School of Communication Studies

Information under Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005

1.	The particulars of its organisation, functions and duties.
	School of Communication Studies (SCS), Panjab University, Chandigarh, is providing education and is also engaged in research and consultancy in the areas of journalism and mass communication. It runs four study programs at the post-graduate level - a two-year full-time regular Masters program in Journalism and Mass Communication; three one-year part-time regular Post Graduate Diplomas in Advertising & Public Relations; Hindi Journalism; Punjabi Journalism. SCS also provides necessary instructions and supervision for the award of the Degree of Philosophy. <br /><br />SCS is also the co-ordinating department for the upcoming PU Community Radio as well as the Educational Multi-Media Research Centre.<br /><br />The organizational structure is primarily divided into teaching and non-teaching staff under the overall supervision of a Chairperson. The non-teaching staff is under the day-to-day supervision of a Superintendant.

2.	The powers and duties of its officers and employees.
	All the teaching faculty members are actively engaged in teaching, research and guiding the students at various levels. Some of the faculty members are engaged as guest faculty in sister departments and provide consultancy services also.<br />The additional charge of Manager, Publication Bureau is currently with the Chairperson as also that of Editor, PU News.<br /><br />The office staff are primarily engaged in administrative and secretarial work of the department.

3.	The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability.
	At the departmental level, all the decisions are taken as per the Rules and regulations of the University. As per Panjab University Calendar Volume III, there are three statutory committees, i.e. Academic Committee, Administrative Committee and Technical Committee and their respective functions are prescribed at page 386 of P.U. Cal., Vol. III. All the matters regarding admission and migration are placed before the Board of Control which is constituted by the University every year. The syllabi, courses of reading etc. are recommended by the Board of Studies which is constituted by the University every three years. Matters of PhD registration are recommended by the Research Degree Committee constituted every alternate year. All the decisions are taken by the appropriate committees/ bodies of the department who are held responsible and accountable.

4.	The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions.
	All the functions are discharged by following democratic process by appropriate bodies/committees constituted under the Rules and Regulations of the University.

5.	The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions.
	All the Rules and Regulations, instructions/ manuals are given in the Panjab University Calendars and Handbooks of Information available both in print and online at www.puchd.ac.in. No separate rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records etc. are held under the control of the department as such except those records which pertain exclusively to SCS (staff and student details, budgetary allocations and expenditure etc).

6.	A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control.
	Attendance registers, stock register, fee receipts, admission forms of students, internal assessment awards, correspondence files pertaining to the department, service books of teaching and non-teaching staff etc. are held under the control of the department.

7.	The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof.
	Established professionals from various sections of the media industry are nominated to the Board of Studies. There is also a provision of inviting experts from amongst the public when so required in the framing of policies.

8.	A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public.
	As per the Rules and Regulations of the University, the department has duly constituted Academic, Administrative and Technical Committees, Board of Control, Board of Studies and Research Degree Committee. The department also has a Teacher-Student Committee named Media-Mocha that oversees all extra-curricular activities and a Placement and Internship Committee.<br /><br />Meetings of these committees can have invited members. Meetings of the RDC involving PhD synopsis presentations are open to faculty and students from other departments. Minutes of the meetings are available to the public once they are confirmed by the appropriate authority as per the provisions of the University and the RTI Act.

9.	A directory of its officers and employees.
	The directory of the teachers working in SCS is available under the head 'School of Communication Studies' on www.puchd.ac.in. Regarding other officers and employees, they can be transferred to different departments. Their complete record is available with the Establishment branch of the University.

10.	The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations.
	The record of the monthly remuneration received by each of the officers and employees of SCS is maintained by and held under the control of the Accounts branch of the University. The salary structure is also available online.

11.	The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made.
	The budget allocation is made by the Board of Finance for each financial year. The details are available with the Budget section of the University as well as online.

12.	The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes.
	The cost of education per se is subsidized in the University. All programmes are executed after the approval of the appropriate bodies. The total amount allocated and utilized for any programme is subject to the approval of the auditors (appointed by the Govt.) and prior approval of the competent authorities. The beneficiaries of such programmes are primarily the staff and students of SCS.

13.	Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorisations granted by it.
	The department receives fees from the students as prescribed by the University. All concessions, including fee concessions and reservations, are as per the Rules and Regulations of the University and the Govt. of India.

14.	Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form.
	Information pertaining to the staff and students is available on the intranet of the University - www.campus.pu.ac.in

15.	The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use.
	The facilities of the department are primarily available to the staff and students. The working hours are from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Library and Reading Room is primarily for the use of the staff and students of the department. Bona fide research scholars from other departments and educational institutes as well as members of the public can also have access to the Library with the prior written permission of the Chairperson.

16.	The names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers.
	The Public Information Officer is the Chairperson (ex-officio). Currently, the PIO is Dr. Archana R. Singh. Contact no. 0172-2541982, 0172-2534634.

17.	Such other information as may be prescribed; and thereafter update these publications every year.
	All other information related specifically to the department is available under the head 'School of Communication Studies' on www.puchd.ac.in, Handbook of Information etc. and is updated every year.

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School of Communication Studies

Information under Section 4 of the Right to Information Act, 2005