MULTAN: In a bid to make a controversial distance learning programme a success, the vice chancellor (VC) of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) has asked the controller of examinations to issue degrees of the programme without mentioning it, Dawn has learnt.

Changing a programme is the sole prerogative of a deans and chairmen’s committee and not of the VC.

Distance Education Director Dr Ishaq Fani submitted an application to Vice Chancellor Dr Khawaja Alqama a couple of days ago requesting him not to mention “distance education programme” on the degrees to be issued on the completion of the course.

Sources claimed the step had been taken to please some senior officials of the university who were enrolled themselves or their relatives were in the programme but they did not want distance learning mentioned on their degrees.

The VC, while approving the request of Dr Fani, directed the university’s controller of examination to not mention the name on degrees. The sources said the VC had no authority to issue such directions as it was an academic matter and not administrative.

They said the reason behind not sending the request to the deans and chairmen’s committee was the probability of refusal as 30 professors and heads of various departments had already submitted their observations to the university administration on tampering of minutes of the academic council on the recommendations of the board of studies on the distance learning programme.

Although the university administration did not include the observations in the Syndicate agenda whose meeting was held on April 22, when the minutes of the academic council meeting were presented before the Syndicate, some members objected to non-inclusion of the observations. It was decided that the academic council meeting should be reconvened for confirmation of the minutes.

Before the Syndicate meeting, a letter had been issued by the registrar’s office on April 8 inviting observations, if any, on the minutes of the academic council meeting held on March 20.

According to the minutes recorded by Registrar Malik Munir Hussain, the council approved recommendations of the boards of studies while the Institute of Social Sciences/Directorate of Distance Education director will ensure course codes are checked/authenticated by the academics director before publishing final version of the courses.

“As fas as the matter of introduction of new courses/subjects in the Directorate of Social Sciences/Distance Education is concerned, it will be routed through the board of faculty for onward submission to the relevant bodies for final approval,” it stated.

The observers stated the house did not approve the recommendations of the board of studies regarding the syllabi/curricula of different offered programmes/subjects of Institute of Social Sciences and Directorate of Distance Education.

“However, the board constituted a committee comprising Faculty of Sciences Dean Dr Saeed Ahmad Malik, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean Dr Ayaz Mehmood Rana, Engineering and Technology Dean Dr Shabbar Atiq, Alfalah Institute of Banking and Finance Director Dr Shaukat Malik and Economics Department Chairman Dr Imran Sharif Chaudhry for further deliberation and placing findings before the board of faculty concerned,” the observation letter signed by 30 professors and heads of departments read.

The letter said a detailed report by the board will be submitted in the next meeting of the academic council for approval.

“It is suggested that facts may be incorporated in the minutes and the necessary corrections in proceedings of the meeting may be made before submitting it to the Syndicate for approval,” the letter concluded.

Registrar Malik Munir claimed he did not receive observations from the 30 professors and heads of departments so they were not included in the Syndicate agenda.

BZU Controller Examination Dr Muhammad Farooq confirmed receiving the application with the VC’s direction to not mention distance learning on degrees. He said the application would be sent to the committee of deans and chairmen for clarification as it was the appropriate forum to decide the matter. He said any decision in this regard would only be taken after approval of the committee.