University committees
The university structure is without question complicated. Nevertheless, as a student you should at least know something about your university. Then it is much easier to find the right contact persons and to find ways of exerting influence.
According to the State University Act and the regulations of the FH Aachen, a basic distinction is made between student and academic self-administration.
While the student self-administration consists only of students, the academic self-administration is a mixed form of students and members of other groups of the university, i.e. employees and professors.
Academic self-administration
FBR | Fachbereichsrat
The academic and administrative matters of the faculty are decided in the faculty council (Fachbereichsrat): All examination regulations of the faculty pass through this body, as do new appointments, plans for the advancement of women and evaluation results of teaching. The faculty council consists of seven professors, three staff members and three students.
Hochschulrat
The university council (Hochschulrat) is virtually the supreme service authority. It performs a function comparable to that of a supervisory board in a company: it advises the rectorate and at the same time monitors its work. The University Council, which includes representatives from industry, also elects the Rector of the FH Aachen. In contrast to the rector, the "boss" of the university, the chancellor is the "boss" of the administration.
Commissions and committees
In addition, there are various commissions and committees to provide support in different matters. You can find out exactly which ones on FH Aachen's Commissions and Committees page.
Student self-administration
FSR | Fachschaftsrat
The entire student body is divided into the various student councils.
The students in Faculty 8 belong to the Fachschaft of FB8. They elect nine representatives from their midst for the Fachschaftsrat (FSR8). This council is comparable to the student council or the works council and represents your interests and those of the student body in the department. The FSR represents the student council to the faculty management and organizes, for example, the first semester work in the faculty.
SP | Student Parliament
The Student Parliament (SP) is elected at the same time as the Student Representative Council (FSR). It is the highest decision-making body of the student body. With its 21 members, it determines the direction of the student body, mandates the AStA members and prepares a budget. One of the most important functions of the SP is the election of the AStA.
AStA | Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss
The functions of the AStA are to represent the interests of the students vis-à-vis the university management, to improve the study conditions, to manage the budget of the student body and to advise and inform the students in the individual departments (e.g. in the social department, on the topic of Bafög, examination regulations, studying with children or changing university). The members of the AStA are not elected directly, but indirectly by the student parliament.
Thus, the approximately 25 members of the AStA are the executive of the student parliament. Click here to get to the AStA.
Student Assistant Advocacy Office | Representation of the interests of student assistants
Combining studies and work is often not so easy. However, working as a student assistant is a good way to gain work experience and earn money while studying. Since a student assistant job is an employment relationship and for many it may be their first job, some students may not be aware of their rights and obligations as an employee. The representation of the interests of student assistants, Student Assistant Advocacy Office (in German: SHK-Vertretung), is a contact point for exactly such issues and represents the interests of student assistants at the FH Aachen.
The Student Assistant Advocacy Office serves as a point of contact for complaints and requests and aims to help resolve any conflicts that may arise.
Its responsibilities:
▪ Monitoring compliance with applicable laws regarding the selection and employment of student assistants
▪ Contributing to the appropriate structuring and continuous improvement of working conditions for student assistants
▪ Advising student assistants on labor law, organizational, and personal matters
▪ Providing appropriate guidance for student employees on topics such as compensation, employment contracts, vacation, and sick leave
▪ Handling complaints from those affected
▪ Assisting in the resolution of conflicts
▪ Representing the interests and concerns of student assistants
