10-year term soon for college principals

College principals are likely to have a fixed term of 10 years. The review committee set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) has made this recommendation at its last meeting on Friday. If approved, all new appointments for college principals will be for 10 years. The principals can, however, have a second term of five years. At present, the principals retire at 65.

The UGC, in June 2010, had limited the tenure of the post of a college principal to five years in its new regulations for appointment of teachers and other academic staff in universities and colleges. The regulations on fixed term for college principals were opposed and the committee was asked to review the norms.

The UGC's regulations say that "the term of appointment of the college principal shall be of five years with eligibility for reappointment for one more term only after a similar selection committee process". In its final meeting on Friday, the review committee chaired by vice-chancellor of Delhi University, Dinesh Singh, recommended that the term of appointment of the college principal shall be of 10 years with eligibility for reappointment for one more term of five years only.