Statutes of the Association of Junior Researchers at the University of Zurich (VAUZ)

VAUZ 2021 Statutes English (PDF, 129 KB)

of July 11, 1968; revision of January 20, 2005; March 13, 2008; March 25, 2011; March 21, 2014; March 26, 2018; March 22, 2021

Art. 1 Name and Headquarter

The name “Vereinigung Akademischer Nachwuchs der Universität Zürich” (VAUZ, Association of Junior Researchers at the University of Zurich) refers to an association with its registered office in Zurich in accordance with Art. 60 et seq of the Swiss Civil Code and in accordance with the Swiss Civil Code, and may be recognized as an “Association at the University of Zurich” following Art. 27 of the University Regulations. The VAUZ is neutral in terms of party-politics and denomination.

Art. 2 Purpose

¹ The VAUZ is the professional organization of all Junior Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) according to §19 para. 1 lit. b of the University Law (UniG). The representative body of Junior Researchers comprises all employees on qualification positions and all matriculated PhD students at the UZH.

² The VAUZ organizes the representative body of the Junior Researchers (wissenschaftlicher Nachwuchs, WNW) according to §19 Abs. 2 UniG and in connection with §§26a Abs. 2 and 56 Abs. 3 Ziff. 2 of the University Regulations (UniO) and in accordance with the performance agreement with the UZH. VAUZ advocates for the interests of the representative body and its members in matters of university and education policy within the UZH, in particular of co-determination rights, participation, and contribution in teaching and research, as well as for further concerns related to the professional activity at the UZH. It represents the interests of the representative body and its members vis-à-vis authorities and the general public. VAUZ promotes the exchange of information and the formation of opinions within the representative body.

Art. 3 Election of Bodies and Committees

The VAUZ is in particular responsible for organizing and conducting the election of delegates in accordance with the “Regulations for the Election of Delegates of the representative bodies to the bodies of the University of Zurich” (Election Regulations) to university and faculty bodies and committees as well as bodies and committees at the level of the institutes / departments / seminars / clinics (units).

Art. 4 Further Responsibilities

¹ The VAUZ represents the interests of the UZH representative body of the Junior Researchers especially in matters of university and education policies within the university and vis-à-vis authorities and the public at the cantonal, regional, national and international levels, including within the corresponding university policy associations.

² The VAUZ may enter into a performance agreement with the UZH concerning financial and other resources to be provided by the UZH. It may furthermore enter agreements with other entities, in particular with those of the UZH.

³ The VAUZ is the addressee for consultations on university legislation and other university projects insofar as the members of the Junior Researchers it represents are or may be affected.

⁴ The VAUZ provides appropriate information on matters relating to university and higher education policies for the members of the academic staff it represents.

⁵ The VAUZ prepares a publicly accessible annual report for the university board.

⁶ The VAUZ can perform other duties, in particular, it may organize events for its members and/or the members of the representative body.

Art. 5 Membership

VAUZ membership is reserved for persons who belong to the representative body of the Junior Researchers according to §19 para. 1 lit. b UniG.

Art. 6 Acquisition and Loss of Membership

Membership begins when a person declares their membership to the VAUZ Board in an appropriate form. Admission as a member may be refused by the Extended Board with a written justification for reasons that significantly harm the interests of VAUZ. The membership ends

• with the departure from the representative body of Junior Researchers
• on the basis of a written declaration to the Extended Board at the end of the association year (December 31)
• by a written exclusion decision by the Extended Board for the above-mentioned reasons.

Art. 7 Membership Fees

The annual membership fee as well as the amount thereof is decided by the General Assembly. If a membership fee is levied, the payment of the amount is due on January 31st of each year.

Art. 8 Organs

The organs of VAUZ are

• the General Assembly
• the Extended Board
• the Executive Board
• the Auditor

Art. 9 General Assembly

¹ The General Assembly is the topmost body of VAUZ.

² The Executive Board convenes the General Assembly at least once a year, as a rule in the form of a physical meeting in the first quarter of the year. Based on a resolution of the Extended Board, the General Meeting may be held virtually in justified exceptional cases. The General Assembly must also be convened within 40 days if requested by one tenth of all members.

³ The General meeting must be announced in writing or electronically at least 30 days before it is to be held, stating the agenda items.

⁴ All members have the right to submit motions to the General Assembly and to place action items on the agenda. Both motions and action items must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board at least 20 days prior to the meeting. The Executive Board shall check their formal admissibility and, in the event of a positive decision on motions or action items, inform the members of the consolidated agenda items.

