BU restores grace marks for failed students

BANGALORE: The students of Bangalore University (BU) who had failed the exams after the varsity had withdrawn grace marks may now relax as the decision has been overturned and the grace marks restored.BU’s academic council on Wednesday decided to retain the grace marks, thereby passing all those who had failed after the marks were withdrawn. The number of such students is in hundreds.The grace marks awarded to BU’s MBA and MCA students had been withdrawn past week, sparking chaos and confusion among the students as well as the BU authorities.Although the varsity’s academic council overturned the decision on Wednesday, it decided not to give grace marks from now on, BU Vice-Chancellor N Prabhu Dev informed.Also, the BU is going to start a Braille centre for blind students of post-graduate as well as under-graduate levels.The varsity’s academic council approved the decision to provide text books in Braille to 120 students.Further, the council approved ‘Vidyarthi Medical Policy’ for students. Prabhudev said under the scheme, Rs 1 lakh would be given to students to meet their educational expenses if their earning parent passes away.If a student dies, Rs 50,000 will be given to parents.The academic council decided to withdraw MSc Geology course, saying that it had been attracting too few students.The decision to reserve one seat in each post-graduate course for single girl child was approved too. Further, such girls from below-poverty- line families will get a monthly aid of Rs 500 from the university.Also, the council gave its nod to set up a research council to promote research activities at post-graduate and under-graduate levels.Under-graduate research fund was approved for the same, with each research student eligible to get up to Rs 10,000.