"Due to the Senate's clear position, the University Council has decided to take this path in order to ensure the swift progress of the procedure and to avoid delays," reads the committee's statement. "After careful consideration and intensive discussions with the Senate and the Executive Board, the University Council has come to this decision. It is now important to consistently drive forward the renewal processes initiated by Professor Siegmüller together with the members of Ostfalia in order to make the university fit for the future," explains Claudia Kayser, Chair of the University Council.
Ostfalia President Prof. Dr Julia Siegmüller says: "I regret the development and would have liked to help shape Ostfalia for longer. The university has a lot of potential and I wish it all the best for the future."
The Lower Saxony Higher Education Act now stipulates that the Lower Saxony Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, will decide on the dismissal from office following a legal review. Until then, President Prof Dr Julia Siegmüller will remain in office. A decision on the new appointment will be made as part of a public tender.
The Ostfalia University Senate voted unanimously on 11 December 2025 to dismiss the President. The motion to vote her out of office was submitted by the voting members of the Senate in November.
The Senate and University Council are central bodies of universities in Lower Saxony. While the Senate oversees the work of the Executive Board and decides on the appointment or dismissal of members of the Executive Board, the University Council has an advisory function for the members of the Executive Board and Senate. The Senate has 13 voting members, including seven professors, four members of staff and two students. The University Council consists of five persons familiar with the university system, primarily from business, science or culture, who may not be members of the university, one member of the university and one representative of the Ministry of Education.
Your contact for this topic:
Dipl.-Ing. Volker Küch M.A.
Full-time Vice President for Human Resources and Finance Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences
E-mail: hvp(at)ostfalia.de (opens your email program)
Phone: 05331 939 10010