National Service Scheme, popularly known as NSS, is a permanent youth programme under the ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and funded by Government of Tamil Nadu and Government of India in the ratio of 5:7 The introduction of National Service Scheme in Colleges could be traced back to the advice given by Mahatma Gandhi to students towards forming a living contact with the community in whose midst their institution is located. Gandhi suggested that the students should do something positive so that the life of the villagers might be raised to a higher material and moral level. In 1958, the Prime Minister Pt.Jawaharlal Nehru mooted the idea of having social service as a prerequisite for graduation. On September 24, 1969, then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi launched the NSS programme in 37 universities. The American College is one among the five colleges under the Madurai Kamaraj University where the NSS programme was introduced during 1969. At present, the college has the largest number of NSS units among colleges in the Madurai Kamaraj University. There are 9 NSS Units with around 950 student volunteers.

The symbol of the National Service Scheme is based on the ' Rath ' wheel of the Konark Sun Temple situated in Orissa. These giant wheels of the Sun Temple portray the cycle of creation, preservation and release, and signify the movement in life across time and space. The design of the symbol, a simplified form of the Sun-chariot wheel primarily depicts movement. The wheel signifies the progressive cycle of life. It stands for continuity as well as change and implies the continuous striving of NSS for social transformation and upliftment. In short, the logo indicates,

Movement – Progressive Cycle of Life

Continuity as well as change

Striving forward for social transformation

 

The motto or watchword of the National Service Scheme is 'NOT ME BUT YOU'. This expresses the essence of democratic living and upholds the need for selfless service and appreciation of the other man’s point of view and also to show consideration for follow human beings. It implies that the welfare of an individual is ultimately dependent on the welfare of society on the whole.

Principle

The cardinal principle of the NSS programme is that it is organised by the students themselves. Both students and teachers get a sense of involvement in the tasks of nation building. through their combined participation in community service,

National Service Scheme (NSS) aims at arousing social consciousness of the youth with an overall objective of personality development of the students through community service. The specific objectives that are aimed at by the NSS Programme of The American College are:

Development of personality of students through community service

Understand the community in which they work

Understand themselves in relation to their community

Identify the needs and problems of the community

Apply their education in finding practical solutions to individual and community problems

Develop among themselves a sense of social responsibility

Develop competence required for group living and sharing responsibilities

Acquire leadership qualities and democratic attitude

Develop capacity to meet emergencies and natural disasters and practice National Integration.