AStA of the h_da
Is it called "der, die or das AStA"? The abbreviation stands for "der Allgemeine Studierendenausschuss".
General Information
The AStA is the representation of student interests for all students at the university - vis-à-vis the university management and administrative institutions as well as teachers, but also vis-à-vis the Studierendenwerk (student union) and other organizations that deal with student issues in the broadest sense.
The tasks of the AStA as representation of the student body result from the Hessian Higher Education Act (§ 84 HessHG):
Tasks of the student body:
- The student body manages its own affairs. It participates in the self-administration of the university.
- The student body has the following tasks:
- Representation of the entirety of its members within the scope of its legal powers,
- To represent the political interests of its members at the university,
- To look after the economic and social interests of the students, insofar as these are not transferred to the Studentenwerk or other institutions,
- Fostering of supra-regional and international student relations,
- Promoting political education and a sense of civic responsibility among students,
- Support of cultural and musical interests of students,
- Promotion of voluntary student sports, insofar as the university is not responsible for this.
AStA Meetings and Information for Applicants
During lecture hours: The public meetings of the AStA take place weekly on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. - however, if a StuPa meeting is scheduled once a month, the AStA meeting is cancelled. When and where exactly the individual dates are can be found in the calendar.
During the semester break the AStA meetings take place irregularly! It is best to inquire briefly beforehand.
Guests are always welcome!
Note for external applicants (i.e. non-AStA): (Financial) applications for an AStA meeting must be sent by e-mail to the AStA office (info@asta.h-da.de) by 12 noon the day before the AStA meeting. In exceptional cases (e.g. due to urgency) an exception to the rule can be decided at the AStA meeting. Applications will only be processed at the meeting if the applicant is present.
Digital Affairs Department
Head: Liv Tegeler, Nicolai Ries
Core tasks:
- Conceptualizing new—and maintaining existing—internal digital infrastructure for the benefit of the student body
- Identifying software alternatives to support committee work
- Providing training to the student body on independent (open-source) and internal university software
- Revamping the AStA website in cooperation with the Department of PR, Communication & Public Relations, the Design Working Group, the Technology Working Group, and the Media Working Group
Contact:
- Please contact by email by appointment
- Email: digitales@asta.h-da.de
Representation of the h_da student body on the EUt+ Student Board
Heads: Tilmann Eckert, N.N.
This committee must consist of at least two members (double representation, ideally gender-balanced), as the EUt+ Student Board's statutes stipulate that there must be at least two student representatives per alliance member.
Core Tasks:
- Mandatory active participation in the EUT+ Student Board (the student body within our alliance) and serving as a liaison between student self-governance bodies
- Regular reporting and active participation in events related to EUT+
- Networking at the national and European levels regarding the European Universities Initiative / European University Alliances
- Organizing information sessions and events related to EUT+
Contact:
- Please contact us by email by appointment
- Email: eutplus@asta.h-da.de
Department of Student Councils
Head: Antonia Herzog, Gabriel Becker
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide close cooperation with the student councils
- Create a lending catalog for all student councils
- Support the joint Freshmen's Weeks (EWOs) of the student councils and coordinate cross-departmental EWO events
Organize a freshmen's event - Coordinate and promote the institutionalization of the Student Council Conferences (FSK)
Kontakt:
- By appointment via email
- Email: fachschaften@asta.h-da.de
Finance Department
Head: Julia Haß
Core Tasks:
- Development of a budget for the student body at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
- Transparent presentation of finances to the AStA, StuPa and the student councils
- Close cooperation with other AStA departments, the financial representatives of the student councils and the audit committee
- Support and advice for potential applicants
Contact:
- by appointment by email
- Email: finanzen@asta.h-da.de
Useful links:
Department of University Policy
Head: Conni Patterson
Core tasks:
- Advocacy and external representation vis-à-vis external stakeholders
- Advocacy within h_da academic bodies
- Networking with other representative bodies for school pupils, apprentices, students, and other educational institutions/organizations
- Organizing and conducting higher education policy initiatives
- Close collaboration and coordination with the Departments of University Democracy and Student Subject Councils
Contact:
- by appointment by email
- Email: hochschulpolitik@asta.h-da.de
University Democracy Department
Head: Lukas Kebeiks
Core Tasks:
