Presseamt der
Eberhard-Karls-Universität
in Tübingen

GENERAL INFORMATION

The University of Tuebingen

The University of Tuebingen is a world-class university of 26,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff. It is located in Tuebingen, a city of 85,000 residents, in southwestern Germany.

Tuebingen' s students are taught by an academic staff of 2,000 scholars, including more than five hundred professors. More than one hundred curricula are offered, from the traditional European university disciplines to informatics and the most advanced natural sciences.

Such a university in a small-town atmosphere creates an environment of cooperative research and teaching. More than 2,000 international students and more than four hundred international researchers are active in Tuebingen. Collaborative Research Centers and Research Groups - all financed by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - and other interdisciplinary centers are the result of this cooperation. Especially close cooperation also exists between the University and the four Max Planck Institutes, and with the Goverment Center for Viral Diseases in Animals.

The university is also of major economic significance. It is the largest employer in the region, and has an annual budget of more than 900,000,000 German Marks. The University Medical Complex accounts for more than two-thirds of this budget. The German state of Baden-Wuerttemburg contributes more than 400,000,000 German Marks per year. An additional 70,000,000 German Marks for research are contributed by public and private organizations.

History

1477 "Attempto! I' ll try it!"

This was the motto of Count Eberhard im Barte (1445-1496) when he made the bold decision to found a university in Tuebingen. His motive: "the desire to help clear the well-springs of life, so that from them, from the ends of the earth, a never-ending stream of comforting, healing wisdom for the quelling of the searing fires of man\xab s irrationality and blindness may be created.``

1477 Pope Sixtus IV issues the License for the new University

The new university comprised four faculties. The "higher faculties" of Theology, Law, and Medicine contained twelve professors and four instructors. The Artists\xab Faculty contained five instructors. Two hundred fifty- six students enrolled in the first semester. Most of these were persons prominent in public life. Early students included Vergenhans (Naukler), Biel, Bebel, Prenninger (Uranius), Reuchlin, Melanchton, and Stoeffler.

1534 Prince Ulrich of Wuerttemburg brings the Reformation to Tuebingen

Professors with Lutheran ideas are called to the university. Tuebingen becomes a bastion of Lutheran orthodoxy.

1536 Founding of the protestant Stift

Prince Ulrich seeks to secure and enhance the development of future generations of protestant theologians. Prominent students in the Protestant Stift included Andreae, Vischer, Strauss, Kepler, Schwab, Morike, Hauff, Schelling, Hegel and Hoelderlin.

1594 Founding of the Knights' Academy

The Academy was opened as a Collegium illustre. "Modern" subjects, such as politics, natural sciences and foreign languages were introduced. Sports activities such as horsemanship, fencing and dance, were also included.

1634 War and Plagues cause a Setback for the University

The Thirty Year War took a toll on the whole society, including the university. The plague of 1635 killed half the university faculty. Shortages caused by the Reformation reduced the number of students to less than three hundred.

1769 Count Karl Eugen of Wuerttemburg seeks to restore the Importance of the University

His comprehensive reforms give the university a new image. The university receives the name "Eberhard-Karls University," in honor of its two patrons.

1817 Two influential new Faculties are established

The Catholic Theological Faculty and the Political Science Faculty are created. The Political Science Faculty was the first of its kind in Germany.

1863 Founding of the first Faculty of Natural Sciences in Germany

The Faculty comprised all areas of the natural sciences.

1876 Marked increases in Student Enrollment

For the first time, more than 1,000 students are enrolled.

1895 The first female Student is promoted to doctoral Studies

Maria Graefin von Linden is promoted to doctoral studies in Zoology.

1904 Tuebingen admits Women to University Studies

Tuebingen was the sixth of twenty-one German universities to admit women.

1933 Political Power of the national socialists impacts the University

The university' s decision-making bodies lose their authority. The Chancellor is replaced by a political commissar. The university is "brought into line" until 1945.

1946 The post-war Era is marked by the steady growth of the University

1954:    5,000   Students     1962:  10,000

1977 The University celebrates its 500th Birthday

The University and the City

The steady expansion of the university is reflected in the growth of the city. The university' s oldest buildings are in the medieval, centrally-located "Old City." The Protestant Stift' s Church and the central marketplace are in the heart of the Old City.

