The Senate is a central committee of Leipzig University. It plays an essential role in the University’s strategic orientation in research, study and teaching.

enlarge the image: Beratunssituation anlässlich der Senatzsitzung sitzen die Vertreter aus Hochschulleitung, Fakultäten und Stuiendenschaft an einem Tisch und beraten sich.
Committee work during the Senate meeting on 16 May 2017. Photo: Swen Reichhold

Function and tasks

The individual responsibilities of the Senate are set forth in Section 85 of the Saxon Higher Education Act (SächsHSG). The responsibilities include the following and other tasks:

The Senate

  • decides in fundamental matters concerning the promotion of young academics and artists, teaching, research, and the arts,
  • formulates principles for the organisation of teaching and studying,
  • decides on the University’s development planning,
  • proposes members for the University Council.

Commissions and committees

The Senate has established the Committee for the Preparation of the Senate Statement on the Draft Business Plan and Staffing of the Faculties.

enlarge the image: Zur Senatssitzung am 16. Mai 2017 sitzen Vertreter der Fakultät am Runden Tisch und besprechen hochschulpolitische Themen. Im Vorderungrund ist Prof. Dr. Rochus Leonhardt zu sehen, der gerade spricht.
Senate meetings serve to discuss issues of University policy. Here Professor Rochus Leonhardt, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, is shown speaking at the meeting on 16 May 2017. Photo: Swen Reichhold

Senate meetings

Senate meetings are open to the University public. This means that all members of Leipzig University (students and staff) can participate in Senate meetings. Personnel matters are not dealt with in public.

Meeting dates 2024

  • 23 January 2024
  • 20 February 2024
  • 19 March 2024
  • 16 April 2024
  • 7 May 2024
  • 18 June 2024
  • 9 July 2024
  • 17 September 2024
  • 22 October 2024
  • 19 November 2024
  • 17 December 2024

Meeting dates 2025

  • 21 January 2025
  • 18 February 2025
  • 11 March 2025
  • 8 April 2025
  • 6 May 2025
  • 3 June 2025
  • 1 July 2025
  • 16 September 2025
  • 21 October 2025
  • 18 November 2025
  • 16 December 2025

Senate members

Senate members with voting rights are elected. They represent university lecturers, academic staff, students and administrative and technical staff in the Senate.

Our university’s Rector, Vice-Rectors, Head of Administration and Finance, deans, Commissioner for Equal Opportunities and the Director General of Centre for Teacher Training and School Research (ZLS) are non-voting members of the Senate who act in an advisory capacity. The Rector prepares the meetings of the Senate and chairs the Senate meetings.

University lecturers

  • Professor Anne Bartsch, Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy
  • Professor Hendrik Bläker, Faculty of Medicine
  • Professor Philip Clart, Faculty of History, Arts and Regional Studies
  • Professor Ralf Diedrich, Faculty of Economics and Management Science
  • Professor Cornelia Exner, Faculty of Life Sciences
  • Professor Christian Fandrych, Faculty of Philology
  • Professor Anette Kersting, Faculty of Medicine
  • Professor Rochus Leonhardt, Faculty of Theology
  • Professor Gerik Scheuermann, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Professor Uwe Truyen, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
  • Professor Manfred Wendisch, Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences

Academic staff

  • Marianne Aussenac-Kern, Faculty of Philology
  • Dr Thomas Riemer, Faculty of Medicine
  • Dr Claudia Wiesner, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy
  • Dr Alexander Yendell, Leipzig Research Centre Global Dynamics (ReCentGlobe)

Students

  • Lara Blum, Faculty of Philology
  • Lone Bettin, Faculty of Philology
  • Johann Goldhahn, Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy
  • Frederik Rusche, Faculty of Medicine

Administrative and technical staff

  • Charlotte Bauer, University Library
  • Markus Lorenz, Faculty of Life Sciences

Rectorate

  • Professor Eva Inés Obergfell, Rector
  • Professor Jens-Karl Eilers, Vice-Rector for Excellence Development: Research and Transfer
  • Professor Roger Gläser, Vice-Rector for Talent Development: Study and Teaching
  • Professor Matthias Middell, Vice-Rector for Campus Development: Cooperation and Internationalisation
  • Dr Jörg Wadzack, Head of Administration and Finance

Deans

  • Professor Alexander Deeg, Faculty of Theology
  • Professor Katharina Beckemper, Faculty of Law
  • Professor Markus A. Denzel, Faculty of History, Arts and Oriental Studies
  • Professor Beat Siebenhaar, Faculty of Philology
  • Professor Brigitte Latzko, Faculty of Education
  • Professor Astrid Lorenz, Faculty of Social Sciences and Philosophy
  • Professor Rainer Alt, Faculty of Economics and Management Science
  • Professor Gregor Hovemann, Faculty of Sport Science
  • Professor Ingo Bechmann, Faculty of Medicine
  • Professor Bernd Kirchheim, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science
  • Professor Marc Schönwiesner, Faculty of Life Sciences
  • Professor Marius Grundmann, Faculty of Physics and Earth System Sciences
  • Professor Christoph Schneider, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy
  • Professor Thomas Vahlenkamp, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Commissioner for Equal Opportunities

  • Susanne Chenaoui

Director General of Centre for Teacher Training and School Research (ZLS)

  • Alexander Biedermann

Doctoral Council (ProRat)

  • Cedric Jürgensen

Commissioner for Student Affairs

  • Renate Baricz

Permanent guest

  • Carsten Heckmann, Department of University Communications

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