Step one is to read the installation instructions – http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress
Step two is to read about the REQUIRED software – http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress
I wouldnt go any further till you do that. Note that the software required is a Mysql server and having system(s) with a http server (Apache/Nginx) with the require PHP version.
Running Mysql server is a huge undertaking… if you do it properly. IMO, running WP itself is easy but a lot to learn!
Above advice is excellent. The server requirements become the responsibility of ‘the college’ since they insist on running their own server. You present them with requirements then hope they can come through. If they fail it’s not your fault.
Thank you @jkhongusc and @enthusiasm.
A small question : if we install wordpress on a custom server in college,is it possible to have a cpanel,so that I can login from anywhere and tweak it?
Is it possible? Of course, but it depends on your institution if they use cpanel. I work for an university (USC), but we do not use cpanel here. There is a clear separation of duties: network, hardware, sys-admin, app-admin, developers, etc. At USC, our sys-admins take care of most of the cpanel functionality. I am the application (WP) admin and developer. I do not have cpanel access to our WP systems. I can ssh/sftp to those systems.
A system admin can enable wildcard dns even without C panel. you may not even have access to it should they install cpanel. It may be that all you get, or need, is ftp access and the rights to create databases. It could well be a very streamlined process for you with little leaning curve as it applies to server/network stuff.
