Section 14 in AICTE (Open and Distance Learning Education) Guidelines for Standalone Institutions, 2019
14. Learner Support Centre (LSC).
- 14.1. A Standalone Institution offering programme in ODL mode shall, within one year from the date of commencement of these Guidelines, ensure that a Learner Support Centre (LSC) is established only in a college or institution affiliated to a University or in an AICTE recognised Standalone Institution offering programmes in the same broad areas having the necessary infrastructure and human resources for offering the programme:14.1.1. Provided that a Standalone Institution may establish a special Learner Support Centre for imparting instruction to persons referred to in the Divyang (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disability Act, 1999 and other persons in difficult circumstances, including jail inmates:14.1.2. Provided further that an LSC shall not be set up under a franchisee agreement in any case.14.2An LSC shall be the contact point or centre managed by the Standalone Institution for providing academic as well as administrative support to its learners, and shall perform such other functions as specified in Annexure IX.14.3The Learner Support Centre shall be headed by a Coordinator who shall be a regular teacher not below the rank of a qualified Assistant Professor of the concerned Standalone Institution and assisted by the counsellor as decided by the Standalone Institution.14.4The Standalone Institution shall have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the smooth functioning of the LSC, which shall include functions of the LSCs and its different functionaries, monitoring mechanism of different services provided by the Centre, and it shall be mandatory for the LSC to maintain the learner data related to conduct of counselling sessions, evaluation of assignments and redressal of grievances.
