Establishment :

Great national leaders and patriots like Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Lokmanya Tilak, Gopalrao Agarkar and Madhavrao Namjoshi, inspired by the spirit of a nation building ideal of education, laid the foundations in Pune, of the New English School in 1880 and the D.E.Soceity in 1884. The Fergusson college was started in 1885. In response to a demand that a College be started in Southern Maharashtra and in response to the sincere desire of the Ruler of the Sangli State, the Soceity founded the Willingdon College at Sangli in 1919. The President of the Society, Shrimant Chh.Shahu Maharaj , Kolhapur and the Vice-Presidents,  Shrimant Patwardhans, Rulers of the Sangli and Miraj States and the generous wealthy citizens around came forth with great help for the cause. The College was started on the morning of 22nd June, 1919 in the Sangli City in the building where Rani Saraswati Kanya Shala stands today. At  the beginning only the Arts wing was started with an enrollment of 220 students. Later on Wrangler R.P.Paranjapye and the founder Principal of the College Shri.C.G.Bhatye with great effort, secured an area of 125 acres at Vishrambag for the college and the work of construction was immediately taken up.   

Silver Jubilee - 1944 :

During this period, Centers of higher education and colleges were rare. With the establishment of the Willingdon College the students in Southern Maharashtra and from the Districts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Karwar and Vijapur in Karnataka were greatly benefited. The college rendered useful service for these two provinces.  Wherever we move in this area we are found to meet the past Willingdonians. In fact to be a past Willingdonian has remained a bond of affection for many educated persons in the past. The College moved in the present buildings on 8th August, 1924. At that time only the 'L' shaped wing to the East and the South were completed. the square block building of the boys Hostel came up in 1925 and the two storied Shahu Block in 1927. In 1932-33 the Science wing was started. The name of the College by then was known for its sterling merits of education, attracting students from faraway places. The Process of the college was rapid. During the period in 1935-44 the buildings of the Gymkhana , Quarters for Professors on either side of the approach road, the Girls Hostel , the Guest House ( Karve Sadan) and the Laboratory were setup. In 1944 the college celebrated its Silver Jubilee in an impressive manner.

Golden Jubilee - 1969 :

After the celebrations of the Silver Jubilee image of the college shone with greater brightness. During the period 1945-1957 more buildings came up, one more Hostel for the Girls , two more Hostel buildings for the Boys, Velankar Assembly Hall , Recreation hall and an addition to the main building at the West. Today the hostel accommodate 110 Boys and 85 Girls. In the next 15 years the Biology Laboratory , three storied building of the Library , Post Office , building, one more Hostel for the girls, Canteen and NCC buildings and the Open Air Theatre were completed. On the Science side subjects like Biology , Physics, Mathematics and Statistics were started. In 1969 , Golden Jubilee  of the College was celebrated in a splendid manner. Some past students from foreign countries attended the celebrations with deep reverence. Other past students and well-wishers of the college gave generous donations, considerably and swelling the funds of the college. 

Diamond  Jubilee - 1979 :

Out of the funds collected at the time of the golden Jubilee, more constructive work was taken up. 11 new Class rooms, Teachers Hostel, (Out of the UGC funds to the extent of 2/3rd of the entire expenditure), tube-well for water supply, extension of the Gymkhana Building, Badminton Hall were completed. The  College was recognized as a permanent Post Graduate Centre by the Shivaji University. On the Science side, Microbiology and Electronics and on the arts side Psychology, Logic and Philosophy were added. Diamond Jubilee was celebrated with the same enthusiasm as the Golden Jubilee and received spontaneous support from all quarters.

Platinum Jubilee - 1994 :

Many projects were launched as a part of platinum jubilee celebrations such as - Pre-primary, primary and secondary ( English and Marathi Medium ) School at Willingdon Campus, Health Club, Overhead Water Tank etc. and were completed successfully.

MAIN BUILDING ­

A palatial quadrangular structure built in a stone, attracts every one. It confins an open air theatre with a large open space. Building comprises of ­

Basement - There are 4 medium sized rooms (one room is used as a control room for University Exams.) and a store room.

Ground floor - It houses Principal and Vice-Principal's offices, Administrative Office, Geography Department, Staff Common Room, Ladies Common Room, Library, Departments of Botany, Mathematics, N.C.C. Office with a separate entrance, 3 big class-rooms, 1 small class-room and a Strong-room for University's Central Assessment Programme. Also an open air theatre is located on this floor, where the Annual Prize Distribution ceremony takes place.

First floor - There are 7 big sized rooms and I medium sized room. Department of History, Statistics, Hindi, English, Marathi, Economics, Physics and Zoology are located on this floor.

