Shillong, Dec 16: Repeated attempts to convene meetings of the Executive Council by the Vice -Chancellor (VC) has compelled Pro-Vice-Chancellor S. Umdor to quit the post.
The move of the VC was despite opposition from students and staff associations resulting in unrest, according to a statement issued by Umdor.
Full text of the presss release
The Pro Vice Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof. S. Umdor, has tendered his resignation from the post with effect from the afternoon of 15th December 2025 and the same was informed on Friday the 12/12/2025 in a meeting with the Deans and Officers of the University on Friday. The decision follows an extended period during which the Pro Vice-Chancellor was entrusted with full responsibility for the day-to-day academic and administrative functioning of the University, in the absence of the Vice-Chancellor from the campus and the State of Meghalaya.
During this period, the University continued to function smoothly, with academic and administrative processes carried out in the interest of students and staff. Notably, end-semester undergraduate and postgraduate examinations were conducted on time, ensuring that academic schedules remained on track.
Several long-pending and critical institutional tasks were completed. These included convening meetings of the Academic Council; completion of teacher promotions under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) at Levels 11 and 12; promotions of non-teaching staff through the Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC); operationalisation of the 100-seater girls’ hostel along with the creation of 24 additional hostel seats; finalisation of recruitment advertisements for non-teaching staff; and compliance with various court directives. The University also successfully hosted several national and international academic programmes, including the Smart India Hackathon 2025, enhancing NEHU’s academic visibility and student engagement.
One of the most significant challenges during this period was managing a 42% reduction in UGC recurring grants for the financial year 2025–26. Through austerity measures, rationalised deployment of resources, and revision of examination fees, efforts were made to stabilise the University’s finances while ensuring timely payment of wages to temporary staff. Other key milestones achieved include the progression of the NEP-UG programme into its fifth semester, introduction of revised curricula incorporating internships, vocational components, and MOOCs, and the successful conduct of CUET-based admissions for affiliated colleges in Meghalaya for the first time.
However, repeated attempts to convene meetings of the Executive Council under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor—despite strong opposition from students and staff associations—have contributed to unrest and have vitiated the campus atmosphere. Suggestions to allow the Senior Pro Vice-Chancellor (Tura Campus) to chair meetings of the Executive Council until outstanding issues with stakeholders were resolved were not accepted. Such an arrangement, it was felt, would have enabled urgent matters concerning the welfare of students and staff to be addressed without further delay.
Decisions and actions taken in the routine discharge of academic and administrative responsibilities have increasingly been contested, leading to delays and disruption. These circumstances have also resulted in the resignation of the Registrar, the Finance Officer, and senior faculty members who had voluntarily taken on additional administrative responsibilities.
Given the prevailing situation—marked by the absence of essential support systems and continued uncertainty surrounding key institutional decisions—it was felt that continuing in office would not serve the best interests of the University or uphold the standards of accountability and professionalism expected of the position.
Prof. Umdor has expressed gratitude to all for their cooperation and support, and has conveyed hope for the restoration of stability and continued progress of NEHU in service of the region and its people.
S. Umdor
Professor
Department of Economics, NEHU
