St Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, has bagged an A++, the highest grade in the seven-point evaluation scale of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

A NAAC peer team visited the campus on November 8 and 9.

A notice put out by principal Father Dominic Savio on November 22 said: “St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, has been accredited with the highest grade given by NAAC - A++. This is valid for a period of seven years from 21.11.2024. The CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) is 3.53, equivalent to 3.78 obtained in the previous cycle.”

The college was awarded A++ in the previous cycle in 2017, too.

Partha Pratim Ghosh, the coordinator of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the college, said: “The methodology of assessment that was followed in 2017 has changed now. It has become more stringent. Now, any institution that scores 3.51 and above on 4 is awarded the highest grade.”

Earlier, an institution that scored 3.76 and above was awarded the highest grade, he said.

Ghosh, the head of the economics department of the college, said: “A closer scrutiny of the scores would make it clear that the college has performed better in several criteria compared to the last cycle.”

The college was assessed on curricular aspects, teaching-learning evaluation, research innovation with extension, infrastructure and resources, student support and progression, governance and leadership, institutional values and best practices.

The college will later put out a detailed break-up of the scores.

In August, the collegewas ranked 6th among colleges in India in an annual ranking exercise by the Union education ministry.

Father Savio told Metro: “The NAAC peer team appreciated the teaching-learning, research credentials and social commitment of the college... This will help us get more research projects. Placement opportunities at the college will increase. The grading will help us attract more bright students.”

“NAAC has also suggested we start new courses. We will go through the suggestions and act.”

The UGC gave St Xavier’s the status of College of Excellence and College with Heritage Status in 2014 and 2015, respectively.

A higher education department official said St Xavier’s is among the four colleges in Bengal with A++ grade since 2021.