The Academic Coordination Division is engaged with the management of the affairs of the Teachers and Academics and facilitation of policy formulation of all academic matters of the University in accordance with the provisions of the Act, Statutes and Ordinances of the IGNOU Act. The ACD is also coordinates all matters related to Academic Council and its Standing Committees.

In October 1986, this Division was conceived as a distinctive Unit under the Planning Division. Subsequently, the Unit was carved out from the Planning Division and the first Director of the Teachers' Affairs Division was appointed on January 3, 1989, who was to hold the charge of the Planning Division, in addition to his duties as Director, Teachers' Affairs. The Teachers' Affairs Division has been renamed as 'Academic Co-ordination Division' in December 1995.

Role

1. The Academic Coordination Division is entrusted with the responsibilities of establishment, administration and other service matters pertaining to the:
   1. Teachers: Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors working in various Schools of Studies and Directors of Schools; and
   2. Academics: Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, Assistant Regional Directors, Sr. Analyst, Analyst, Producers, Research Officer, Assistant Librarian and Documentation Officer.

   Apart from the above, the Division is also entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the appointment of Adjunct Professors and engagement of Consultants, Academic Associate and Research Officers, On-line Experts, Web Developers and Project Associates etc. on full-time, part-time, contract, project tenure and on project mode for various academic activities to support the faculty for performance of their functions. This Division also augments Research Officers the process of re-employment of senior-level superannuated teachers to utilise their experience and expertise for the University.

2. Significantly the Academic Coordination Division facilitates the academic policy formulation and its implementation in the university by coordinating the activities of the Academic Council of the University- its highest Academic decision making body.
3. Functions - The broad functions that the Division performs are:-
   1. Faculty Administration that includes all functions relating to:
      • Establishment matters comprising creation of posts, appointments of Teachers and Academics, transfers and postings of academics;
      • Recruitment by Transfer/Deputation through implementation of Government directives including directives pertaining to reservations in appointments, career advancement, counting of past service of Teachers and Academics;
      • Personnel matters viz., service matters comprising probation and confirmation, leave, seniority, extensions, and re-employment, regulation of pay, forwarding of applications for other employment, resignations and deputation, etc.;
      • All matters pertaining to Conduct, Discipline and Vigilance of Teachers/Academics;
      • Retirement benefits;
      • Formulation of rules, regulations pertaining to service matters of Teachers and Academics;
      • Preparation of Agenda papers/notes for various Statutory Committees like Establishment Committee, Board of Management, Academic Council, and Academic Council’s Standing Committee or any other Committee formed by the Vice Chancellor on Academic matters;
      • Providing information related to staff strength to MHRD and other bodies;
      • Maintenance and implementation of roster (reservation for SC/ ST/ OBC/ PWD);
      • Preparation of Reports for Visitor’s Conferences, MHRD, etc.;
      • Reply to Parliament Questions, RTIs, Grievance Redressal etc.
   2. Faculty Development, comprising:
      • Career Advancement of the University faculty;
      • Performance Appraisal;
      • Refresher Courses/Orientation Programmes and other training programmes for the faculty and academics;
      • Travel Grants (National and International) to Teachers and Academics;
      • Study leave to Teachers and Academics and Sabbatical Leave to Teachers to pursue higher studies and promote research based activities.
   3. Facilitating the functioning of the Academic Council and its Standing Committee:

      As per the stipulation of the IGNOU Act, the Academic Council is the principal academic body of the University which has the control and general regulation of, and be responsible for, the maintenance of standards of learning, education, instruction, evaluation and examination within the University and shall exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be conferred or imposed upon it by the Statutes. The initiatives, guidelines and directions of the Academic Council and its Standing Committee are facilitated and being managed by the Division, with the Director, Academic Coordination Division being the Member Secretary.

   4. Promoting Academic Matters of IGNOU:
      • Facilitating Constitution of School Boards of all Schools of Studies;
      • Appointment of Directors of School and Academic Divisions, Centres and Units;
      • Facilitating Functioning of various Chairs;
      • Appointment of Counselors, Academic Associates, Consultants, Principal Investigators etc.
   5. Management of Research:

      The Research Council, under overall guidance and supervision of the Academic Council, is responsible for the planning, management, organisation and monitoring of Research Programmes; Management and administration of the research policy and research programmes of the University:

      • Formulation of guidelines for registration, supervision, programme design, evaluation and awards of research degrees;
      • Monitoring of research indicators for such evaluation;
      • Determination of the criteria for purview of the research areas/themes/topics relevant to the School Board and/or the Area Committee;
      • Advice on research priorities and allocation of resources for research;
      • Preparation of the consolidated reports on research efforts of the University;
      • Any other work related to research development and co-ordination.

To perform the above activities a separate Research Unit has been setup.