Complaints Office for Students and Doctoral Candidates
The anti-discrimination office for students at the University of Münster is an advice, information, and complaints office for enrolled students and enrolled doctoral candidates at the university. It is aimed at persons who experience or have experienced discrimination, observe discrimination and have questions or need support on the topic.
In the course of a confidential conversation (in person or by telephone), students or doctoral candidates seeking advice are informed independently, without prejudice to the outcome, and confidentially about their rights and about existing options for action and are supported in the factual classification of their experiences. The protection of privacy is ensured by maintaining discretion and confidentiality. No disadvantages in studies may arise for students or doctoral candidates from the use of the advice service or from the submission of a complaint. We pay attention to this.
Tasks of the Confidential Office
The anti-discrimination office
- provides an independent support offer for students and doctoral candidates
- offers a protected space for the need for conversation in connection with discrimination
- clarifies in confidential conversations about suitable and appropriate measures to protect the person(s) affected and to eliminate the discrimination
- organises and/or initiates mediating conversations upon request
- advises on internal formal complaint procedures and sanctioning possibilities
- initiates, if necessary, the first steps for a formal complaint procedure
- refers, if necessary, to one of the other advice centres (e.g. psychosocial advice).
A consultation can take place by email, telephone, video conference or in person.
What falls under discrimination?
- In accordance with the General Equal Treatment Act (GETA and the LADG from mid-2026), we understand discrimination to be any indirect or direct disadvantage due to “…ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity” (§1 GETA),
- in addition, any form of devaluation, exclusion or unlawful unequal treatment (by regulations, criteria or personal treatment) of individual students on the basis of actual or attributed group-specific characteristics,
- harassment, stalking, bullying, abuse of power
Contact
Please feel free to contact us. The contact person of the confidential office is obliged to maintain confidentiality. Emails are handled confidentially and are only read by Dr Lachenmaier.
Dr Birgit Maria Lachenmaier
Department 1.2 – Anti-discrimination Office for Students
Tel: +49 251 83-24836
Email: antidiskriminierungsstelle.studierende@uni-muenster.de
Appointments by arrangement