SPPU Directs Hostel Students to Maintain 75% Attendance in Lectures

The hostel authorities at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have directed the hostel students to maintain a 75% attendance in lectures. Those students who fail to maintain 75% attendance and skip classes will have no other option, except to vacate the hostel. The authorities have observed that most of the hostel students are not following guidelines and skipping the classroom lectures.

In the last week of September, the hostel authorities requested all the departments of the varsity to submit the list of hostel students along with their academic and attendance records. The authorities further directed the heads of all the departments to cancel the hostel accommodation of those students who violate the mandatory attendance rule. These students will not be allowed to seek hostel accommodation for the subsequent year as well.

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At SPPU, there are nine boys’ hostels with the total student population of 1,950, and nine girls’ hostels with the total strength of 1,450 students. Every year, thousands of students apply for hostel accommodation, and only a few eligible students are able to get the same. Already, the hostels have been accommodating students more than its capacity.

Those students who do not get hostel accommodation have no other option except to stay in PGs (Paying Guests). A section of students staying in PGs have repeatedly filed RTI on the attendance record of hostel students. Therefore, the varsity has imposed a mandatory attendance rule for hostel students.

There is heavy competition for hostel accommodation at SPPU due to its minimal fee structure. The annual fee in hostels at SPPU is Rs. 2,500 per annum, and it can be paid in two instalments. On the other hand, the mess fee comes close to Rs. 650 per month. The cost of living in hostels at SPPU is much cheaper than the PGs.

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However, a few non-hostellers pointed that many students who join PG course at SPPU seek hostel accommodation due to its minimal fee structure. These students do not attend the regular classes and prepare for competitive exams. A few students even attend coaching classes outside of the campus. Therefore, non-hostelites demanded that these students must not be given hostel accommodation. According to the observation made by the university, many students opt for those PG courses where most of the seats are not filled up just top retain hostel accommodation.