• The HEI-CR Tool Kit is designed to act as a guide for various stakeholders corresponding to the governance of HEIs.

• HEI Leadership – This includes Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Pro-Vice Chancellors, Registrars, Deans of Schools/Departments, Academic and non-Academic

• Directors – This includes leadership of various offices and research centres including but not limited to Directors/ Executive Directors/ Presidents of various units such as Career Services Office, Admissions Office, International Affairs Office,

• Faculty Members – This will help faculty members understand the implications of actions of the institution and the changes in their

• Individual Schools/Departments – This will help shape the academic response and facilitate coordination among schools/departments across the

• Student Community and Student Council – This document can be used by students to help them understand the implications of institutional actions and ensure that the institution is taking action on all items concerning their safety, overall well-being and future.

• Administrative Leadership and Administration Teams – This will help leadership and teams corresponding to Information Technology (IT), Human Resources (HR), Facility Management, Student Housing/ Hostel Management and other administrative stakeholders to understand additional infrastructure and protocols required in sync with the choice of format for continuity of

• Higher Education Regulators – This document will also play a role in helping regulatory bodies, accreditation units, and government authorities to take policy decisions for maintaining academic continuity and to assess the necessary support

The HEI-CR Tool Kit is meant to serve only as a guiding document based on the general structure of an HEI. Each HEI may have specific requirements besides elements mentioned in this tool kit. Based on its context, location and profile, each HEI will respond to the ongoing pandemic differently. The tool kit is by no means exhaustive, but a compilation of recommendations that may be utilised as reference points while planning the way forward for HEIs in times of COVID-19 to ensure academic planning and continuity.

While this document lists the points for consideration during the planning of academic continuity based on certain assumptions, it is important to ensure that WHO advisories, ICMR guidelines, Central and State Government regulations, Ministry of Education, Government of India regulations/guidelines, and guidelines/regulations of UGC or/and any other regulatory body are adhered to at all times and that they supersede any recommendation made in this document.

Additionally, institutions need to consider context-specific parameters while customising their approach. Ensuring regulatory compliance should be the primary factor taken into consideration.

• Academic discipline of studies
• Pedagogy
• Geographic location of the institution
• Profile of the students, faculty and staff
• Localised impact of COVID-19
• Financial implications
• Regulatory compliance

It is also recommended that HEIs keep in mind the specific and differentiated needs of graduating batches, penultimate batches, incoming batches and other batches, and the remaining stakeholders and ensure that decisions are not changed frequently during the semester to ensure consistency and effectiveness of the teaching- learning process.

Abbreviations/Acronyms