1970

• 13 May 1970
  The "Memorandum on the Founding of the Universities of Oldenburg and Osnabrück" by the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs of Lower Saxony is published.
• 17 July 1970
  Positive vote by the German Council of Science and Humanities for the founding of universities in Oldenburg and Osnabrück.
  
  Demonstration in Oldenburg city centre in favour of the founding of a university
• 25 August 1970
  Decision by the state government to establish the University of Oldenburg.

1971

• 1 March 1971
  Establishment of a founding committee in Oldenburg, consisting of one third each of professors, academic staff and students.
  
  Panel discussion with members of the founding committee

1972

• 11 July 1972
  Approval of the model experiment for single-phase teacher training (ELAB).
• 26 April 1972
  Foundation of the Universitätsgesellschaft Oldenburg e.V. (UGO).
  
  Founding meeting of the UGO

1973

• October 1973
  Draft statutes of the founding committee's structural commission with the naming of the university after the publicist, Nazi opponent and Nobel Peace Prize winner Carl von Ossietzky (1889 - 1938).
  
  Carl von Ossietzky, Nazi opponent, publicist and Nobel Peace Prize winner
  
• 5 December 1973
  The resolution of the Lower Saxony state parliament of 3 December 1973 to found the University of Oldenburg and simultaneously integrate the University of Education comes into force. In April 1974, the university begins offering eight degree programmes and the "single-phase teacher training" pilot project.

1974

• 1 March 1974
  Establishment of the bodies of the University of Oldenburg with the four departments of Education and Socialisation, Communication/Aesthetics, Social Sciences and Mathematics/Natural Sciences.
• 1 April 1974
  Start of the first semester with 2,507 students in eight degree programmes (social sciences, economics, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, spatial planning, education) and sixteen teaching degree programmes as part of the "single-phase teacher training" pilot project.
• 1 May 1974
  Prof. Dr Rainer Krüger takes up his post as the first Rector of the University of Oldenburg (term of office 1974 - 1979).
• 29 May 1974
  The Council unanimously adopts the university charter submitted by the founding committee and also unanimously votes in favour of naming the university after Carl von Ossietzky. However, the state government rejects the naming
  
  Discussion of the university charter in the Council with founding rector Rainer Krüger at the lectern
• 16 October 1974
  One day after the start of the semester, students affix the name "Carl von Ossietzky University" in large letters to the tower of the Allgemeines Verfügungszentrum (AVZ), visible from afar. The Rectorate sees this initiative as a demonstrative act intended to express the united will of the university.
• 17 December 1974
  Cooperation agreement between the University of Oldenburg and the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Lower Saxony district, the first of its kind in the Federal Republic of Germany.

1975

• 27 June 1975
  Under the protection of 200 police officers, painters remove the lettering on behalf of the State Building Authority.
  
  Police operation during the removal of the lettering ordered by the state government

1976

• 24 January 1976
  Recommendation by the German Council of Science and Humanities to expand the university to 9,300 places by 1985.
• 13 - 16 June 1976
  Four-day bicycle demonstration to Hanover with 1,500 university members against the state government's plans to reduce the university to 5,700 places. The target figures are later set at 6,800 places by 1985.
  
  Caused a sensation: the bicycle demonstration to Hanover

1978

• 4/5 May 1978
  First "Ossietzky Days" to mark the 40th anniversary of Carl von Ossietzky's death. Participants include the former Governing Mayor of Berlin, Heinrich Albertz, Federal Constitutional Court judge Helmut Simon and DGB Federal Chairman Heinz-Oskar Vetter. Continuation of the Ossietzky Days in the 1980s with a focus on socio-political issues.
  
  Ossietzky Days1978 with the Irish 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan-Maguire

1979

• 8 May 1979
  Demonstration by around 2,000 students, university lecturers, academic staff and employees of the University of Oldenburg and the Oldenburg and Ostfriesland Universities of Applied Sciences in Hanover against the state government's plans to reduce expansion planning, particularly in the natural sciences.
  
  Demonstration in Hanover against the state government's reduction of university expansion planning
• 1 October 1979
  Following the resignation of founding rector Prof. Dr Rainer Krüger, Oldenburg educational scientist Prof. Dr Hans-Dietrich Raapke is appointed "Commissioner for the President's Duties".

1980

• 17 April 1980
  First co-operation agreement with a foreign university, the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.
  
  Signing of the co-operation agreement with Groningen: Groningen Rector Jan Bleumink (r.) and Hans-Dietrich Raapke
• 1 October 1980
  Inauguration of Dr Horst Zilleßen, first elected President of the University of Oldenburg (term of office 1980 - 1986)
• 18 December 1980
  Ground-breaking ceremony for the energy laboratory, symbol of the research focus on "alternative energy sources" promoted in particular by Prof. Dr Hans-Joachim Luther and the first building for the natural sciences on the Wechloy site.
  
  Landmark of Oldenburg's energy research: the energy laboratory