Crisis mode at the University of Göttingen: Tolan remains president despite conflicts!

Crisis mode at the University of Göttingen: Tolan remains president despite conflicts!

There are exciting developments at the Georg-August University of Göttingen in the case of the university president Prof. Metin Tolan. The Foundation Committee decided Monday not to approve the Senate's Oct. 2 vote, meaning Tolan will remain in office as president for now. This information was confirmed by a Senate spokesman and caused a stir at the university.

The entire process surrounding the possible removal of the president could now drag on considerably. According to the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act (NHG), a Senate vote is required, which must be confirmed by the University Council. Since this confirmation has not been received, the Foundation Committee and the Senate must find a common date to discuss how to proceed. If no agreement is reached at this meeting, the Senate could reconfirm its own decision from October 2nd.

Lengthy decision-making process expected

The situation is anything but simple, and with the foundation committee saying no, the decision-making process may drag on for weeks or even months. Both parties now have to find a common date, which might require an additional special session of the Senate. This poses the risk that invitations to these meetings must be honored in order not to exceed the deadlines.

Another aspect that complicates the situation is the uncertainty about finding a successor for Tolan. Despite the loss of confidence from the Senate, it is not possible to officially search for a new president. However, the Senate has confirmed that it has been holding discussions with potential candidates for weeks. The question of whether a state commissioner will be appointed by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science remains open and could have an additional influence on the coming decisions.

The impasse at Georgia Augusta shows how complex university administration can be and leaves many questions unanswered that need to be answered soon. The situation is tense for everyone involved and creates a lot of need for discussion within the university. While Tolan remains at the helm, the next steps that both the Board of Trustees and the Senate must take to provide clarity about the university's future are paramount. These developments are of great importance for the entire academic community.

Comprehensive reports are available for further information on this topic on www.goettinger-tageblatt.de available.