Terrace - There is a tower on the frontal side of the main building, on which the National Flag is hoisted on 15th August, 26th January and 1st May every year. Zoology store room, Animal House are lodged on the North- West side terrace.

 There are 24 class rooms in total.

  There are other buildings like ­

• Velankar Auditorium

• Department of Microbiology

• Gymkhana and a Pavelion Building

• Department of Electronics

• Chemistry Laboratory No.1

• Chemistry Laboratory No.2

• Chemistry Laboratory No.3

• N.C.C. Armory

• Bungalow No.1 (Principal's Residence)

• Bungalow No.2 (Life-member Teacher)

• Bungalow No.3 (Life-member Teacher)

• Bungalow No.4 (Life-member Teacher)

• Bungalow No.5 (Life-member Teacher)

• Bungalow No.6 (Life-member Teacher)

• Bungalow No.7 (Life-member Teacher)

• U.G.C. Teachers' Hostel (4 flats)

• Karve Guest House

• Ladies Hostel

• Boys Hostel (Shahu Block)

• Boys Hostel (Square Block)

• Boys Hostel (Chavan Block)

• Boys Hostel (Kabbur Block)

• Cycle stand

• Hobby Workshop

• Sangli Bank Extension Counter

• Non-residential students centre

College has independent, well-equipped and spacious laboratories for each science department -for Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Zoology, Microbiology, Electronics, Statistics, Geography.  

Boys Hostels:

The facility of hostel is made available to the students of the college sine 1927. Boys Hostel can accommodate 110 students. It is noteworthy that there are 74 single rooms which gives enough of privacy and loneliness for studious fellows. There are 18 double rooms also. Facilities of Hot water, play grounds and emergency medical aid are made available to the students. The mess at reasonable rate is also provided to them.

Boys Hostel is divided in three Blocks ­

1. 'H.H.Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj of Kolhapur Boys Hostel' constructed in the year 1927..

2. 'Surendra Pandurang Chavan Block' constructed in the year 1949.

3. Shri. K.H.Kabbur Block

A spacious Dining Hall was constructed in the year 1999, which accommodates 80 students at a time.

Ladies Hostel:

Ladies Hostel is situated right behind the bungalow of the Principal's residence; it gives the sense of security for the girl students. It has 27 rooms, separate room for Hostel Superintendent and a Dining Hall. It can accommodate 95 girl students.

Hostel building is constructed in following phases ­

1. 'Shrimati Sakhubai Gokhale Ladies Hostel' - 1938

2. 'Sou.Rukminibai Velankar Ladies Hostel' - 1949

3. Extension building with dining hall- 1961

4. Visitors cum Waiting room 'Sakharpe Kaksh' - 1979

5. 'Panditrao Kulkarni Block' extension building - 1979

Physical and infrastructure facilities available in the sports and physical education ­

1.      Play Grounds - Kabbadi, Kho-Kho, Malla-Khamb, Cricket Turf Wicket, Hockey, Football

2.      Tennis court (Hard Court)

3.      Basket Ball Court

4.      Badminton Hall

5.      Athletics track - 400 meters, Hurdle etc.

6.      Health Club with twelve station machine

7.      Facilities for Wrestling - Traditional Akhada & Mats

8.      Facilities for Carom and Chess

9.      Table Tennis - Two tables

10.  Recreation Hall

Encouragement to sports :

• The outstanding sports persons are given preference while giving the admissions.

• Prizes are awarded to the players or team, who win the first three places in the individual sports events and to Winners and Runners-up in team games.

• Following is the list of Gymkhana trophies ­

1.      Raja Maharaja Trophy for Athletics

2.      Rani Maharaja Trophy for Athletics

3.      Mainkar Trophy for Tennis Championship

4.      Madan Mohan B. Lohia Trophy for Gents Badmington Championship

5.      Madan Mohan B. Lohia Trophy for Ladies Badmington Championship

6.      Ghorpade Trophy for Table Tennis Championship

7.      Damodar Bhirangi Trophy for Minor Games Championship

8.      Raja of Jath Trophy for Best all round performance in Cricket

9.      Karmuse Brothers Trophy for Best performance in Hockey.

10.  Patil Trophy for Championship in Inter-class Cricket Tournaments.

N.C.C. was raised at this college on 17/7/1954. The activities of this newly started Coy were formally inaugurated by Maj. Gen. SPP Thorat, DSO MC on 27/7/1954. It is affiliated to 16 MAH BN NCC, Sangli .         Lt. B.N.Kamble, Lecturer in is working as a Associate N.C.C. Officer. The strength of cadets allotted to this college is 80. Various activities are carried out through out the year. Out student CQMS Melge Rahul Narayan joined IMA Deharadun for Course No.120 Regular in July, 2005. SGT. Pramod Mahadev Khadate and SUO Somnath Madhukar Shinde participated in the Republic Day Camp held on 26th Jan. in the year 2001 and 2006 respectively.

