The university system is an extensive bureaucratic system. In order to know who you can turn to, when and in what matter – we have compiled for you all the committees to which you can turn in academic matters.
Types of inquiries
Before applying, it is important to stop and think about what kind of request it is – individual or collective. According to the type of appeal, it will be possible to decide who is the most suitable party to make the appeal.
- Individual appeal – when it is a problem that concerns you personally. For example: an unusual request that requires approval beyond the recognized university procedure, such as approval of a request for a special date. In this case, you should apply according to the chain of references accepted in the department and faculty where you study (first to the course staff and if necessary to go further up the chain – details on the chain of references can be found below). We recommend using the department’s academic assistance coordinator for any question or consultation (who to contact, how to draft the reference letter, etc.).
- Collective appeal – when it is a problem that concerns the majority of students in the department and/or a violation of a departmental/faculty/university procedure or regulation. The department committee is the student body that will handle this type of request together with the coordinator/academic assistance, this is in order to maintain proper communication, organization in the department and make sure that the requests are answered in full. The committee will gather the claims concerning the problem and forward them in an orderly manner and according to a chain of references to the relevant levels in the department, the faculty and, if necessary, the university. In the event that you encounter a problem that you believe is collective – we recommend that you contact the department committee and, if necessary, also the academic assistance coordinator, who will be able to handle the problem.
Chain of references to university officials – who do you contact and in what order?
The chain of references presented here is general and sometimes varies between the different faculties and departments. For information about the specific chain of references in the department where you study – contact the academic assistance coordinator.
The lecturer’s course assistant: for all small requests related to postponing exercise dates, absences and so on.
1. Course Lecturer: the lecturer is directly responsible for the course, the material taught in it, the degree of difficulty, the exams and the assignments. Therefore, he/she is the first person who can assess problems that arise in these contexts and deal with them. Many times students tend to skip speaking with the lecturer, even though it is the most desirable and usually also very effective.
It should be noted that going further than the course lecturer without talking to the course lecturer beforehand (by e-mail or during reception hours) may damage the processing of your appeal and you may be sent back to the lecturer. Beyond that, it is a means of maintaining good relations with the lecturers. Even in academic institutions, as in any workplace, we should not go over authorities heads, we should first and foremost maintain respect and good human relations.
2. Departmental Teaching Committee: This committee is the first in the chain of courts that discuss unusual requests and special cases of students. The departmental teaching committee is the party responsible for academic decisions such as: special dates, overlapping courses, learning courses from other departments and so on.
3. Head of the department: constitutes the highest administrative and academic authority in the department. This is the direct supervisor of all the administrative and academic staff and is responsible for the functioning of the department at the administrative, technical and academic level.
4. Faculty Teaching Committee: This court is the second in the chain of courts that discuss unusual requests and special cases of students. The committee consists of a number of lecturers from different departments in the faculty and is responsible for all study programs in the faculty.
5. The dean of the faculty: responsible for all academic, research and administrative activities in the faculty. Also represents the faculty before the Senate, the Rector and other authorities of the university and beyond.
Please Note! There are departments where the deputy dean is the academic person who handles academic problems. The academic assistance coordinators should be consulted before contacting the dean of the faculty since this is the highest authority in the faculty and contact should be made only in exceptional cases and only after all other options have been exhausted.
Higher University Committees
If you have gone through the entire chain of appeals and the problem has not been resolved or you wish to appeal the decision made, there are two options which are the highest courts in the university – but the appeal to them will be made only in exceptional cases.
Please note! Decisions made in these courts cannot be appealed, and their decision is final.
6. The vice-rector: an extension of the rector in academic and other matters. Only after receiving answers from previous courts in the chain of references, and if you wish to appeal them, can you draft a letter of appeal to the Exceptions Committee chaired by the Vice Rector. This committee is the highest committee in academic matters. The letter of inquiry should be sent to Rotem Kener, coordinator of the Disciplinary and Exceptions Committees, by email at [email protected]. We strongly recommend that you consult with the academic assistance coordinator about how to draft the letter before sending it, because the decision that will be made is final and cannot be changed.
7. Student Admissions Commissioner: The Admissions Commissioner is an objective entity and their role is to ensure that the conduct of university officials with students was in accordance with the university’s procedures. More information can be found in the student admissibility commissioner’s procedure. Every ruling of the Commissioner of Admissions is obliged to be carried out unless it has been appealed to an Exceptions Committee chaired by the Rector of the University. The Student Admissions Commissioner maintains confidentiality and the continuation of referral processing by them is done anonymously.
Add a contact person for the admissibility commissioner
It is important to emphasize that applying to the committees in the correct order, while making sure to formulate a clear and polite appeal, it will save you a lot of time and resources. Remember that when submitting an appeal to each of the committees, you must attach the answers given to you from the previous committees, and that the academic assistance coordinators will be happy to advise you on any question or academic issue.
