Office of the Rector - University Senate

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University Senate

The Senate plenum and the Senate are the university's primary academic authorities whose decisions obligate all the university's academic bodies. Within the framework of the university's constitution, the Senate and plenum act on the principle of academic freedom in order to advance teaching and research, and to ensure their quality.

Members of the Senate plenum are the rector (chair), the president, the vice-president for research and development, the vice rector, all faculty deans, all full professors from the university's regular academic track, school heads, the dean of students, representatives from among the associate professors, senior lecturers, lecturers and the junior faculty, as well as a number of additional appointments subject to a special decision by the Senate. Additionally, a number of office-holders serve as observers.

The plenum meets once or twice a year, and at those times chooses its representatives to the Senate. It also receives and discusses reports from the president, the rector and other senior university personnel.

The Senate numbers 100 members: the rector (chair), the president, the vice-president for research and development, the vice rector, all faculty deans, the dean of students - members by virtue of their position, full professors representing all the faculties, and representative members from among the associate professors and senior lecturers. A number of office-holders serve as observers also in the Senate.

The Senate's authority includes:

Academic supervision over the activities of all relevant academic bodies in the university, such as faculties, departments, institutes, centers, libraries and laboratories.
Proposes to the Executive Council the establishment of new academic bodies, changes the structure of or closes an existing academic body, and provides academic authorization for the setting up, structural changes to, or closing of such bodies, as mentioned.
Determines or changes the purpose or course of study for academic degrees.
Determines instruction and research curricula, teaching and study methodologies, and rules for the enrolment of students to the university.
Confers all academic degrees.

The Senate receives periodic reports from the president, the rector and the university's senior office-holders.

The Senate usually convenes once a month during the academic year. It acts through committees and other permanent bodies, among which are: the steering committee, nominations committee, academic planning committee, BA, MA/MSc and doctoral student committees, reception committee, honorary degrees committee, the student disciplinary board, the faculty hearings board, and more. The Senate may also set up additional permanent or ad hoc committees.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 23 December 2008 )

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