Law and Committee Division Constituted Student Body
All students enrolled at the University are members of the constituted student body (Verfasste Studierendenschaft, VS). This body is self-governing according to public law and is also integrated as an official sub-entity of the University. Accordingly, the VS has the ability to secure rights and fulfil obligations independently. As an official sub-entity, it stands under the University´s direction. This is shown, among various points, by the University's authority to approve and its right to refuse approval, along with its role in legal supervision.
The VS's responsibilities are detailed in § 65 of the Act on Higher Education Institutions of the Land of Baden-Württemberg (LHG). This includes:
- safeguarding the interests of students within higher education policy, which includes both specialized and interdisciplinary subjects, along with social, economic, and cultural factors,
- involvement in the university's duties as specified in sections 2 to 7 of the LHG,
- providing resources for students’ political education and fostering their sense of duty as active citizens,
- promoting equal opportunities for the entire student body and the integration of international students into the campus community,
- funding of student athletic programs.
As a body under public law, the VS must maintain ideological, religious and party-political neutrality.
The VS is self-governing. It has the right to establish its own regulations. The VS functions independently of government funding and follows its own financial strategy. The VS collects fees from all students who have enrolled to meet its operational needs. During the enrolment or re-registration phase, the University acquires this free of charge for the VS.
The Rectorate oversees the legal aspects of the VS. The Rectorate must also authorize the regulations and financial plan of the VS. The Rectorate authorizes the allocation of the budget.
As part of its regulatory duties, the Rectorate has broad rights to access information concerning the VS and can perform audits on cash flow and business management activities. The Rectorate has the authority to contest any unlawful actions or resolutions enacted by the VS and can request their reversal; if needed, it may also carry out the required actions instead of the VS.
University staff may provide the VS with advice as an element of their legal oversight responsibilities.