Delhi University withdraws circular on increasing workload of professors after backlash

NEW DELHI: Delhi University withdrew a circular directing the DU college principals and directors to assign professors and associate professors the same workload typically given to lower-ranked positions like assistant professors. The DU circular was issued earlier in the day by the deputy registrar and was taken down within hours after facing backlash from the teachers.

According to UGC guidelines, senior faculty members (professors and associate professors) are required to work 14 hours a week, while junior faculty (assistant professors) have a 16-hour weekly workload.

In line with “clause 15 of the UGC Regulations, 2018 & Clause 1 of Ordinance XIII of Ordinances of the University for calculation of workload for direct teaching learning arrangement as also Teacher-Student Ratio in all the programmes/courses being offered in both Under-graduate and post- graduate level are unambiguously made applicable,” the circular which as issued earlier today read.

The circular proposed increasing the workload of senior positions by two hours citing the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) promotions. “2 hours per week from direct teaching learning may be devoted to administrative work. It includes work performed as Dean/Head of Department /PIC of Center/Director of the Center or any other equivalent administrative work as notified and assigned by the Competent Authority of the University in addition to existing duties,” the DU circular dated November 14, 2022.

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"The incumbent(s) will assume the workload associated with the core post of Assistant Professor, regardless of any promotions as Associate Professor or Professor, since the promotion under CAS is specific to the individual," read the order issued by the deputy registrar's office.

DU circular draws criticism from faculty

Following this, DU teachers criticised the move and accused the university of “increasing the workload to compensate for the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) rather than recruiting additional teaching staff”.

Mithuraaj Dhusiya, an elected member of DU Academic Council, said: “When the UGC Regulations do not differentiate between Professors through direct recruitment or promotion, then why is DU coming out with this notification. This needs to be totally rejected and DU must immediately roll back this notification."

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As per the DU circular dated October 15, "Associate Professors/Professors will be treated as Assistant Professor for deciding their direct teaching hours if their initial appointment was as an Assistant Professor!" The DU teachers wrote on a social media post: “The UGC Regulations 2018 (and before that, 2010) does not use any such qualifier. It does not discriminate between those who are directly recruited as Professors and Associate Professors and those promoted.”

The circular comes five days after the academic council meeting; however, no discussion on this matter was discussed, the teachers alleged. “Colleges should throw this circular in dustbin. If DU wants to humiliate Associate Professors and Professors, Let them first change the Ordinance (at least).” the post added.

The university issued a fresh circular in the evening stating that the earlier circular regarding the workload of teachers had been withdrawn. "Further, it is informed that subsequent clarification, if any, in this regard will be issued by the university in due course," it added.