The future of the semester ticket

Hello dear students,

Since the Deutschlandsticket was announced, i.e. since November 2022, we have been working flat out on a legally secure solution to ensure affordable student mobility. Because: With the introduction of the Germany ticket, the solidarity model on which the semester ticket is based is in danger. In concrete terms, this means that the semester ticket as it currently exists is legally vulnerable. The Germany ticket, which is available for a monthly price of 49 euros and with which public transport can be used throughout Germany, is a ticket offer that clearly competes with the semester ticket, with which you can travel for only 12.33 euros less Month can only use public transport in NRW.

An alternative solution should therefore have been created, e.g. a semester ticket, which is significantly cheaper than the 49-euro ticket and with which public transport can also be used throughout Germany.

In alliance with other ASten of the VRR area as well as the Landes-ASten-Meeting, there were several negotiations with the VRR. In addition, we have commissioned a legal opinion to clarify the legal consequences. It is important to us to avert financial damage from possible lawsuits against the solidarity model by the student body.

Unfortunately, we were not able to agree on a contract adjustment with the VRR. On July 31, 2023, the student parliament unanimously voted to cancel the semester ticket. This means that students can still use the ticket for two more semesters and from the winter semester 2024/25 there will no longer be a semester ticket.

Don’t worry: we definitely don’t want that.

The termination will also serve as a means of pressure so that the VRR, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the federal government finally act. Our goal is and remains affordable bus and train travel for all students!

We are not alone in this decision. Many other universities at state and federal level have also decided to terminate the contract. Of course, you can find out how VRR and politics react to the layoffs here.

If you have any questions, you can contact us at any time.

Best regards
Your AStA

We are currently looking for another AStA-member for the department for sustainability and mobility. A candidate is being sought who will be proposed to the student parliament and must be elected by the parliamentarians.

Your tasks:

* Keep sustainability on campus in mind

* Follow the sustainable behavior of students and the university

* Planning and support of the sustainability week

* Networking with the sustainability office

* Regular AStA service, where questions from students are answered, documents are certified and the work of the AStA is supported

* Participation in a regular AStA meeting (weekly) and the meetings of the student parliament (every 4-8 weeks)

Ideally, you should have these qualities:

* Enrolled student at the TU Dortmund

* Good skills in German and English writing and language

* Experience in the field of higher education policy or the willingness to deal with it

* Own initiative and ideas on how to make the campus more sustainable and how to improve and/or promote student mobility

What you get from it:

* A relaxed, flexible activity that you can do around your studies

* Fair compensation (0.5 expense allowances, €467 per month, of which €250 per month is tax-free according to Section 3 No. 12 Clause 2 EStG)

* The opportunity to implement new ideas at the university

Does that sound like a job you find yourself in? Then apply to us by August 13, 2023 (11:59 p.m.) with a cover letter, your CV and any references from work at: vorsitz@asta.tu-dortmund.de

* We value diversity and therefore welcome all applications – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social background, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.