The first major expansion of the university occurred in the nineteenth century. The university' s first natural science facilities were built, and this expansion created the "Wilhelms-Vorstadt," an area along the Wilhelmstrasse leading into the Old City. Today the Vorstadt is in the center of the university.

Near the end of the nineteenth century Germany' s most modern medical facilities began to be built in the university. Expansion spread out of the Vorstadt. Another major expansion in the 1960s and 1970s created the Morgenstelle and Schnarrenberg Science Campus, a medical and natural sciences center covering the hillsides north of the city.

The expansion of a world-class university creates no small problems for a rather small university town. There are constant shortages of accommodations for students and employees, a shortage of building space, traffic jams, and ever-increasing demands on the city' s infrastructure. But city and university, residents and students, appreciate the unique combination of "small town`` and big university. As a Romanian student once remarked, "This university is the heart of the city." The vision for the continued combined growth and development of the university and the city remains strong.

Cultural Life

The university' s rich cultural life extends itself to cultural institutions in the city. These organizations and activities enrich not only the university community, but also residents of Tuebingen and the surrounding area.

The university' s Studium generale program is a regular series of evening lectures. The lectures offer students, faculty and public an opportunity to explore contemporary issues on the academic and scientific levels. Issues are addressed from many perspectives, and the large lecture halls are often filled to capacity.

Residents of the city know the university as the site for concerts. Musicians of international stature perform along with the university' s symphony and choir. The Physicians' Orchestra, the Uni Bigband, the Accordion Orchestra and numerous choirs and ensembles enrich the musical life of the universisty and of the city.

At least twelve student theatrical organizations are active in the city. The "Studio Literature and Theatre" enhances creative talent through writers' seminars and theatrical training.

The university' s Graphics Institute offers opportunities for activities in the pictorial arts. Every possible form and medium for expression is available.

The university' s Institute for Sport Science offers a comprehensive sports program. The Institute is one of the city' s major "gathering points."

The city' s internationally known Art Gallery, the German-American Institute, the Institute Culturel Franco-Allemand, and the Suedwestfunk Radio Landesstudio are some of the major attractions in Tuebingen' s cultural milieu -- a truly unique cultural atmosphere.

Cultural Exhibits and Collections

The University possesses more than thirty collections of valuable objects. These collections are of priceless scientific and cultural worth. Among these are:

The Tuebingen Castle is currently being renovated. It will become the central museum and exhibition center for the university' s cultural and historical collections.

The University Medical Complex

The University Medical Complex comprises thirteen specialized medical clinics. These clinics form a modern medical center with the tasks of research, teaching and patient care. Close cooperation exists with the Institutes of Theoretical Medicine and with the faculties of the natural sciences.

A combined staff of more than 5,000 medical workers cares for 50,000 inpatients and 200,000 outpatients per year. Many of these patients receive care available only in the Tuebingen Medical Complex.

A special feature of Tuebingen' s medical research is the so-called "Tuebingen Model." Clinical research sections are integrated into the patient-care clinics. The research sections are able to focus on research, yet remain in direct contact with the problems and challenges of patient care. And the results of research are directly available to diagnosticians and therapists.

ORGANIZATION OF THE UNIVERSITY

The University of Tuebingen is a public university. It is funded primarily by the German state of Baden-Wuerttemburg.

The University' s tasks are specified by law:

The University itself is legally responsible for its administration. It has the right of academic freedom and self-determination in research and teaching. It is organized into sixteen autonomous faculties.

In contrast to other German universities, The University of Tuebingen has a presidential constitution. The President of the University is responsible for the overall leadership of the University. He is the official representative of the University in all public and legal matters.

The President of the University is represented by three Vice-Presidents and the Chancellor of the University.

The decision-making bodies of the University are:

The Higher Senate elects the President and the Vice-Presidents of the University. It decides all questions relating to the basic organization of the University.

The Senate decides all questions relating to the academic affairs of the University.

The Administrative Council decides questions relating to finances and to the university physical plant.

The University administration is organized into seven departments (Dezernate).

These departments are responsible for the following administrative areas:

Home Presse MAIL (michael.seifert@uni-tuebingen.de)

Presseamts-Info@www.uni-tuebingen.de(dezelski@uni-tuebingen.de) Copyright