Call for Applications for the Position of President of the University of Montpellier
Pursuant to the Education Code,
Pursuant to Decree No. 2021-1207 of September 20, 2021, establishing the University of Montpellier and approving its bylaws,
Circular Regarding the Organization of the Election for President of the University of Montpellier
The election date
The election for President of the University of Montpellier will take place on:
Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Salle des Actes – Triolet Campus – Building 7, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34000 Montpellier.
It should be noted that the terms of office of the elected members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Montpellier will take effect as of the first meeting convened for the election of the President (Article 22 of the University of Montpellier’s bylaws).
Voters
Amended Article L 712-2 of the Education Code and Article 8-1 of the University of Montpellier’s bylaws state that “the President of the University is elected by an absolute majority of the members of the Board of Trustees (…)”. The electorate consists of 36 members:
- 14 representatives of Professors, instructors, researchers, and equivalent staff, including 7 representatives of university professors and equivalent staff;
- 5 user representatives;
- 5 representatives of library staff, engineers, administrative staff, technicians, and social and health care workers;
- 6 ex officio members;
- 6 external figures.
Applications
The President is elected by an absolute majority of the members of the Board of Directors from among Professors, researchers, associate professors, lecturers, visiting professors, or any other equivalent staff, regardless of nationality (amended Article L712-2 of the Education Code).
In accordance with Article 8-1 of the University of Montpellier’s bylaws, nominations must be submitted at least eight full days prior to the election. They may be submitted as of the publication of this circular.
Nomination forms must be submitted by email to the Director General of Services, with copies sent to dagi-direction and dagi-elections-statuts, no later than Monday, December 8, 2025.
The third paragraph of the amended Article L712-2 of the Education Code provides that the office of university president is incompatible with that of an elected member of the Academic Council, director of a department, school, or institute, or any other internal university body, and with that of an executive director of any public higher education institution (EPSCP) or any of its departments or internal bodies.
In addition, Article L711-10 of the Education Code stipulates that the age limit for serving as a university president is set at 68. A president may remain in office until August 31 following the date on which he or she reaches that age.
The voting process
Notice of a Meeting of the Board of Directors
Article 8-1 of the University of Montpellier’s bylaws states that: “The Board of Trustees responsible for electing the president shall be convened by the incumbent president or, if the president is unable to do so, by the most senior Professors, who is a member of said board and not a candidate in the election.”
“The notice of the board of directors’ meeting must be issued no later than fifteen days before the date set for the election of the chairperson.”
In connection with this election, the Board of Trustees will be convened on December 17, 2025, by the current President of the University of Montpellier.
The meeting will be chaired by the senior-most member Professors Board Professors who is not a candidate.
The board of directors' meetings are not open to the public.
Preliminary debate
A debate will be held prior to the election. Each candidate will have ten minutes to present their campaign platform.
This presentation will be followed by a thirty-minute discussion between the board members and the candidates.
Election operations
The attendance list will be prepared by the Institutional Affairs Office of the University of Montpellier’s General and Institutional Affairs Division, under the authority of the Director General of Services, and presented in alphabetical order.
Ballots and envelopes will be prepared by the Institutional Affairs Office of the University of Montpellier’s General and Institutional Affairs Department and made available to voters on election day.
Voters must bring a form of identification to present when they vote. Since voting is secret, voters must use the voting booth. Voting will take place by roll call in alphabetical order.
When their name is called, voters will place their ballot—which they have already placed in an envelope—into the ballot box, present their proxy form if applicable, and sign the attendance list next to their name.
Voting and ballot counting will take place under the supervision of the Director General of Services, assisted by an observer nominated by each candidate.
Since Article L712-2 of the Education Code, as amended, provides that “the President of the university shall be elected by an absolute majority of the members of the Board of Trustees,” and since the electorate consists of 36 members, a candidate must receive at least 19 votes to be elected.
Powers of Attorney
Proxy voting is permitted under the conditions set forth in Article 24 of the University of Montpellier’s bylaws: “No one may hold more than one proxy.”
These proxies, which remain valid for subsequent rounds of voting, will be returned after each inconclusive round of voting.
Proxies must be completed by the principal, indicating the name of the proxy holder.
Results
Once the voting has concluded, a written record will be prepared. The chair of the meeting will announce the results, which will be posted immediately on the University of Montpellier campus and published on its website.
Article 8-1 of the University of Montpellier’s bylaws provides that “if, after three rounds of voting, no candidate has been elected, the council shall be reconvened within eight clear days.”
New notice of the meeting
Following the notice of the board meeting, “candidacies previously submitted must be confirmed. New candidacies may be submitted at least two full days prior to the date of the new board meeting.”
In that case, a new election will be held following a subsequent meeting of the board of directors.