Students on a college campus in Patna. Telegraph picture

Patna, July 17: Hundreds of students who will begin their college career at various institutions under Patna University (PU) would find the campus to be different from what greeted their seniors.

The varsity authorities are determined to prevent ragging, earlier a part and parcel of the initiation. The newcomers, whose classes would start from Tuesday, would have to be alert and put their best foot forward. A toe out of line could land them in serious trouble.

All of them and their parents have signed and submitted an affidavit pledging that they would not indulge in any anti-academic activity like ragging, eve-teasing or misbehaviour. Else, legal as well as disciplinary action could be initiated against them.

The students of the current batch could also look forward to the semester system if they continue with their postgraduate studies in PU. The semester system was supposed to be introduced this year. But as many postgraduate departments failed to submit their revised syllabus on time, it would be enforced from the next academic session.

As far as ragging is concerned, authorities said students must come forward to lodge complaints if they face any harassment. The victims of ragging often do not register complaints.

Randhir Kumar Singh, the general secretary of Patna University Teachers’ Association, said: “There is a anti-ragging poster at the gate of Patna College. But we have noticed that very few victims of ragging turn up to complain for some reason or the other.”

The new students would be expected to be at their best, as the varsity administration, in its effort to streamline the academic atmosphere in the colleges, has decided to keep a close watch on the attendance. Students are required to have at least 75 per cent attendance every year. Colleges and department heads have been directed by the university authorities to review the attendance of students every fortnight and send reports to the university.

If a student remains absent for more than a week without informing the college authorities, a letter would be sent to his/her parents.

“This is the first time that the university has planned to send letters to parents about their ward’s attendance. If a student present in the first or the second period does not attend the rest of the classes, he or she will have to give an explanation. If a student takes a sick leave, he/she will have to submit a medical certificate,” said PU vice-chancellor Sudipto Adhikari.

Students this year will also have many more classmates than their seniors, as according to the decision of the state human resource development department, the number of seats have been increased in all the colleges under the varsity. As far as the semester system in the postgraduate courses is concerned, students must keep their fingers crossed. University Grants Commission has set a 2012 deadline for PU to introduce the system.