Information on the Use of the Student Tuition Fees
General Information on the Use of Revenue from Tuition
In summer semester 2007 the University of Freiburg began charging students tuition, as did all other higher education institutions in Baden-Württemberg. The universities are required to use the revenue from student tuition solely for “the fulfillment of their responsibilities in study and instruction” (§ 4, paragraph 1 of the State University Tuition Law).
The decision as to how the revenue from tuition is to be used is made by the board of executive officers in cooperation with the faculties and the students. How this cooperation with the students is carried out is regulated by the constitutions of the individual universities. The University of Freiburg has appointed a so-called „board of twelve“ for this purpose, which is made up of one student from each of the 11 faculties as well as a representative from the AStA (§23 new constitution).
In order to fulfill these criteria, the board of executive officers resolved to divide the revenue from student tuition between the faculties and „general university responsibilities“ at a proportion of 70 to 30. The latter domain includes funding for institutions such as the University Library and the Computing Center.
The Use of Revenue from Tuition in Tuition Year 2007/08
The faculties negotiated with students internally to decide how to use the revenue allocated to the faculties; funds were slated for regular operating costs (10 million €) as well as for investments (1.5 million €). The board of twelve approved these plans following intensive negotiations.
- University press release from 20 April 2007 [de]
- Statistics on revenue from tuition in summer semester 2007 [de]
The board of executive officers negotiated directly with the board of twelve to decide on the use of revenue from tuition for general university responsibilities (4.9 million €). The board of executive officers presented a detailed plan of use for this purpose including arguments justifying each individual item. After three meetings in which this plan was discussed extensively, the two parties settled on a reduced list of measures. On the basis of these negotiations, the board of executive officers made its final decision on the use of the revenue from tuition. The approved funds were made available to the faculties and the central university institutions starting on 1 April 2008.
- Report on the use of revenue from tuition in the academic year 2007/2008 (faculties) [de]
- Report on the use of revenue from tuition in the academic year 2007/2008 (faculties II) [de]
The board of twelve made use of its constitutional right to prepare a written statement on the use of revenue from tuition and submit it upon completion of the negotiations. The board of twelve and the board of executive officers agreed to post this statement in full on the internet.
- Statement of the board of twelve on the use of revenue from tuition (2007) [de]
- Response of the board of executive officers (2007) [de]
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The Use of Revenue from Tuition in Tuition Year 2008/09
The faculties negotiated with students internally to decide how to use the revenue allocated to the faculties; funds were slated for regular operating costs as well as for investments. The board of twelve approved these plans following intensive negotiations.
The board of executive officers negotiated directly with the board of twelve to decide on the use of revenue from tuition for general university responsibilities. The board of executive officers presented a detailed plan of use for this purpose including arguments justifying each individual item. After three meetings in which this plan was discussed extensively, the two parties settled on a reduced list of measures. On the basis of these negotiations, the board of executive officers made its final decision on the use of the revenue from tuition. The approved funds were made available to the faculties and the central university institutions starting on 1 April 2009.
A detailed description of the use of revenue from tuition for tuition year 2008/09 should be available by December 2009 and will be posted here at that time.
The Use of Revenue from Tuition in Tuition Year 2009/2010
- Student tuition (general university responsibilities) – approval in tuition 2009/2010 [de]
- Statement of the board of twelve on the use of revenue from tuition (2009) [de]
- Response of the board of executive officers (2009) [de]