St Joseph College

St. Joseph's College (Autonomous) is one of the oldest institutions of India founded in the year 1844 by priests of Society of Jesus (Jesuits)in Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu State of South India. It was shifted to Tiruchirapalli District in the year 1883. It was affiliated to the then Madras University in 1869. The University of Madras conferred Autonomous status to the college in the year 1978. The college celebrated its centenary in 1944, sesquicentenary in 1995 and received a Five Star status[citation needed] from National Assessment and Accreditation of Council (NAAC) in 2000 and re-accredited with A+ Grade in 2007. It was recognised by UGC as a College with Potential for Excellence (CPE) in 2004[citation needed]. The College has opted for Choice Based Credit System for the students admitted in UG and PG courses from 2001. The College is an Affiliated First Grade College of the Bharathidasan University. The College offers many courses in both morning and evening schedule. The College offers SHEPHERD Programme to arouse in students a sense of social justice, responsibility, sensitivity and concern for the poor and disadvantaged.

The college emblem expresses its aim and ideal. It bears azure, with the Trichinopoly Rock Fort and the College Church for the distinctive features. The conspicuous Palm tree in the middle in the emblem of the East. It bears in fesse a bow and above it, is the monogram of the Society of Jesus. Its crest is a Royal Crown and a Lily issuant, both in honour of the College Patron, St.Joseph , the Crown to signify that he was of David's royal blood and the Lily to signify his spotless purity. Thus the whole in ordinary language would read: The College of St.Joseph is conducted by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, at Trichinopoly in the East.

The college's motto is "Pro Bono et Vero" which in English means "for the Good and the True". In accordance with the Jesuit vision of higher education, St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, aspires to offer holistic education, leading to the total formation of the individual within the human community.

In connection with the 160th year celebrations of the college, the President of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who is also an alumnus of the College inaugurated the celebrations on 20 December 2003. He has recently visited the college in 2007.

Milestones of St.Joseph's College
Year     Achievement
1844     Founded at Nagapattinam
1866     Affiliated to the University of Madras
1883     Transferred to Tiruchirappalli
1885     Blessing of our Lady of Lourdes Church
1896     Semi-boarding, Hostels
1907     Construction of Lawley Hall
1945     College Centenary Celebrations
1973     Evening College
1978     Autonomy Conferred
1982     Affiliation to Bharathidasan University
1986     SHEPHERD Programme
1994     Vocational Courses
1995     College Sesquicentenary Celebrations
2000     Five Star Status by NAAC
2001     Choice-Based Credit System
2003     Autonomy: Silver Jubilee
2004     160th Year Celebrations
2004     College with Potential for Excellence
2006     Nationally Re-Accrediated with A+ Grade