Lucknow University revises guidelines for selection of asst profs amid ongoing process

LUCKNOW: Candidates appearing for the post of assistant professor at Lucknow University will now have to qualify two more rounds—appear in a written examination and classroom presentation—before final selection.
The executive council (EC) of LU on Friday adopted the new faculty recruitment guidelines sent by the governor and chancellor of state universities.
However, there was confusion on whether the new rule will be implemented in the ongoing selection process for 180 teaching posts in various departments.Since hundreds of candidates have already applied for vacancies as advertised by LU as per old rules, many teachers raised questions whether the new norms can be introduced in the middle of the process and whether they are in consonance with the University Grants Commission’s norms.
LU vice-chancellor (VC) Prof AK Rai said that the university has sought the guidance of the chancellor on this issue through a query. A final decision to implement new rules in the ongoing selections process will be taken after chancellor’s directive, he added. He said that other state universities have also raised some queries which are pending with the chancellor.
Till now, selections of assistant professors were based on an academic performance index (API) calculated as per qualifications, degrees, research and experience of a candidate. However, the new guidelines have added two more rounds. Some changes in API have also been made.
The new guidelines issued by the governor last month are based on recommendations made by a committee comprising vice-chancellors of five state universities. The aim of the new rules is said to make the selection process transparent and tough to ensure qualified teachers are selected. The rules, however, do not apply for selection of associate professor and professor.
The EC has also constituted a 14-member committee to finalise the modalities for conducting the examinations of second- and final-year undergraduate and final-year postgraduate courses as per the state government guidelines.