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From being an inactive house till mid 2023, Wayanad transformed into one of the best-performing house in multiple aspects, achieving impressive results in both operations and student engagement.
Milestones:
Dynamic Election Management System: For the first time, conducted online internal-house elections through a fully automated election management system. This was implemented for 32 Group Leader posts in Sep 2023 as a pilot test, streamlining the entire process.
IMPACT Portal Development: Launched a comprehensive portal - IMPACT (Integrated Management Portal for All Council Members & Teams), that centralized house operations, making it easier for house users, council members and club cores to manage tasks. This automated the allocation process, improving efficiency and strengthening the house's organizational framework.
Restructuring Communication: The house's communication structure was completely overhauled. With many GSpaces being inactive and some duplicated and WhatsApp groups often including external people, the system lacked control. A more organized communication system was put in place, ensuring: 24/7 support through a dedicated house support mailer, Anonymous feedback and grievance redressal mechanisms, a proper announcement channel to disseminate important academic and student-activity related information.
Security & Verification: Security in communication, especially via WhatsApp, was a priority since there were cases reported about students getting spammed in many houses. The "Wayanad Verification System" was introduced - a fully automated process that mapped house students to their numbers. This allowed only verified students to access common house whatsapp groups and sub-group spaces, achieving 1.5k+ verifications. This also helped identify and engage the active student community directly.
Instagram Revival: The house's Instagram presence was revitalized, becoming the only house to surpass 2k followers, boosting engagement and visibility.
Wayanad Reward System: The house had been struggling with low rankings in the past, so a unique initiative was introduced. Preparation began 3 months before the Paradox fest. The portal was used to: Personally connect with over 800 verified students, Identify their skill sets and encourage participation in events tailored to their strengths, Form in-house teams through the portal.
Achievements & Recognition: The revamped approach led to the house performing exceptionally well in both sports and technical events, winning multiple events for the first time. Significant improvement in house rankings, moving from the bottom to the top, enhancing credibility. House achievers were acknowledged and rewarded with goodies for the first time, marking a milestone as the first house/tenure to implement such recognition.
Zero Tolerance to Inactivity: To ensure accountability and active participation, a strict policy of zero tolerance to inactivity was implemented for council members and club cores. Monthly internal audits were conducted to assess the progress and contributions of all stakeholders. Council members and club cores were required to submit detailed plans and reports via the portal, including proof of work done, assistance provided to fellow house members, and progress on events they planned to organize. UHC reviewed and evaluated around 40 reports each month, ensuring transparency and proper functioning. The house's overall operations were closely supervised to maintain high standards. A separate oversight team was established to monitor performance and track the activities of all council members and group leaders. Accountability Measures: Any group leaders or clubs failing to meet expectations due to inactivity or poor performance were removed to ensure the house maintained a high level of engagement and efficiency. This rigorous approach helped eliminate inefficiencies and created a more committed, goal-oriented council structure.
Focus on Academics: A strong emphasis was placed on academic support, with multiple course guidance and counseling sessions hosted every term. The "Saathi" sessions were led by Advait, Somsubhra and Sayan, who provided in-depth details on various courses, personalized course selection advice, and insights into managing the coursework load. The sessions covered all aspects of course structure, pre-requisites, elective options, giving students a comprehensive understanding of their academic journey. These sessions quickly gained popularity within the house and even attracted students from other houses, who found the meets valuable and requested additional sessions.
and, finally
The Most Popular ML Series – "LogicLooM" and Beyond: The initiative began in Oct'23 when Somsubhra and Advait, members of the UHC, identified a major gap in the fest's lineup: there were no accessible, innovative machine learning events tailored to students with basic foundational knowledge. This realization sparked the creation of a unique initiative that would cater to all levels, from beginners to those more advanced, with the goal of designing an engaging, educational yet fun experience for everyone. The aim was to allow students to explore machine learning without feeling overwhelmed by technical complexity, fostering a space where learning and innovation could happen in an enjoyable and supportive environment. This led to the launch of the "LogicLooM", which quickly became one of the most celebrated events in the technicals department at Margazhi'24 and Paradox’24. Based on student demands, the event continued to be hosted in Margazhi'25 and Paradox'25 editions, with the highest registration and participation retention rates! The efforts paid off, with 2k+ participations in this initiative, and positive feedback flooding in from participants. Eminent professors from prestigious institutes like IITRpr, IITGN & people from the industry joined the sessions, elevating the credibility and value of the events.
Beyond the core competitions at Paradox, the series extended its reach with PAN BS events, introducing beginner-friendly Python (under the eLearn initiative) and ML tutorials to help students take their first steps into the world of machine learning. These modules served as an essential foundation for many students, helping them develop core skills that would later support their deeper dive into the field.
Additionally, the team launched the ML e-Newsletter of Wayanad - "EPOCHS", dedicated to showcasing some of the best entries, articles on AI-ML, programming, and Theoretical CS. This helped build a stronger community of learners, creating a space for students to share knowledge and stay updated on relevant topics.
Foundational students especially appreciated this initiative, considering it as an ideal starting point for their ML journey.
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