Academic & Professional Ethics

⦿   Academic Integrity: Zero tolerance for cheating, plagiarism, or tampering with lab records and data.

⦿   Patient & Lab Safety: Strictly adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) when handling chemicals, compounding drugs, or managing prescriptions.

⦿   Confidentiality: Patient details and medical histories encountered during hospital visits or internships must be kept completely confidential.

Dress Code and Campus Demeanor

⦿   Uniform and ID: Students must wear the designated college uniform, a clean white lab coat, and prominently display their official ID card at all times.

⦿   Grooming: Neat, tidy appearance with closed-toe shoes in laboratories to prevent chemical hazards.

⦿   Electronics: Mobile phones must be switched off or kept on silent mode during lectures and practical sessions.

Disciplinary Guidelines

⦿   Attendance: A minimum of 75% to 80% attendance in both theory and practical classes is generally mandatory to be eligible for university examinations.

⦿   Behavior: Maintain a respectful demeanor towards faculty, staff, and fellow students. Disruption of administrative or academic functions is strictly penalized.

⦿   Prohibited Items: Possession or consumption of alcohol, tobacco products, and illegal drugs on campus is strictly banned and results in severe disciplinary action.

Zero-Tolerance Policies

⦿   Anti-Ragging: Ragging in any form is a punishable offense leading to immediate suspension or expulsion.

⦿   Harassment: Sexual harassment, bullying, or discrimination against any gender, religion, or background is strictly prohibited.

The guidelines to curb the menace of ragging in pharmacy colleges are as under: -

⦿   Every students for the purposes of his/her admission to Pharmacy College shall furnish a Character Certificate from the institutions wherefrom he/she has passed his qualifying examination, which would mention the status of his/her behavioral pattern specially in terms as to whether he/she has displayed persistent violent or aggressive behavior or any desire to harm others.

⦿   The admitting Pharmacy institution shall keep intense watch upon students who has a negative entry in this regard.

⦿   An annual undertaking signed by each student, whether fresher or senior and his/her parent (s) jointly stating that each of them have read the relevant instructions/regulations against ragging, as well as punishments, and that if the ward has been found guilty he/she shall be proceeded against, shall be procured.

⦿   Such an undertaking shall be furnished in English as well as in vernacular (mother tongue of the parent) at the beginning of each academic year by every student.

⦿   An undertaking to the similar effect should be obtained every year from each student admitted to the hostel.

⦿   The undertaking should be appended to the brochure containing the guidelines and other relevant instructions in regard to ragging and consequences of indulging in ragging.

⦿   The compliance to the above effect shall be ensured by each of the affiliating university to which the concerned pharmacy institution is affiliated and would be verified by the council annually.

⦿   In order to ensure the 'ragging free environment' in the campus, each institution shall compulsorily in the 'prospectus' and other admission related documents, shall depict the earlier directions of the Apex court and/or of the Central or State Governments as applicable, so that candidates and their parents are sensitized in respect of the prohibition and consequences of ragging.

⦿   Each institution should engage or seek the assistance of 'professional counselor' at the time of admissions to counsel 'freshers' in order to prepare them for the life ahead, specially for adjusting to the life in hostels.

⦿   It should be ensured that there would be a clear gap of one to two weeks between the date of joining of 'freshers' and the 'seniors', ensuring that classes for the seniors shall commence later, so as to enable the 'freshers' to familiarize themselves with the campus environment and adjust to the sudden changeover from schools to higher education.

⦿   It shall be mandatory for the institutions to inform the parents of senior students to send their wards only on the due date of commencement of the academic session and not earlier.

⦿   All the examining Universities with which the institutions are affiliated or the deemed to be Universities shall compulsorily amend their relevant ordinances or byelaws, as the case may be, to incorporate the schedule gap of one or two weeks between the date joining of 'freshers' and 'seniors'.

⦿   Each institution shall arrange a joint 'sensitization' programme and 'counselling' of both 'freshers' and 'seniors' to be addressed by the Principal/Head of the institution and the Convener of the Anti Ragging Committee. The inmates of the Hostel shall be addressed on this count by the Hostel Warden.

⦿   Each institution shall have an Anti-Ragging Committee and Anti Ragging Squad, which shall comprise of other than senior teachers of the institution, representatives of Civil & Police administration and local media.

