Senate

The Senate is involved in all important decision-making processes of Friedrich Schiller University Jena, such as the establishment of search committees to prepare the election of the President and the Chancellor, as well as the election of the members of the University Supervisory Board. It gives its consent to the appointment of Vice-Presidents, decides upon the University's Constitution (Grundordnung) and the University's Appointment Regulations (Berufungsordnung), and enacts further legal resolutions applying to all of the University. The Senate also issues opinions on appointment proposals for professorships. Furthermore, it elects the Equal Opportunities Officer and the Diversity Officer. Beyond that, the Senate takes a stand on all relevant questions concerning the University.

It consists of 25 members (current term of office: 1 October 2025 – 30 September 2028) who are entitled to vote: 13 members of the professorial staff (professors and junior professors), four students, four academic staff members, and four members from the administration and technical infrastructure. Further members include the President, who is also the chairperson of the Senate and has advisory capacity, other members of the Executive Board, the Deans, the Equal Opportunities Officer, the Diversity Officer, as well as representatives for employees with disabilities, members from the Staff Representative Council, the University Supervisory Board, and the Council of Doctoral Candidates.