DBT-STAR COLLEGE SCHEME | The American College

The Star College Scheme was initiated by DBT in 2008 to support colleges and universities offering undergraduate education to improve science teaching across the country. This Scheme was launched for improving critical thinking and encouraging ‘hands on’ experimental science at undergraduate level in basic science subjects. On a larger perspective, the scheme was initiated envisioning that it shall encourage more students to take up higher education in science. Through this scheme the Department identifies colleges with potential for excellence and provides support for developing infrastructure for academics and laboratory activities. This support is in turn expected to invigorate teaching and provide unique exposure of students to experimental science. The scheme also acts as a catalyst in igniting young minds (faculty and students) to engage in networking, exposure visits to research institutes and industries and apply for research grants in order to prepare them for future challenges after the successful completion of their undergraduate courses. The American College, Madurai has received the DBT – Star college scheme from the year 2018-2019.

OUTCOME

The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India has sanctioned “Star College Scheme” to The American college Botany Department, Madurai in 2017 for a period of five years. The Department of Botany has strengthened the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching and training and executed the scheme excellently, focusing on their goals and objectives at all levels. New experiments have been added to the curriculum to make the learning process more experiment-oriented and equipments have been purchased to permit more students to individually handle both regular and relatively new equipments. The fund has enabled the department to organize field trips, guest lectures, visits to National Laboratories for both faculty and students. Research acumen is instilled among the UG students doing projects under this scheme, as a result of which the aspiration to pursue post graduate and doctoral programmes will be strongly seeded in their young minds.

Consolidated outcome after the sanctioned tenure:

Increased in the admission cut off percentage and decrease in the drop out rates of students.
Increased capabilities of core instrumentation resources by procuring new equipment and upgrading of existing facilities in the department.

Star college Items purchased

Academic year 2018-2019

S.NO	Item	Quantity
1	Student Microscope HL-33 (WESWOX )	15
2	Microscope binocular digital biological model BXL-DG WESWOX eyepiece wide field 10X /FOV 20 MM paired objectives:ACHROMATIC E- PLAN 4X , 10X 40X (SL) 100 X (SL) build in head 3 megapixel size ½”, resolution 2048X 1536. USB 2.0	1
3	Microscope zoom stereo trinocular model : ZSM 115 COSLAB (Eyepiece: 10X WF with ioptre adjustment of both eyepieces zoom ratio : 0.7 :4.5, total magnification L 7X TO 45 X illumination ; halogen 6 V 20 Watts & 12 Volt 20Watts) Note: supplied with 5 megapixel USB digital camera and software	1
4	UV visible spectrophotometer Double beam (200-1000nm) systronic make model-2202	1
5	UV cabinet model DV UV+1	1
6	Digital conductivity meter-systronics	1

Academic year 2019-2020

S.NO	Item	Quantity
1	Microscope Junior Medical Model VN-6 COSLAB	27
2	Dissecting microscope (round base) weswox	25
3	B.O.D Incubator size(455x415x610) technico	1
4	Hot air oven digital (455×455) Technico	1
5	Orbital shaker rivotek	1
6	Laminar air flow vertical size(2x2x2)	1