Dr George Thadathil - 14th Principal of Salesian College since year 2000 when the exclusively residential college for Salesians opened its doors to local youth has been installed as the first Rector and Principal of 80 year old Salesian College Sonada. Saleisn provincial of Calcutta Fr. (Dr.) Nirmol Gomes, installed Fr Thadathil as rector and principal in a simple ceremony held at the residence chapel on 24 May 2018 evening. Father C.M. Paul continues to be Vice-Principal and director of Radio Salesian 90.8 FM. Other members forming the new community includes Bursar and Campus Minister Fr Jagjivan Tirkey, Parish Priest Fr Sunil Lakra and Asst PP & Asst Professor Fr Pritam Barla. In spite of 104 days strike in the hills which severely affected admissions to the degree college last year, there were 511 students enrolled in the 2017-2018 academic year. New academic year is scheduled to start first week of July. Besides BA Honours and General Courses in 12 subjects, the college offers 6 Career Oriented Programs (COP) offered in Music, Communicative English, Travel and Tourism Management, Computer Application, Sports Management, and Community Radio. The Salesian College Siliguri Campus in the plains under the charge of the same principal Dr Thadathil has 16 Under Graduate Departments in Arts, Commerce and Science streams as well as 3 new Post Graduate (PG) Courses in English, Education and Psychology. The Rector of Siliguri Campus is Fr. (Dr.) Mathew Pulingathil and Vice-Principal Fr. (Dr.) George Chempakathinal. The new Rector and Principal of the Salesian Post Novitiate Formation Community at Sonada Fr. (Dr.) Varghese Kalluvachel will be installed at a solemn ceremony on 25th May morning in the college chapel by Provincial Fr Gomes. Former Rector of the Philosophate Fr. (Dr.) James Chacko Molekunnel will head for Salesian College Siliguri Campus as Director of the newly started Post Graduate Courses (English, Education and Psychology) as well as be HoD for PG Psychology. The religious and diocesan students at Sonada opt for degree studies only after two years of Ecclesiastical Philosophy studies. In the just concluded accademic year there were some 70 religous and diocesan students in the Ecclesiastical Philosophy program. Besides academic pursuits, the religious students at Sonada reach out to some 20 tea gardens and conduct youth centre programs every Sunday.