UoM Senate meeting postponed, teachers express displeasure

The University of Madras (UoM) Senate meeting, originally scheduled for August 28, 2026, has been postponed due to urgent meetings of the university's authorities. This marks the first Senate meeting in nearly 18 months for Tamil Nadu's oldest university. The postponement has left academics at the university concerned, as the absence of departmental heads, who are ex-officio members of the Senate, should not necessitate cancellation.

The last Senate meeting took place on March 29, 2025. The Senate, as the highest administrative body, must approve financial estimates each year, including the current year's budget and the revised estimate of the previous fiscal. The University has been relying on provisional minutes of the Senate-in-circulation to approve interim budgets for expenses like salaries, pensions, and other obligatory expenses.

With the Vice-Chancellor absent for over two years, routine administrative tasks have been handled by a Convenor Committee, leading to delays in decision-making.