Art. 10 Duties of the General Meeting

¹ The General Meeting has the following powers:

• Approval:
  • the minutes of the last general meeting
  • the budget
  • the annual financial reports
  • the report of the auditors
  • the annual report
• Election:
  • of the Executive Board
  • of the auditors
• Exoneration of the Executive Board
• Establishment or closure of departments of the Executive Board
• Collection of membership fees and the determination of their amount
• Issuance of regulations
• Amendment of the statutes
• Dissolution of the association
• Decision of the use of the liquidation proceeds

² Resolutions are passed by a simple majority of the votes cast, except where the statutes of Association provide other regulations.

Art. 11 Extended Board

The Extended Board is composed of the current, elected delegates of the representative body according to Art. 3 who are members of VAUZ and the Executive Board.

Art. 12 Tasks of the Extended Board

¹ The Extended Board has the following powers

• Pass resolutions on the proposals and motions submitted by the Executive Board, insofar as these do not fall within the competences of the General Assembly.
• Should a delegate leave office prematurely and there is no substitute member, a substitute member will be delegated ad interim by the Extended Board until the next regular elections, insofar as the corresponding regulations make provisions for this.
• Establishment of working groups of the VAUZ
• Admission and exclusion of members

² Meetings of the Extended Board are held at least three times per semester.

³ Resolutions are passed by a simple majority of the votes cast. Circular resolutions, also by electronic means, are permitted.

Art. 13 Executive Board

¹ The Executive Board is composed of at least 3 members of VAUZ and consists of:

• the Co-Presidency
• the co-chairpersons of the departments

² The Executive Board is the executive body and responsible for the operational management of the VAUZ.

³ The Executive Board is elected by the General Assembly for a period of one year. For the election of the Executive Board, a balanced ratio of genders, types of employment, qualification levels, and faculties shall be taken into consideration.

Art. 14 Duties of the Executive Board

¹ The Executive Board has the following powers

• Convening the General Assembly
• Convening the meetings of the Extended Board
• Preparation of the annual report and the annual financial statement as of December 31st
• Preparation of the budget for the following year
• Creation of an office and appointment of a managing director
• Entering agreements
• Responsibility for the organization of elections according to the election regulations of the UZH
• Preparation of consultation responses
• Representation of the VAUZ to the general public with double signature, usually by a co-president and another member of the Executive Board
• Inviting the delegates of the representative body to an exchange of information and knowledge sharing

² Meetings of the Executive Board are convened by the Co-Presidency as often as necessary, but at least three times per semester. Any member of the Executive Board may request the Co-Presidency to convene a meeting. Circular resolutions, including by electronic means, are permitted. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority of the votes cast.

³ In all other respects, the Executive Board is responsible for all matters not expressly assigned to other bodies by law or by the statutes of the VAUZ.

⁴ In the event of disagreement, the Co-Presidency may take final decisions on behalf of the Executive Board.

Art. 15 Auditors

The General Assembly elects the auditors, consisting of one or two auditors. The term of office is one year and re-election is permitted. Auditors do not have to be members of the VAUZ, furthermore, they may not be members of the Executive Board or the VAUZ office.

Art. 16 Office/Secretariat

¹ If the Executive Board establishes an office/secretariat, it shall be headed by a managing director.

² The office/secretariat is responsible for supporting the Executive Board in its tasks.

³ The managing director of the office/secretariat has a double signature, usually together with a member of the Co-Presidency.

Art. 17 Funds and Liability

¹ The funds of the VAUZ consist of contributions by the UZH in accordance with a possible performance agreement, its membership fees and any other income.

² VAUZ does not pursue commercial purposes and does not seek to make a profit. For the liabilities of VAUZ only the association's assets are liable.

Art. 18 Amendments to the Statutes, Dissolution

¹ The VAUZ statutes may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members participating in the vote.

² The VAUZ may be dissolved by two-thirds of the members participating in the vote.

³ The funds remaining after the dissolution of the VAUZ shall be donated to a tax-exempted institution with the same or a similar purpose and domiciled in Switzerland. A distribution among the members is interdicted.

Art. 19 Binding Version

If translations of these statutes exist, the original German version shall be authoritative in all cases.

Art. 20 Adoption and Transitional Provisions

These statutes come into force upon their adoption by the General Assembly of March 22, 2021.