OBC Cell, Inclusion Cell, Minority Cell and Women Development Cell.
∙ To ensure dissemination and implementation of Government policies, regulations, and notifications issued from time to time for the socially weaker sections and the physically challenged persons.
The following support services are designed to ensure inclusion, equity, and academic success for students from marginalized, socially disadvantaged and economically weaker section of the society.
- Scholarship awareness and guidance
The cell will ensure to inform students about the availability of the government scholarship program as well as institutional scholarships. It will assist students in the process of applying for these scholarships online/offline. Proper guidance regarding document requirements will be provided to the applicant students. There will be continuous tracking of deadlines and renewal of scholarship applications.
- Counseling support
The EOC ensures emotional, psychological, and social support to students facing Academic stress, Discrimination or bias in the campus, adjustment issues (first-generation learners, rural students, etc.) and Personal or family-related concerns. The EOC will ensure to provide Confidential one-on-one counselling sessions for the students, and it will try to find out peer support mechanism for these students.
- Awareness programs
In alignment with the guidelines issued by UGC, the EOC cell organizes programs to promote awareness about constitutional rights and equality provisions, anti-discrimination policies, gender sensitivity, cultural harmony and social justice and inclusion. Along with this, orientation sessions for new students are organized at the beginning of the academic year. In order to have proper implementation of UGC guidelines, the EOC organizes workshops, seminars and guest lectures to sensitize staff and students to promote equity at all levels, and to have an inclusive and safe campus environment.
- Academic mentoring
The EOC will develop a structured mentoring framework to provide academic and emotional support through faculty and peer mentors to the students who may be academically vulnerable. It includes assigning faculty mentors, study skills workshops, remedial teaching and bridge courses, career guidance and higher education counselling. Special attention will be given to First-generation learners, Students from disadvantaged backgrounds and Students with disabilities
- Contact Details:
–Coordinator Name: Dr. Susan Lobo
–Contact Number: 9820559701
– Email ID: s.lobo@standrewscollege.ac.in
