Dear students,

It happens time and again in philosophy seminars that lecturers are asked for a signature on a cumulative course result sheet for signing a routing slip (often in the form of a transcript), although this is not permitted under the current examination regulations.

At this point, we would first like to point out that we do not believe that participation in seminars or lectures is unimportant. Rather, we are of the opinion that it is an essential part of the quality of a degree programme and the quality of teaching to take part in the courses offered and thus to expose oneself to academic criticism and to formulate such criticism oneself. However, we are opposed to forcing this attendance via examination regulations or bypassing them.

This letter is therefore not a call to stay away from courses just because there is no examination of the students' performance (or rather: should be), but only serves to inform you about what may legally be demanded of you.

Bachelor's programme:

1) In the modules phi 101, phi 111 and phi 121 (old: phi110 and phi120) and phi260 and optionally in the modules phi250 and phi270, it is intended to require a partial performance for the signature on a cumulative course result sheet, because the examination performance in these modules is a portfolio. The portfolio examination consists of several "small partial performances". These are usually essays, minutes or short presentations. The same applies to some modules from the PB area (such as pb080 and pb081).

In all of these modules, the cumulative course result sheets are used to collect the grades for the partial performances and are then entered on the module examination slip by the last examining lecturer as a completed portfolio module examination, thus certifying the (hopefully successful) module examination. Beyond these partial performances that are included in the assessment, no further attendance certificates or anything of the kind are required or permitted in these modules.

For all of these modules, it is therefore legally okay if smaller partial performances are required in all courses of a module during the semester, but only within the scope of what is required for the "portfolio" examination performance.

2) In all other modules of the Bachelor's degree programme and optionally in the modules phi250 and phi270, the examination performance is not a portfolio, but an oral examination, a presentation or a seminar paper. According to the current legal situation, no further work of any kind is therefore required or permitted in any of these modules. The signatures for the cumulative course result sheets, on which you have the seminars signed and then take the module examination in one of the seminars, may therefore not be made dependent on any performance, be it (active) participation in the seminar, a protocol, a short presentation or similar.

The difference to the modules in which the examination performance is a portfolio is therefore only that the examination performance is different and therefore the impression may arise here that so-called Sitzscheine are (could be) required. In fact, however, in some modules, these alleged seat reservations are simply part of the examination performance (see 1)).

In the courses of these modules, it is therefore the case that only one performance (seminar paper, oral examination or presentation) must or may be required for the examination performance and no further (small) partial performances beyond this.

3) Even though the general part of the Bachelor's examination regulations was amended in 2016 to the effect that it is once again permitted to introduce attendance checks and active participation (i.e. something like a Sitzschein), nothing has changed at the Institute of Philosophy (at least so far) with regard to the above regulations, as the Institute of Philosophy (unlike many other institutes) has not yet made use of this option. The subject-specific annex for the subject of Philosophy/Values and Norms would first have to be amended.

To find out what you can (and must) achieve during your degree programme, you can find the Bachelor's examination regulations and their various parts here

Master's degree programme and Master of Education:

1) In numerous modules of the many Master's degree programmes, it is permitted to require partial performance for the signature on a cumulative course result sheet because the examination performance in these modules is a portfolio. The portfolio examination consists of several "small partial performances"; these small partial performances are usually essays, minutes or short presentations.

In all of these modules, the cumulative course result sheets are used to collect the grades for the partial performances and are then entered on the module examination sheet by the last examining lecturer as a completed portfolio module examination, thus certifying the (hopefully successful) module examination. Beyond these small partial performances that are included in the assessment, no further attendance certificates or anything of the kind are required or permitted.

For all of these modules, it is therefore legally okay if smaller partial performances are required in all courses of a module during the semester, but only within the scope of what is required for the "portfolio" examination performance.

2) In all other modules of the Master's degree programmes (in the Master'sdegree programme in Philosophy this applies to all modules), the examination performance is not or only optionally a portfolio, but an oral examination, a presentation or a seminar paper.

Therefore, according to the current legal situation, no further performance of any kind is required or permitted in any of these modules. The signatures for the cumulative course result sheets, on which you have the seminars signed and then take the module examination with one of the corresponding lecturers, may not be made dependent on any performance, be it (active) participation in the seminar, a protocol, a short presentation or similar. The difference to the modules in which the examination performance is a portfolio is therefore only that the examination performance is different and therefore the impression may arise here that so-called Sitzscheine are (could be) required. In fact, however, in some modules, these alleged seat reservations are simply part of the examination performance (see 1)).

In the courses of these modules, it is therefore the case that only one performance (seminar paper, oral examination or presentation) and no further (small) partial performances must or may be required for the examination performance.

To find out what you may (and must) achieve during your studies, you can find the examination regulations and their various parts for the master's degree programme here

Here you can find (after selecting your type of school and then your subject) the examination regulations and their various parts for the Master of Education degree programmes: uol.de/studium/pruefungen/master-of-education/

Conclusion:

We would like to call on all students to point out the applicable rules to all lecturers who claim the opposite to the above. This letter also serves the purpose of letting all students know that their fellow students are also aware of these rules. This should make it easier to clarify what can be required of you for a certificate of participation.

Of course, you can also contact us at any time if you still do not want to take action against such methods in the seminar or if lecturers show themselves to be unreasonable.

Student council Philosophy