Statutes

1. The association is called “Freunde der Hochschule München e.V.”. It is entered in the register of associations.

2. The association’s registered office is in Munich.

3. The financial year is the calendar year.

1. The Association supports Hochschule München as an academic institution within the tertiary education sector and a centre for applied research and development by:

• non-financial support,
• Collection and allocation of financial and material resources,
• Financial support for students in the form of scholarships and grants, and the awarding of prizes for outstanding academic achievement.

2. The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable aims within the meaning of the section entitled ‘Tax-privileged purposes’ of the German Fiscal Code. It operates on a non-profit basis and does not primarily pursue its own economic interests.

1. Any natural person, legal entity or association of persons may become a member of the association.

2. The following are members of the association:

• Members: They pay the membership fee set by the general meeting.
• Supporting members: They undertake to pay a higher membership fee to the association and/or to make donations of money or goods.
• Honorary members: They are appointed by the General Meeting on the recommendation of the Executive Committee; they enjoy all the rights of membership but are exempt from paying membership fees.

3. Membership is granted upon submission of a written application for membership and its approval by the association’s executive committee. An appeal may be lodged against a refusal of membership; the general meeting shall decide on such an appeal.

4. Membership shall cease upon death, upon the dissolution of the association, upon submission of a notice of resignation taking effect at the end of the financial year, or upon termination of membership following a resolution by the Executive Committee if the annual membership fee due has not been paid despite two reminders.

A member may be removed from the membership list by resolution of the Executive Committee if they act contrary to the interests of the association or seriously damage its reputation. The member may lodge an appeal against this resolution. The next General Meeting shall then make a final decision on the expulsion by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast.

1. Membership fees and the minimum fees for supporting members are set by the General Meeting. Fees are payable at the start of the calendar year (January). In the year of joining, the full fee is payable regardless of the date of joining.

2. The association’s funds consist of

• the contributions made by members,
• from donations, gifts, endowments and other contributions. These funds may be earmarked for a specific purpose at the donor’s request.

3. The association’s funds may only be used for purposes set out in the Articles of Association. Members shall not receive any payments from the association’s funds. No one may benefit from expenditure that is unrelated to the association’s purpose, or from disproportionately high remuneration.

4. The Executive Board decides on the use of funds.

The following shall act as the Association’s governing bodies:

• The Executive Board,
• the general meeting.

1. The association’s Executive Committee consists of:

• the Chair,
• the treasurer,
• the secretary,
• up to four further members of the Executive Board.

2. For the purposes of Section 26 of the German Civil Code (BGB), the Executive Committee consists solely of the Chair and the Treasurer. They each represent the association individually.

3. The Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day management of the association’s affairs and the administration of its assets. It draws up an annual budget and a statement of income and expenditure. The statement of income and expenditure must be submitted to the elected auditors. The Executive Committee also decides on grants to applicants from the university.

4. The Executive Committee is elected by the General Meeting for a term of three years. However, it remains in office until a new Executive Committee is elected. Each member of the Executive Committee must be elected individually. Only members of the Association and representatives of supporting members may be elected to the Executive Committee. At least one member of the Executive Committee should be a lecturer at Hochschule München and at least one should be a representative of the business community.

5. The Executive Board may delegate the management and administration of the assets, in whole or in part, to a Managing Director and grant him or her the necessary powers of attorney. The Managing Director is bound by the instructions of the Executive Board.

1. The general meeting is held annually. It is convened in writing by the executive committee, giving four weeks’ notice and setting out the agenda, and is chaired by a member of the executive committee.

2. The Executive Committee may also convene an extraordinary general meeting. It is obliged to do so if such a general meeting is requested by at least 10 per cent of the members, who must specify the agenda.

3. The tasks of the general meeting include, in particular:

• Acceptance of the Executive Board’s report,
• Receipt of the reports from the treasurer and the auditors,
• Discharge of the Executive Board,
• Election of the members of the Executive Board (every three years),
• Election of two auditors from among the members who are not members of the Executive Board (every three years),
• By-elections to fill vacancies left by outgoing office-holders (for the remainder of their term of office),
• Stipulation of membership and sponsorship fees,
• Receiving and advising on applications and proposals,
• Amendment to the Articles of Association,
• Appointment of honorary members.

4. In votes and elections, decisions are taken by a simple majority of the votes cast. If this is not achieved in the first round of an election, a run-off vote shall be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes. Amendments to the Articles of Association may only be adopted with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast.

5. Minutes must be drawn up for every general meeting and signed by the chairperson and the secretary.

1. The dissolution of the association may only take place at a general meeting, at which at least three-quarters of those present must vote in favour of the dissolution of the association.

2. In the event of the dissolution of the association or the cessation of its existing purposes, its assets shall pass to Hochschule München. The university must use the funds directly and exclusively for charitable purposes.

Munich, 24 April 2008