Keeping at pace with the increasing demands of fields like nutrition, dietetics, hospitality, fashion, computer and accounts, Holy Cross Home Science College for Women has been established with the vision of nurturing competent people in the above mentioned areas. Its noble objectives are to empower women by providing career opportunities to them. The institution is affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli.
Holy Cross Home Science College for Women has a rich history behind it. The Sisters of Holy Cross Convent, Tuticorin had bought a home for women, for inculcating artistic appeal amongst the women of Tuticorin. In 1955 the foundation stone was laid in the name of Holy Family Institute. The Holy Family Institute, Thoothukudi, which in the beginning was known as Tamil Literature Society (TIS), was bought in 1955 from the Tuticorin Diocesan Association with its representative, Bishop of Tuticorin. The sisters of Holy Cross Convent purchased the property on 13-04-1951 from the association.
The Home Science Academy began in 1966, in the name of Holy Cross Home Science Academy. Home Science Course with a duration of two years was introduced in July 1966. Training young females as better human being became their main focus. Here students got lessons in subjects like Human Development, Textiles, Food & Nutrition, Cookery, Home Management etc. On 1st August, 1968, the Home Science Course was approved by the Tamil Nadu Government, which gave permission to the students to sit for the Government Examination, and this course was extended till 1995.
Few courses were introduced later. In the beginning of February 1973, the University of Madras had asked the sisters to start the B.Sc degree course in Home Science. July 1, 1975 was a landmark, since Holy Cross Home Science College for Women received affiliation from Madurai Kamaraj University. In addition, a nursery school also was set up to study the behavioural pattern of kids and also get acquainted with the psychological changes that take place in the preschool period. This was integrated in the practical work of Human Development studies. Slowly and steadily the college has grown, and now it has a total strength of 97. Interestingly improved and interactive mode of teaching, along with the utilisation of visual aids, assist to make the curriculum more effective and relevant for the students. Besides the college authorities organise group discussions and seminars for creating self-confidence and sense of participation among the pupils.
Presently the courses offered by Holy Cross Home Science College for Women are-- B.Sc in Food Science & Nutrition, B.Sc. in Fashion Designing & Apparel Making, B.Com. with Computer Application. Postgraduate courses include-- M.Sc. in Dietetics & Food Management. Other courses include-- Postgraduate Diploma in Human Nutrition & Dietetics and also a Certificate Course in Home Science. Holy Cross Home Science College for Women houses departments in-- Food Science and Nutrition, Fashion Designing and Apparel making, Commerce with Computer Application, Computer Science. It is well served by a group of efficient and experienced faculty members. Every department has their own associations as well. Some of the associations are-- Hotel and Front Office Management Association, Bio-chemistry Association, Child Development Association, Interior Decoration Association, Dress & Fashion Designing Association, E-com Association, ABACUS Association. Nutrition and Dietetics (NUTRI-DIA club) is associated with Department of Food Science and Nutrition.
Holy Cross Home Science College for Women has a well-equipped library with a huge collection of books on different subjects like nutrition, dietetics, food science, fashion designing, computer, child psychology, statistics, commerce, hotel management studies, enabling the students to gain access to huge information. Hostel facility is available inside the campus of Holy Cross Home Science College for Women, and is supervised by the management. Besides providing facilities to nurture their academic pursuits, students of the college also are motivated to participate in several social activities. The NSS wing of the college has a group of volunteers who actively organise village camps and conduct programmes related to education, health improvement and women empowerment. The Youth Red Cross society is also active in organising blood donation camps.
AICUF organises meetings and workshops on regular basis in order to create a sense of awareness amongst the students and thus look forth to bring about a change in the present social condition. Special mentioning may be made of the Youth Welfare Department that is also equally active in projecting social concerns and issues.
The main aim of Red Ribbon Club of Holy Cross Home Science College for Women is to arouse awareness and concern about the AIDS victims amongst the student community. The Placement cell initiates periodic programmes, so that students are groomed to face interviews and enhance their communication skills. Not only that, it sends the students to on-campus interviews and also makes way for the deserving candidates to be selected for famous companies and organisations. Other areas that are offered include-- Hospitality counselling, Counselling for higher studies, Project guidance, Industrial visits, Extension lectures, Campus interviews and placements.