The Sambalpur University Act was passed by the Odisha Legislature on 10th December 1966 to fulfil the long-cherished dream of the people of Western Odisha for the establishment of a University. The University started functioning on 1st January 1967 with Prof.Parsuram Mishra as the first Vice-Chancellor. The University was inaugurated on 4th January 1967 by Hon'ble Chancellor A.N.Khosla. The Univer
sity started functioning in 1967 in a rented private building at Dhanupali, Sambalpur and in a Government building at Ainthapali, Sambalpur from 1968 to 1972. In the year 1973, the University was shifted to the present campus named Jyoti Vihar at Burla. The territorial jurisdiction of the University covers 6 districts of the state of Odisha namely Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh, Boudh and Athamallik Sub-Division of Angul District. The University at Jyoti Vihar provides Post-Graduate education in Twenty-seven subjects through Twenty Post-Graduate Departments. The University Post-Graduate Departments offer a one-year study Programme for the M.Phil Degree, and two years study programme for the Degrees of M.A. / M.Sc. / LL.M. / Business Administration / M.Lib & Inf.Science, One-Year P.G. Diploma Course in Computer Science & Application and Diploma Course in Sambalpuri Studies and Three-Year course in M.C.A. and Executive M.B.A. The P.G.Departments of Chemistry, Life Sciences, History, Economics, Library & Information Sciences and Mathematics have been conferred Autonomous Status by the University. They adopt a Semester system based on continuous evaluation. They adopt their own course of studies. There are Ten Post-Graduate Hostels on the University Campus out of which four are Ladies' Hostels and six are Gents' Hostels. The University provide several facilities to the boarders in the Hostels like Common Room with T.V., Reading Room with Newspaper and Magazine, Guest Room, First Aid, an STD Telephone booth, etc. The Central Canteen has been opened near the Hostel Campus for the benefit of students. Besides there are two Nationalized Banks, one Post-Office, one Health Centre, one Auditorium, one Police-Out Post, one Faculty House and one Community Centre have been established on the University Campus for providing services to students/teachers and employees on the Campus. The establishment of the Directorate of Distance Education (DEC), Private Education Cell (PEC), One Nodal Computer Centre, Academic Staff College, University Yoga Centre, Professor Bhubaneswar Behera Central Library are acting like the wheels for the University system and would carry the University speedily towards achieving the noble boon for which these are set up. The Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education started in 1998 with only on-campus courses in collaboration with the P.G. Departments of Sambalpur University. In the year 2000, the Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education launched BCA, PGDCA and PGDIT courses. In the year 2003, the Directorate of Distance and Continuing Education has started floating MCA (Direct and Lateral), DCA Course and
In the year 2006, the D.D.C.E. started floating MBA (Off-Campus) full-time courses.