About

Department of botany  VISION              To be a center of academic excellence in Plant Science. MISSION        To apply conventional and modern concepts to understand plant process. To develop human resource with expertise in frontier areas of plant and allied sciences by collaborating with institutes of higher learning capable of providing solutions to industrial, health, agricultural and environmental challenges and provide equal opportunities to foster inclusiveness for betterment of the students. ABOUT DEPARTMENT

The Department of Botany is one of the first and oldest departments of the college. It was established in the year 1958 since the inception of the college. It offers three years course to Under Graduate students and two years course to Intermediate students in Botany both in theory and practical. The department is first to introduce a paper in ‘Microbiology & Biotechnology’ as part of Botany curriculum at undergraduate level in the year 1987 when the college got the autonomous status, even before the affiliated university i.e. Andhra University introduced it at UG or PG level. The department also introduced a course in ‘Nursery Management’ for Botany students and a General Elective paper in ‘Horticulture’ for non-Biology students nearly two decades ago to improve the employability and entrepreneurial skills of the students. Recently, the department has introduced CBCS patter of curriculum with industry linked syllabus in the form of Cluster papers to deepen the knowledge of students in the subject and to develop hands on experience. Besides, a skill development course in ‘Mushroom Cultivation’ was introduced by the department to instil entrepreneurial abilities among the students. The department organizes Seminars and Guest Lectures by eminent academicians to make students aware of recent developments in the subject. The department is the first in the college to start a departmental association namely‘Biology Association’with an aim to enhance subject knowledge among the students and faculty.The association conducts various programmes and competitions to students in Botany and other related biological fields and publishes ‘Bio-flash’ an annual magazine. The department also founded ‘Green Globe Nature Club’ in the year 2011to create environmental awareness among the students, faculty and in the neighbourhood. The department has conducted a Two-dayNational Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Value addition to Plants and Plant products’ in 2014 and a two day ‘Workshop in Bioinformatics’ in association with IIT Delhi in 2018. The department records one of the highest pass percentage of the students in the college. Department of Botany ensures all-round development of students by conducting student centric programmes and encouraging their participation in Extra & Co-curricular activities, Community service and imparts Leadership qualities in them. It provides them personal, academic and career counselling. Many Alumni of the department are well placed Nationally and Internationally in diversified fields of work/ professions. The department is known for its academic excellence.Students are encouraged to undertake Project works, Summer internships in various Research Institutes, Universities, Industries and with NGOs to promote research and scientific temper among the students. It has MOUs with some local scientific institutions. The department has good infrastructure facilities, well equipped and ICT enabled Laboratory, Museum specimens, Botanical Garden and a Book Bank. The practical of every paper in Botany is evaluated regularly. The Teaching-Learning and Evaluation systems are very strong in the department with very competent faculty members. The former HOD of the department Mrs. K. B. Hemalatha served as Chair Person of Board of Studies -UG Botany of Andhra University. Another former HOD Mrs. A. Sita Devi served as Associate Controller of Examinations, Member -Governing Body and Board of Management of the college.The present Head of the Department Dr. K. Manikya Kumari received ‘AP State Best Teacher Award’ for the year 2017 from the State Govt of Andhra Pradesh and ‘AP State Eminent Christian Person Award 2017’ from AP State Christian Minority Commission for her immense contributions to the field of Education. She is also serving as Programme Officer for NSS and UNICEF activities in the college.