⦿   Each institution shall constitute a 'Mentoring Cell' to oversee and involve senior students as 'Mentors' for the 'freshers'.

⦿   Such a Mentoring Cell shall be constituted at the end of every academic year, where application shall be invited from the students to join the Mentoring Cell as Mentors for the succeeding academic year.

⦿   An anonymous random survey shall be conducted by each institution across the entire 1st year batch of students every fortnight during the first three months of the academic session in order to verify and cross-check whether the campus is genuinely ragging free or not.

⦿   The methodology of such survey may be designed by the institution appropriately. However, doing so it shall be ensured that the institution does not compromise with the anonymity of the 'whistle blowers'.

⦿   The institution shall ensure that private commercially managed lodges or hostels outside campuses, must be registered with the local Police Authorities and permission to start such hostel or their registration must necessarily be recommended by the Heads of the Pharmacy Institutions.

⦿   The Anti-Ragging Squad, in contrast, should be a body with vigil, oversight and patrolling functions and should appropriately be a smaller body which should be nominated by the Head of the institution with such representation as considered necessary to keep it mobile, alert and active at all times. The Squad may be called upon to make surprise raids on hostels and other hot spots and should be empowered to inspect places of potential ragging. The Squad should work under the overall guidance of the Anti-Ragging Committee. The Squad should not have any outside representation and should only consist of members belonging to the various sections of the campus community.

⦿   All matters of discipline within teaching institutions, must be resolved within the campus – except those impinging on law and order or breach of peace or public tranquility, all of which should be dealt with under the penal laws of the land.

⦿   At the level of the University, there should be a Monitoring Cell on Ragging, which should coordinate with the affiliated colleges and institutions under its domain. The Cell should call for reports from the Heads of institutions in regard to the activities of the Anti-Ragging Committees, Anti-Ragging Squads, Mentoring Cells at the level of the institution, the compliance with instructions on conducting orientation programmes, counselling sessions, the incidents of ragging, the problems faced by wardens or other officials. It should also keep itself abreast of the decisions of the District level Anti-Ragging Committee. This Monitoring Cell should also review the efforts made by institutions to publicize anti-ragging measures, soliciting of undertaking from parents and students each year to abstain from ragging activities or willingness to be penalized for violations; and should function as the prime mover for initiating action on the part of the appropriate authorities of the university for amending the Statutes of Ordinances or Bye-laws to facilitate the implementation of anti-ragging measures at the level of the institution.

⦿   In the light of the increasing number of private commercially managed lodges or hostels outside campuses, such hostels and management must be registered with the local police authorities and permission to start such hostels or register them must necessarily be recommended by the Heads of educational institutions. It should be mandatory for both local police, local administration as well the institutional authorities to ensure vigil on incidents that may come with in the definition of ragging. Managements of such private hostels should be responsible for non-reporting of cases of ragging in such premises. Local authorities as well as the institutional authorities should be responsible for action in the event of ragging in such premises, just as they would be for incidents within campuses.

⦿   Besides registering private hostels as stated above, the towns or cities where educational institutions are located should be apportioned as sectors among faculty members, so that they could maintain vigil and report any incidents of ragging outside campuses and en route while 'freshers' commute.

⦿   Wardens must be accessible at all hours and therefore it is important that they be available on telephone and other modes of communication. Wardens must be issued mobile phones by the institutions and the details of their telephone number must be widely publicised. Similarly, the telephone numbers of the other important functionaries – Heads of institutions, faculty members, members of the anti-ragging committees, district and sub-divisional authorities and state authorities where relevant, should also be widely disseminated for the needy to get in touch or seek help in emergencies.

⦿   The brochures or booklet/leaflet distributed to each students at the beginning of each academic session for obtaining undertaking not to indulge or abet ragging, shall contain the blueprint of prevention and methods of redress.

⦿   The educational institutions shall ensure that each hostel should have a full time warden who resides within the hostel, or at the very least, in the close vicinity thereof.

⦿   Institutions should provide necessary incentives for the post of full time warden, so as to attract suitable candidates.

⦿   The database shall be created out of affidavits affirmed by each student and his/her parents/guardians, which affidavits shall be stored electronically, and shall contain the details of each student. The data base shall also function as a record of ragging complaints received.

