Guidelines for the Awarding of Honorary Certificates

Note

This is a translation of the original text. Only the German version of this regulation is legally binding.

This policy specifies how and in what form honorary certificates will be awarded by the Student Council.

Motivation of the directive

The presentation of honorary certificates at graduation ceremonies recognizes volunteerism on the part of our students. Since we are in the fortunate position of having a wide variety of volunteerism on our campus, often a great many of the graduates have been active volunteers in some way during their studies. Honoring all of these volunteers would overstretch the scope of the graduation ceremony and significantly diminish the value of the award. In order to reduce the number of honorary certificates to be awarded to a reasonable level, the present guideline was adopted after prior consultation with the Ilmenau associations.

Issuance of the certificates

For all students of the TU Ilmenau, who have engaged in voluntary work, there is basically the possibility to receive a certificate of honorary work. The process of creating a certificate of honorary service is initiated by the respective board of the organization involved (association/body). The Ehrenamt (honorary office) department is responsible for creating the certificate in cooperation with the student consul and the organizations (associations/committees) concerned.

Handing over of the certificates

The certificate is issued by the Department of Volunteerism.

Students who have demonstrated a “particularly outstanding degree” of volunteerism may receive their certificate at their graduation ceremony through the Office of Volunteerism. These individuals will be called by name at their graduation ceremony and will be presented with their certificate by the Office of Volunteerism. Students who do not have a “commitment to a particularly outstanding degree” can have their certificate sent to them or pick it up at the StuRa office.

“Engagement of a particularly outstanding degree” is defined as follows:

  • The person must have been elected by name or appointed by the board of directors to a permanent position of leadership/responsibility. Consequently, “simple” active engagement is not sufficient.

  • In the case of a very time-consuming leadership or board position at the highest level of the respective organization, the person must have served in this office for at least one term. In the case of committee involvement, this includes elected StuRäte, elected Fachschaftsräte, or EWO leadership.

  • In the case of a leadership office with somewhat less responsibility and time commitment, this person must have served at least two legislatures. Over the two terms, the offices may differ. This category includes, for example, heads of smaller units or project managers in associations. This category does not include, for example, members of study program commissions, examination committees or appointment committees.

Entry into force

This guideline comes into force with the decision of the student council of the TU Ilmenau on 17.11.2021.