(1) The sponsoring body may set-up an off-campus centre of the university, subject to the fulfilment of the following criteria, namely :–
(i) the university has completed at least five years after the commencement of its academic activities or programmes at its main campus;
(ii) the university has a valid accreditation from the national accrediting body;
(iii) the university either owns the land or has a lease of at least thirty years for the proposed off-campus centre.
(2) The sponsoring body desirous of establishing an off-campus centre may submit a proposal as per the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission in this behalf, from time to time alongwith a Detailed Project Report (DPR), to the Government and processing fees of rupees fifty lakhs in the form of a demand draft drawn in the name of the Secretary.
(3) On receipt of the proposal, the Government shall get the same scrutinised by the Scrutiny Committee constituted as per sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Act. The Scrutiny Committee shall follow the procedure as laid down in rule 3 to scrutinise the proposal.
(4) After receipt of the report of the Scrutiny Committee, if the Government is satisfied that it is advisable to establish the off-campus centre, it shall forward the proposal with its recommendation to the University Grants Commission.
(5) If the University Grants Commission approves the proposal, the Government shall publish a notification in the Official Gazette allowing the operationalisation of the off-campus centre of the university.
(6) After the publication of the notification in the Official Gazette, the sponsoring body shall give the following undertaking and comply with the following conditions.-
(i) it shall maintain high standards of education and provide adequate infrastructure, resources, and teaching/non-teaching staff at the off-campus centre on par with those offered at the main campus of the university;
(ii) it shall conform to internal and external quality assurance norms specified by the University Grants Commission and other concerned statutory and regulatory bodies and authorities;
(iii) it shall start further new programmes, departments, schools or increase in intake at its off-campus centre only after obtaining approval from competent authorities of the university and relevant statutory and regulatory authorities, wherever required;
(iv) the university expansion plans, through its off-campus centre, shall align with its future academic vision rather than be driven by commercial interests.
(7) Closure of off-campus centre.– (i) The sponsoring body may close the off-campus centre of the university by giving a notice to that effect to the Government and the University Grants Commission, at least one year in advance.
(ii) In case of closure of the off-campus centre of the university, the university shall take necessary action to either accommodate the students enrolled at such off-campus centre in the main campus of the university or ensure that they are supported until the last batch completes the course. An भााग चाार-ब-२८९–३अ 14 महाारााष्ट्र शाासन रााजपत्र असााधाारण भााग चाार-ब, ¨ऑगस्ट ७, २०२४/श्राावण १६, शकेे १९४६ undertaking to this effect shall be given by the sponsoring body to the Government and the University Grants Commission along with the notice of closure as mentioned in clause (i) above.
(8) For establishment of an off-campus centres, off-shore campus and study centres of the university, the instructions issued by the State Government, Central Government and University Grants Commission, from time to time, as required by clause (xviii) of section 10 of the Act, shall be applicable.