HEALTHY PRACTICES ­

Mechanism for internal quality checks :

Some of the processes, which contribute to internal quality checks, are as follows: 

• The College has established Internal Quality Assurance Cell. Presently Prof. Akhalaq Tade is holding the responsibility as a coordinator. Meetings of the Cell is periodically conducted to discuss and implement the quality assurance measures.

• Representatives of the college teachers and the non-teaching staff, who are part of the Local Management Committee, look after the smooth functioning of the academic and administrative processes of the College.

• Office bearers, i.e. Vice-Principals, Heads of Departments and Admission Committee members and Examination Committee members look into the admission process, the regular conduct of lectures and practicals, conduct of University theory and practical examinations and the evaluation process.

• There is a facility of 'Suggestion Box' which is accessible to all the students. Constructive suggestions given by the students are discussed and implemented.

• The students evaluate their teachers. The scheme is implemented by giving a questionnaire to every student The feed-back received is impartially analyzed and communicated to the respective teacher by a committee.

• College has formed various committees such as Discipline Committee which looks after the overall discipline in the college, Examination Committee which assures intermittent assessment of the students, Time-table Committee ensures a smooth conduct of lectures and practicals etc. These committees are in addition to Local Management Committee, which is a statutory body formed as per the requirements of New Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994.

• Periodical meetings are held including office staff, Principal, and Life-member Accountant D. E. Society conducts regular Internal Audits of College Accounts. Life Member Accountant ensures timely completions. Valid supporting documents are maintained for all the entries in the books of accounts.

• Guidelines are issued by D. E. Society's Finance Committee to facilitate proper financial administration of the College. The college administrative staff has undergone training in the software 'TALL Y', and the accounts are being maintained on the computer.

• Various Committees such. as Admission Committee, Gymkhana Committee Development Fund Committee etc. have been appointed under the Convenership of a: senior teacher, along with teaching and non-teaching staff. The Committees sit periodically to discuss different issues to emerge out with working plan and its execution. This system creates a feeling of self-responsibility amongst the staff members.

• Computerization of Office Administration, Accounts and Library is under way. The college conducted a Computer Literacy Course for its personnel and as a result almost every department is utilizing computers for the departmental work.     

Non-formal mode of education: 

Most of the departments are actively involved in conducting Guest Lectures / Quiz Competitions, Group Discussions, Workshops, Training Programmes, Poster Competitions and Exhibitions, Problem Solving Sessions, 'Come and Do' practical sessions, are conducted at the departmental level.

Value based education: 

We believe in secular, humanitarian, progressive, democratic values. These are imparted not through regimentation but by creating an atmosphere and inculcating these thoughts deep in the hearts of the students. For this the college runs various activities like­

N.S.S.: The college organizes lectures and seminars through the N.S.S. Programme and ollege also tries to promote and inculcate work culture amongst students community.

The college organizes Guest lectures by eminent personalities from various fields on the platforms of ­

V.S.Page Vichar Manch - Founded in the memories of Ex-Speaker Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and a founder of Employment Guarantee Scheme Late Shri. V.S. Page. A yearly lecture of an eminent personality working in Social, Cultural field and in Literature is arranged for students and the teachers.

T.M.Joshi Vichar Manch - Established in the memories of Rtd. Professor and Eminent Economist Mr.T.M.Joshi, a yearly lecture of an economist is arranged for the students.

R.NJoshi Vidnyan Manch - Founded in the memories of late Prof.R.N.Joshi, Rtd.Head, Dept. of Physics, Willingdon College, Sangli, a yearly lecture of a person working in the field of science is arranged for the students.

Staff Academy - One or two yearly lectures of a renowned personality is arranged which is open for staff as well as students of the college.

College supports students' initiative to collect the funds for relief work at the time of Gujrath Earthquake.

Sense of civic responsibilities ­

College inculcates civic responsibilities through following programmes:

• Through Tree Plantation

• Beautification of the Campus and its surrounding

• Blood Donation Camps

• Road Safety Programmes

• Earthquake Relief Fund

• Flood Relief Fund

• Street Plays

• Activities done through NSS programmes

• NCC cadets and teachers deployed for electoral duties

• Teachers encourage students to extend help to mentally and physically handicapped children, Leprosy patients and other needy persons.

• 'Spectacle collection' programme was carried out jointly by N.S.S. and Students' Council members. Spectacles were collected by the students and were handed-over to a social organization of Kolhapur city, to distribute them to the poor and needy persons.

• N.C.C. cadets collected 'Flag-day' fund.