In accordance with Section 35 (1) of the Thuringian Higher Education Act, the Senate has the following duties among others:

• enacting and amending the basic statutes, taking into account and appreciating the opinion of the University Council pursuant to Section 34, paragraph 1, sentence 2, no. 3, as well as on other statutes, insofar as this law or the basic statutes of the university do not stipulate other responsibilities,
• participation in the search committee as well as in the university assembly in the election and deselection of the President and the Head of Administration pursuant to § 36, para. 1, § 30, paras. 4 and 9, and § 32, paras. 2 and 7,
• election and deselection of the members of the University Council pursuant to § 34, paras. 4 and 5,
• granting consent to the appointment and removal of Vice-Presidents in accordance with § 31,
• establishment, amendment, abolition and determination of the internal structure of self-governing units; the Senate may delegate this decision to self-governing bodies under section 40,
• granting consent prior to the conclusion of agreements on objectives and performance pursuant to section 13(1) between the institution of higher education and the Ministry,
• granting consent to applications pursuant to § 2, para. 2 and § 4, whereby resolutions on applications pursuant to § 2, para. 2 shall require a two-thirds majority of its members,
• establishment, amendment and cancellation of degree programmes; the Senate may delegate this decision to self-governing bodies in accordance with § 40,
• commenting on appointment proposals and drawing up proposals for the conferment of the academic title of "professor" in accordance with section 88(4) and the dignity of "associate professor" in accordance with section 62(6),
• issuing guidelines on the advancement of women, drawing up equality plans and electing the Equal Opportunity Officer, the Diversity Officer and other university officers,
• granting consent to the principles of endowment and internal distribution of funds in accordance with § 14, para. 5, sentence 2,
• commenting on the draft of the business plan,
• commenting on the annual accounts,
• opinion on fee or charge regulations as well as user regulations within the meaning of § 12 ThürHGEG,
• commenting on the annual report of the Presidium in accordance with § 29 para. 3 and
• conferring academic honours.

In accordance with § 35 para. 3 ThürHG, the Senate consists of the following twelve voting members (Permanent Senate):

• three representatives from the group of professors,
• three representatives from the group of students,
• three representatives from the group of academic employees,
• three representatives from the group of employees in technology and administration.

Each member group elects a speaker from among its members.

For decisions on matters directly affecting teaching, with the exception of teaching evaluation, research, artistic development projects or the appointment of university teachers, the Senate also includes seven additional professors in accordance with § 35 Para. 4 ThürHG (Extended Senate).

The members of the Senate each have single voting rights.

The President is a member of the Senate without voting rights and chairs the Senate. The other members of the Presidium are also members of the Senate in an advisory capacity without voting rights.

With the exception of personnel decisions, the Senate meets in public.

The term of office of the members is three years, that of the students one year.

The term of office of the members of the current 9th Senate begins on 01.10.2022 and ends on 30.09.2025.

The meeting documents intended for the university public, such as the agendas, the meeting documents and the approved minutes, can be found in the internal service area for university members.

An overview of the current dates as well as the meeting cycles of the committees can be found on our committee page.