Student Support Services Division

Genesis

As per section (40), clause (2) (a) of the Statutes of the Tamil Nadu Open University, the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) is listed one of the Operating Divisions of the University. The SSSD now operates 12 Regional Centres and 188 Learner Support Centres (Study Centres) across the State to provide seamless learner support services.

Vision

To ensure seamless learner support services at close vicinity to learners through robust network of Regional Centres and Study Centres, including Special Study Centres for special learners, facilitate timely, continuous and learner-centric academic supports, and redress grievances instantly adopting cutting-edge technology towards sustainable quality Open, Distance and Online Learning.

Mission

• To establish Regional Centres in the State to liaising with the University and the Learner Support Centres (LSCs).
• To set up Learner Support Centres in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) covering all the districts towards easy access.
• To deliver constant learner-centric academic supports by engaging qualified teachers through online and offline mode.
• To adopt user friendly technology for online assignment submission to ascertain transparency through individual e-Portal.
• To redress the learners grievance at Headquarters, Regional Centres and Study Centres by organising periodical Grievance Camps through online and offline platform (Mobile App, Email, WhatsApp etc.,).

Functions

In accordance with the section (45) (a) of the Statutes of the Tamil Nadu Open University, the functions of Student Support Services Division (SSSD) include establishing and maintenance of Study Centres/ Learning Resource Centres/ Learner Support Centres, satisfying the learning needs of the students and attending to student grievances, arranging for counselling, assignment evaluation, orientation for counsellors and co-ordinators and attending to students needs and such other matters as may be prescribed by the Syndicate or Vice-Chancellor. Accordingly, the SSSD is constantly supporting the Regional Centres and the Learner Support Centres for transforming quality education for the learners at their close proximity.

Establishment of Regional Centres (RCs)

The University with the due approval of the Government of Tamilnadu has established 12 Regional Centres, each one in Chennai, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Salem, Sivagangai, Kothagiri (The Nilgiris), Srirangam (Tiruchirappalli), Tirunelveli, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram for the benefit of the learners as well as the Study Centres.

In 2021, the University has established four new Regional Centres at a time in Mayiladuthurai, Salem, Sivagangai and Tiruvannamalai in accordance with G.O (Ms) No.192 dated 11.10.2021 with a view to providing learner support services at their close vicinity.

In 2012, the University set up the Regional Centres in Srirangam (Tiruchirappalli) and Coimbatore vide G.O (Ms). No. 70 dated 18.05.2012. Following this, in 2013, the Regional Centres in Chennai, Dharmapuri and Madurai came into being in accordance with the G.O (Ms). No. 109 dated 25.06.2013. Subsequently, it established the Regional Centres in Kothagiri (The Nilgiris) and Villupuram vide G.O (Ms). No. 100 dated 26.04.2017 with the partial grant from the Government. The Kothagiri Regional Centre is predominantly serving the tribals. The Tirunelveli Regional Centre was set up as per the announcement made by the Honble Minister for Higher Education during the Higher Education Department Demand 2017-18.

While the Villupuram Regional Centre is functioning on our own building, the University has got free land alienations for the Madurai and the Kothagiri Regional Centres from the Government. The land obtaining process for the rest of the Regional Centres are under process.