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DISCLAIMER: This is a translation of the original German document entitled “Geschäftsordnung für das Sprachenzentrum der Universität und der ETH Zürich vom 04.04.2023”. In cases of discrepancies, the German original will prevail.
1. Basic principles
§ 1 Definition
The Language Center of UZH and ETH Zurich is the center for language services of both universities. The Center offers academic-level foreign language courses and services, and it functions as the point of contact for the two universities with regard to issues relating to the acquisition of foreign, academic, and specialist language.
§ 2 Target groups
The language services provided by the Language Center are available to the following target groups:
§ 3 Services
The Language Center offers the following services to the target groups outlined in § 2:
2. Organization
§ 4 Bodies and units
1 The bodies governing the Language Center are the Board of Trustees; the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees; the Director; the Pedagogical Management Team (PLT); and the Language Center Conference.
2 Languages that are in high demand – German as a Foreign Language, Romance languages, English, and Latin and Ancient Greek – are run as separate units, each led by a Head of Unit. The Language Center Director is responsible for all remaining languages.
§ 5 Board of Trustees
1 The Language Center Board of Trustees is the supervisory body of the Language Center. It is responsible for strategic planning, in consultation with the Center’s Director. The Board of Trustees consists of six voting members and four non-voting members.
2 The Executive Board of ETH Zurich and the Extended Executive Board of UZH select from their universities 3 voting members who each serve on the board for 2 years. One member from each university represents the interests of the Executive Board of ETH Zurich and of the Executive Board of UZH. The representative can be re-elected.
3 The non-voting members ex officio are: A member of staff of the Office of the Vice President Education and Student Affairs of UZH; a member of ETH Zurich Rector’s Staff; and the Language Center Director. The Language Center lecturers elect a non-voting representative – a Language Center lecturer – for a 2-year term. The representative can be re-elected.
4 The Board of Trustees determines its rules of procedure. Where possible, the Chair alternates between a voting member from UZH and a voting member from ETH Zurich.
5 The Board of Trustees meets at least twice a year. It has a quorum when at least half of its voting members are present. Decisions are based on a simple majority vote. When a vote is tied, the Chair has the casting vote. In urgent cases, resolutions can be passed by circulation, provided that at least three-quarters of the voting members cast a vote.
6 The preparation of business is the responsibility of the Chair, in collaboration with the Board’s Executive Committee.
7 The Board of Trustees makes the final and binding decision on
8 The Board of Trustees discusses the annual development of the Language Center on the basis of the Center’s annual report and annual goals. Subsequently, the Board decides on the use of the funds made available by each university for the Language Center’s joint program, which is available to members of both universities. The Board’s decisions are based on the demand of the various target groups (§ 2) and the strategies of each university. The Board of Trustees also acknowledges the planned use of additional funds made available separately by each university for services designed specifically for either UZH or ETH Zurich members.
9 The Board of Trustees makes all decisions, for submission to the Executive Boards of UZH and ETH Zurich, regarding changes to the statutes.
§ 6 Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees
The Executive Committee consists of the Chair of the Board of Trustees; the Management Director of the Vice President for Education and Student Affairs of the UZH; a member of the ETH Zurich Rector’s Staff; and the Language Center Director (Chair). The Executive Committee prepares all budget-relevant business in consultation with the Executive Boards of UZH and ETH Zurich.
§ 7 Director
1 The Director is responsible for the management of the Language Center. They are responsible for all management tasks and for professional guidelines. The Director is supported by the Pedagogical Management Team (PLT) and by a Secretariat.
2 The Director’s specific duties include:
§ 8 The Pedagogical Management Team
The Pedagogical Management Team consists of the Director (Chair), the Heads of Unit, and the Heads of the Self-Access Center. The team meets at least twice a semester and supports the Director in their planning and leadership duties.
§ 9 The Language Center Conference
1 The Language Center Conference consists of the Director, the Heads of Unit, all language lecturers (permanent and contract staff), and the Heads of the Self-Access Center. It meets twice a year.
2 The Language Center Conference promotes the exchange of ideas among those engaged in language teaching, in particular with regard to language acquisition, teaching methodology, and language policy in higher education.
3 Topics regarding internal cooperation at the Language Center are also addressed.
3. Finances and fees
§ 10 Finances
UZH and ETH Zurich set the parameters that govern their contributions to the Language Center in their Agreement regarding the Language Center (“Vereinbarung zum Sprachenzentrum”).
§ 11 Fees
1 The Language Center services as listed in § 3, item b, are free of charge.
2 The courses offered by the Language Center as listed in § 3, item a, are subject to a fee.
Target groups listed in § 2, item a
3 Course participants listed in § 2, item a, are subject to a course fee of:
4 As an exception to § 3, the following target groups are not subject to a fee:
Target groups listed in § 2, items b-e
5 For course participants listed in § 2, items b-e, the fee is calculated according to the number of participants and the number of lessons. The fee range for each course consisting of 2 contact hours (per week during one semester) is between CHF 250 and CHF 700. The Board of Trustees determines the basis for this calculation, and the director determines the actual fees on a case-by-case basis; fees are published in each online course description.
Target groups listed in § 2, item f
6 The fee for course participants listed in § 2, item f, who are members of an alumni organization is calculated on the basis of the fee for those listed in § 2, items b-d, plus 20%.
7 The fee for course participants listed in § 2, item f, who are not members of an alumni organization is calculated on the basis of the fee for those listed in § 2, items b-d, plus 30%.
4. Final clause
§ 12 Commencement
The German version of these Statutes replaces the German version of the Statutes of 1 August 2020 and takes effect on 1 February 2024.
(approved by the Executive Board of the UZH on 23 May 2023 and by the Executive Board of ETH Zurich on 1 June 2023)