- Strengthening broad student participation and democratic co-determination throughout the entire university
- Drafting statements on current university policy processes and events
- Working in close cooperation and coordination with the Departments for Student Councils and University Politics
- Actively promoting elections in an accessible manner
- Organizing the General Student Assembly
- Providing accessible information resources and events, particularly for newcomers to university committees
Contact:
- Please contact us by email by appointment
- Email: hochschuldemokratie@asta.h-da.de
Links:
Department of Culture & Event Management
Head: Carolin Gehring
Core tasks:
- Expanding the range of cultural offerings for students, in both digital and analog formats
- Networking cultural and media offerings across all h_da campuses—including through cross-campus events
- Developing event guidelines for student councils and other departments
- Actively supporting AStA events, and optionally supporting larger student council events
- Providing support for student events held at the *Glaskasten* and *Zeitraum* venues
Contact:
- Please contact us by email by appointment
- Email: kultur@asta.h-da.de
Department of PR, Communication & Public Relations
Head: Anika Rockstroh, Zaur Sattarov
Core Tasks:
- Regular, active management and evaluation of AStA communication channels (social media, AStA newsletter, AStA website, *ach_dasta*)
- Public outreach regarding university politics and the preparation of updates on current events
- Assistance in drafting statements, press releases, and publications
- Coordination of internal and external student inquiries and statements
Contact:
- Please contact us by email by appointment
- Email: oeffentlichkeitsarbeit@asta.h-da.de
Social Policy Department
Head: Zarmina Shah
Core Tasks:
- Contact point, mediation, and support for students in all social matters (including studying with children, financing, and emergencies)
- Active networking and collaboration with social interest groups and socio-political organizations
- Development of ideas to improve studies for disadvantaged students
- Organization and implementation of social and socio-political events
Contact:
- Please contact by email by appointment
- Email: soziales@asta.h-da.de
Department of Diversity
Head: Emmy Wittwer, Salah Eddine Daki
Core Tasks:
- Point of contact for—and facilitator of—low-threshold and self-organized university groups, in close collaboration with the Department of Social Affairs.
- Preventive work and awareness-raising regarding discriminatory behavior of any kind.
- Point of contact for individuals affected by dehumanizing violence (psychological or physical).
- Point of contact for awareness-related matters within the AStA (General Students' Committee) and StuPa (Student Parliament).
- To serve as a primary point of contact for individuals who have experienced discrimination, offering information and referrals to relevant organizations, counseling services, and queer groups. In this context, consideration is given—among others—to discrimination based on ethnic origin, LGBTQIA+ identity, FLINTA* identity, or the status of vulnerable persons.
Contact:
- Please contact by email by appointment
- Email: vielfalt@asta.h-da.de
Design Working Group
Head: Mirjam Moser, Paria Haghani
Core Tasks:
- Graphic design and support for the AStA and its projects (e.g., banners, posters, flyers, graphics), as well as optional support for student departmental councils
- Creation and organization of reusable design templates
- Graphic design for the AStA university election campaign (nomination phase & elections)
- Close collaboration with AStA departments and student departmental councils
Contact:
- Please contact by email by appointment
- Email: design@asta.h-da.de
Media Working Group / AStA Newspaper
Head: Kay Palit, Selin Arslan
Core tasks:
- Editing and publication of contributions submitted to ach_dasta
- Management of ach_dasta’s social media presence
- Development of objectives and guidelines for ach_dasta’s operations, in consultation with the student body
Contact:
- Please contact us by email by appointment
- Email: media@asta.h-da.de
Technical Working Group
Head: Jiyoon Kim, N.N.
Core tasks:
- Supervision, maintenance, and regular inventory checks of AStA technical equipment
- Technical support for AStA events (e.g., in the Glaskasten and Zeitraum venues)
- Coordination of an inventory list and a lending system for technical equipment available to the student body (located outside the Officers' Room)
- Implementation of (sustainable) measures to improve AStA's technical infrastructure
Contact:
- Please contact us by email by appointment
- Email: tech-support@asta.h-da.de
Commercial Units of the AStA
In addition to the voting AStA units and the working groups that support the ASA by providing infrastructure or consulting work, there are three commercial units of the AStA:
Structure of the AStA at the h_da
There are different models nationwide of how a student representation can be structured - with or without a board of directors, with or without employed officers, with or without direct election of the student representation.
At the h_da, the AStA is elected by the student parliament and currently consists of equal and voting units as well as non-voting working groups and three commercial units.