The Organization of the University
The university needs to make decisions for 26,000 students and employees.
Academic Freedom
Universities traditionally possess the freedom to plan and establish their own degree programs, the privilege to confer commonly recognized academic degrees, and the right of self-administration.
The Rectorate, the University Council, and the Senate all contribute to fulfilling these duties, but each in a different capacity.
The Rectorate, the University Council, and the Senate all contribute to fulfilling these duties, but each in a different capacity.
University Council
The University Council functions like an advisory board. Six of its members, including the chairperson, are external members. They are appointed by the State Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts. Five members, including one student and one staff representative, are from the university.
Senate
The Senate represents all domains of the university. The following persons are members by virtue of their positions: the rector and vice rectors, the head of administration, the legal advisor to the rector, the faculty equal opportunity representative, and the deans of the eleven faculties. The elected members represent the teaching and research faculty of the university, its students, and further staff members. Elected members representing employees serve a four-year term, those representing the students only a one-year term.
Rector
The rector is appointed by the University Council; the decision must be approved by the Senate. Prof. Dr. Hans-Jochen Schiewer has served as Rector of the University of Freiburg since 2009. The rector is the chairperson of the Rectorate, i.e. the university’s board of executive officers. The rector is also the chairperson of the Senate and its committees. The rector and the Rectorate carry out the resolutions of the Senate and the University Council. The University Council also appoints the head of administration, who is responsible for the university budget and in charge of the entire administration.
General Student Committee
The students organized in the General Student Committee (AstA) participate in the committees.
Staff Representatives and Counseling Services
The staff representatives and counseling services represent the interests of the university’s employees on numerous issues.