The university law NRW determines that students can administer themselves and take decisions in diverse issues of the university. For this the committees of student self-administrations and the student members of the university committees are elected every year in December.
Why are the elections so important?
Within the framework of the university elections the student representatives of the student council Neuroscience are elected as well, which gives the student council an official quorum. That is in plain English: Without the officially elected student representatives the student council can neither put official matters into practice nor get fundings. Thus, the representation of interests of the students of Neuroscience would not exist anymore.
All the committees that can be elected arrange the organisation of the university, the faculties and the study courses, which has an impact on your life at the university. A more detailled description of the tasks and the areas of activity is listed below.
What is elected?
1. Representatives of the student council
There are three representatives of the student council giving the student council an official quorum. Without the elected representatives the student council e.g. does not get any fundings to carry out an event (e.g. introductory event for firstsemesters).
Towards the end of every year a list with candidates for the post as a representative of the student council is made up. This will be announced before, so that principally every student can candidate for this post.
2. Faculty council
The faculty council is the central decision-making committee of the faculty and deals with all the important concerns of the faculty (e.g. appointment of positions for teaching, changes of the examination regulations). It consists of three student members, professors and academic staff of the faculty. The president is the dean of the faculty.
Traditionally, students of human medicine are elected for this committee as the processes of this committee (e.g. the appointment of a new professorship) take many years and the students of human medicine are longer enroled at the university than students of the Neuroscience programs. However, we as the student council exchange information with the members of the other student councils, so that we get informed about important decisions.
3. Student assistant committee
The student assistant committee is more or less the "employee representative committee" of the student assistants at the university and stands up for their interests. It keeps a watch on the observance of the valid legislation at the selection and employment of student assistants and works for a suitable arrangement of their working conditions. In addition, it deals with complaints of affected persons.
The committee consists of one student member of every faculty, meaning that a person of the Faculty of Medicine is elected as a member of the committee. Until now no student of Neuroscience was interested in becoming a candidate for this committee.
4. Student Parliament ("StuPa")
The student parliament ("StuPa") is the most important decision-making student committee of the university. It passes all the constitutions and rules of the students. Furthermore, it elects the General Students Committee ("AStA"), which e.g. adopts the budget that determines how much funding is given to the representatives of the study programs.
The StuPa consists of 51 members who belong to various university-groups (so called "lists"). These lists can be considered as parties at the Bundestag election. That is why there is a great election campaign with election posters, pens and much more in the weeks before the election. If you are interested in becoming a candidate, contact one of the existing university-groups (or form your own group).
5. Senate
The senate is the highest committee of self-administration of the university and adopts constitutions that are valid for the whole university. The senate consists of three student members, professors and academic staff (similar to the faculty council). The president of the senate is the rector of the university.
The representatives are also members of lists and are elected like in the StuPa-elections. Here, too, it applies: If you are interested in becoming a candidate, contact one of the existing university groups (or form your own group).
6. Gender Equality Committee
The Gender Equality Committee advises and supports the university and the Gender Equality Officer in fulfilling her mandate. The committee consists of one female and one male member each from the group of students, professors and academic staff.
There are also lists for these elections. So, if you have any questions or if you want to become a candidate, contact the university groups.
Where can be voted?
An overview of locations of the ballot boxes and their opening time
Wie wird gewählt?
In diesem Video erfahrt ihr, wie die Hochschulwahlen funktionieren