⦿   Penal consequences for the heads of the institutions/ administrations of the institutions who do not take timely steps in the prevention of ragging and punishing those who rag. In addition to penal consequences, departmental enquiries be initiated against such head of the institutions/member of the administration/faculty members/ non-teaching staff who display an apathetic or insensitive attitude towards complaints of ragging.

⦿   Not only the students, but also the faculty who must be sensitized towards the ills of ragging, and prevention thereof. Non-teaching staff, which includes administrative staff, contract employees, security staff etc. have to be regularly sensitized towards the evils and consequences of ragging.

⦿   The Principal or Head of the Institution/Department shall obtain an undertaking from every employee of the institution including teaching and non-teaching members of staff, contract labour employed in the premises either for running canteen or as watch and ward staff or for cleaning or maintenance of the buildings/lawns etc. that he/she would report promptly any case of ragging which comes to his/her notice. A provision shall be made in the service rules for issuing certificates of appreciation to such members of the staff who report ragging which will form part of their service record.

⦿   It is seen, that college canteens and hostel messes are also places where ragging often takes place. The employers/employees of the canteens/mess shall be given necessary instructions to keep strict vigil and to report the incidents of ragging to the college authorities if any.

⦿   Each batch of freshers should be divided into small groups and each such group shall be assigned to a member of the staff. Such staff member should interact individually with, each member of the group on a daily basis for ascertaining the problems/difficulties if any faced by the fresher in the institution and extending necessary help.

⦿   In the case of freshers admitted to a hostel it shall be the responsibility of the teacher in charge of the group to coordinate with the warden of the hostel and to make surprise visits to the rooms in the hostel where the members of the group are lodged.

⦿   Freshers shall be lodged in a separate hostel block, wherever possible, and where such facilities are not available, the college/institution shall ensure that senior access to freshers accommodation is strictly monitored by wardens, security guards and college staff.

⦿   A ragging takes place mostly in the hostels after the classes are over in the college. A round the clock vigil against ragging in the hostel premises shall be provided.

⦿   In case the victim of ragging his/her parent/guardian is not satisfied with the action taken by the Head of the Institution or by other institutional authorities, or where Head of the institution is of the opinion that the incident ought to be so reported, it shall be mandatory for the institution to file a First Information Report with the local police authorities.

⦿   It must be ensured by each of the institution that the Complaints or information in regard to ragging could be oral or written and even from third parties and the confidentiality thereof must be protected at all costs.

⦿   Each institution shall ensure that remedial action is initiated and completed within a week of the incident itself, so that complaints do not linger and allow either interest in pursuing the matter to vane or enable the culprits to tamper evidence or influence witnesses.

⦿   Applications for leave must be submitted in advance in the prescribed format. It should be signed by the respective Class in-charge before being approved by the principal.

⦿   The leave application with the counter signature of the parent/guardian/Deputy guardian and the Tutor should be submitted in advance or on the first day of his/her return to the college.

⦿   In case of absence on medical reasons, the student should produce a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner.

⦿   The Principal may take appropriate disciplinary action in case of continued violation of leave rules.

⦿   Students should have a minimum of 85% attendance in both theory and practicals separately in each subject, to be eligible for the University exam. Candidates with less than 85% attendance will not be allowed to appear for the university exams.

⦿   Participation in one International/National Conference .

⦿   Participation in one International/National Seminar .

⦿   Participation in two Workshops .

⦿   Participation in Group discussions .

⦿   Participation in two Guest Lectures .

⦿   Participation in five Webinars .

⦿   Completion of two Online Courses (Coursera) .

⦿   Completion of two NPTEL Courses .

⦿   Completion of 15–30 days of Internship/Training in a hospital or industry .

⦿   Publication of one Research Paper .

⦿   Publication of Review article .

⦿   Innovation, Startup and Entrepreneurship Participation .

⦿   Oral/ e-Poster Presentation of two Research or Review Papers .

⦿   Journal Club Presentation .

⦿   GPAT/NIPER Preparation .

⦿   Complete one communication or soft-skills training program per year/ Semester .

⦿   Scholarly Outreach via LinkedIn .

⦿   Book or Book chapter publication .

⦿   Participation in Community Service and Outreach Programs .

⦿   Participation in Sports and Cultural Activities .