Holy Cross College has a magnificent
history. It was started for the benefit of the young girls of Trichy
as early as 1923 when higher education for women was considered almost
a transgression against the age-old respected customs and Indian ideas
concerning higher education for girls. The College rose to its present
position as a first grade College from humble beginnings.
Started as a
primary school in 1901 in St. Mary's Thope, Tiruchirapalli.It became
a lower secondary school in 1902. After a short while the School
was shifted to Main Bazaar Road and raised to a High School in 1905.
In the years that followed, there was a growing public demand for a
college for Women in Trichy, as there was then no such institution
in this part of the province, South of Madras City. In response to
that demand it was raised to the status of a second grade College affiliated
to the University of Madras in 1923. The College was elevated to the
full status of a first grade College in 1933.
In 1964, the College was
raised to the status of a post graduate college. With the birth of the
Bharathidasan University in the year 1982, the
College was separated from the parental University of Madras and was
affiliated to the Bharathidasan University. This opened out avenues
for the College to expand its dimensions. The college was proud of
starting a Vocational Degree Course with Rehabilitation Science in
1983-84. The year 1983, the Diamond Jubilee Year saw the completion
of 60 years of devoted and selfless work of the Sisters of the Cross
of Chavanod, its Principals, staff and students and well-wishers.
In
recognition of its services to the cause of women’s education
for over six decades, the college was granted autonomous status from
June 1987. The attainment of autonomous status in 1987 ushered in a
new era of academic freedom for Holy Cross College. Under autonomy
the College expanded its scale of operation by commencing several new
self-financed programmes and restructured some of the aided programmes
to make the courses socially relevant and job oriented.
The college
which started with five students and five staff members, has grown from
strength to strength. Academic excellence, value based
education, highly motivated teaching and supportive staff, well planned,
socially oriented, extensive outreach programmes and outstanding performances
in sports, games and fine arts are unique features of Holy Cross College.
The
Platinum Jubilee year (1998) - the college is proud to have been accreditted
with FIVE STAR, status by National Assessment and Accreditation
Council.
In the new millennium as the College marches towards a century
of its establishment the emphasis will be towards coping with international
global trends in the field of Higher Education. As an accredited Institution
the College will be for International linkages through student and
staff exchange programmes to ensure that, the curriculum is being re-modified
to accommodate a choice based credit system. A full-fledged and multidisciplinary
research department in women studies and an extension department based
on Sisters of the Cross of Society for Education and Development (SOC-SEAD)
are being planned to meet the requirements of advanced centres of excellence.
On
the sands of time, we have successfully completed 77 years of fruitful
service to the cause of women’s education. With a profound sense
of gratitude to the Creator, the Originator of every great achievement,
we march towards the new century |
