St. Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli

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For other schools of the same name, see Saint Joseph's 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 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. 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.

About the college emblem: 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 20th 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	Transfered 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