16.2.1. Elected representation

Middle East Technical University (METU) operates within the framework of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 and the relevant legislation governing the University's organisational structure. The University Senate consists of the Rector, Vice-Rectors, Faculty Deans, Institute Directors, and faculty representatives elected by the Faculty Boards. The Faculty Boards also include members elected from academic departments. Under the applicable legislation, students and non-academic staff are not represented as members of the Senate.

https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=10127&MevzuatTur=7&MevzuatT...

To support student participation in university governance, METU implements the Directive for the Council of Student Representatives (CSR / ÖTK). The Directive aims to contribute to the development of the academic, social, and cultural opportunities offered to students; establish effective communication between the University's governing bodies and students; ensure that students' expectations and requests are conveyed to university management; and facilitate student participation in decisions concerning education and teaching. It also seeks to foster students' sense of social responsibility and commitment to democratic governance principles, while establishing the organisational and operational framework of the Council of Student Representatives.

https://oidb.metu.edu.tr/en/middle-east-technical-university-directive-c...

Elected Faculty Representation on the Highest Governing Body (Senate)

• Statutory Senate Composition: Under Article 5 of the Directive for the University Organization and Law No. 2547, the METU Senate comprises the Rector, Vice-Rectors, Faculty Deans, Institute Directors, and elected faculty representatives.
• Democratic Election Process: Each Faculty Board—which itself consists of members elected from academic departments—democratically elects one representative faculty member from among its academic staff to serve on the University Senate for a designated term.
• Official Governance Transparency: The current leadership and Senate structure are publicly published on the METU University Management Portal

https://www.metu.edu.tr/tr/universite-yonetimi

Elected Student Representation: METU Council of Student Representatives (CSR / ÖTK)

To enable student participation in educational decisions and convey expectations to university administrative organs, METU enforces the Directive for the Council of Student Representatives:

Scope and Legal Basis (Articles 1 & 2): Based on the national regulations published in the Official Gazette (No. 25942; 20.09.2005), the directive mandates democratic student representation covering associate degree, undergraduate, and graduate students.

Three-Tier Democratic Election Boards Structure:

• University Election Board (Article 3): Chaired by a Vice-President/Assistant to the President and composed of three faculty members to oversee campus-wide election integrity.
• Faculty / Graduate School / SFL / TVS Election Board (Article 4): Chaired by an Associate Dean or Assistant Director, responsible for taking election measures, reporting official results, and resolving objections across faculties and graduate schools.
• Department / Graduate School Department Election Board (Article 5): Chaired by an Assistant Department Chair and composed of three faculty members and two non-candidate student representatives. Responsibilities include preparing voter lists, assessing candidate eligibility, printing/stamping ballots, establishing ballot box locations, and certifying departmental election results.