VC Reads Riot Act In Graduate Programmes Reformation

Vice Chancellor of the
University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Ndowa Lale, has condemned situations in which lecturers in the Centres and Institutes of the University who comply strictly to their calenders and Time-table, but handle conventional graduate programmes in their departments with levity.
The VC, who made the condemnation at a brainstorming session with the provost of the University and Deans of faculties, warned that hence forth, such attitude will no longer be condoned.
He stated that any cogent and verifiable report by graduate students bordering on unnecessary delays in the completion of their programmes would be treated in accordance with extant laws governing the terms of employment of such lecturers.
“People are disappointed when our Masters degree Programmes take four years to complete due to unnecessary delays in the department. This unwholesome practice is unacceptable and must be corrected  immediately, “if we are to continue to attract talented graduates students to this university.
“I don’t see any justifiable reason whatever why some lecturers who teach graduate programe within the stipulated time frame at the centres and institutes turn around to delay the same programe beyond the stipulated time in their departments.
“The University has laws, and those who do not want to abide by such tenets would be made to Face punitive measures,” he said.
Professor Lale subsequently directed that there should be mid-term presentations to access the performance of graduate students.
He further stated that those on masters degree programs should be made to make presentations six mouths into their programe, while candidates for Doctor of Philosophy degrees should face Departmental Graduate Committee after 18 mouths of residency.
Also, students who could not justify their admission at that stage would be removed, while serious –minded ones would be made to complete their programs during their residency period.
Following a presentation by the Dean, School of Graduate studies, Professor Ogali, on the manner in which most Departments concurrently run their part-time and full-time studies, the committee of VC, Provost and Deans declared it Unacceptable.
“It is totally unacceptable for departments to incorporate part-time students into their full-time Programs without creating distinct Time-Tables to cover each mode of study,” the committees said.