Bylaws and Governance

The Collège de France is a public institution of higher education and research governed by the provisions of the Education Code relating to public institutions of a scientific, cultural, and professional nature, subject to the exceptions provided for in its statutory decree of July 24, 2014.

The Assembly of the Collège de France

Strategic decisions are made by the Assembly of the Collège de France—a gathering of tenured professors currently in active service—which serves as both the board of directors and the academic council. It meets three times a year (in March, June, and November) and, every three years, elects from among its members a chairman who heads the Collège de France and presides over the Assembly. It also elects the vice president and the secretary of the Assembly.

It determines the institution’s policy by deliberating, in particular, on:

• major strategic directions (real estate projects, establishment of new chairs, partnerships, etc.);
• the maximum number of positions and the total payroll;
• the budget and amended budgets;

The Chairman of the Collège de France

After being elected by the College Assembly for a renewable three-year term, the Administrator is appointed by decree of the President of the Republic. He or she directs the institution, represents it in legal proceedings, and prepares and implements the Assembly’s decisions. He or she is the authorizing officer for expenditures and revenues, enters into certain categories of agreements and contracts, and has authority over all staff. He or she may delegate signing authority to certain members of his or her staff.

The Chairman of the Collège de France is Professor Thomas Römer, holder of the Chair of The Hebrew Bible and its Contexts.

The Assembly’s Executive Committee

The Administrator is assisted by an Executive Committee, which he chairs and which consists of the Vice President and the Secretary of the Assembly. To facilitate governance, since 2004, the Executive Committee has been expanded to include several professors responsible for specific tasks.

The Vice President of the Assembly is Professor Françoise Combes, who holds the Chair in Galaxies and Cosmology.

The Secretary of the Assembly is Professor Hugues de Thé, who holds the Chair in Cellular and Molecular Oncology.

The Director General of Services (DGS)

The Director General of Services is appointed by the Minister of Higher Education, upon the recommendation of the administrator. Under the administrator’s authority, the Director General of Services oversees the management and organization of the institution’s administrative services and leads the team of directors. He is assisted by a Deputy Director General of Services.

The Director General of Services is Mr. Arnaud Roffignon.
The Deputy Director General of Services is Ms. Karin Franques-Hug.

Advisory Bodies

The College Council (CE)

The Institutional Council, a joint consultative body, has twenty-three members. It meets prior to each College Assembly and reviews all matters relating to the administration of the College before the Assembly votes on them.

The CE is consulted in particular on:

• draft budgets and amended budgets;
• the financial statements and the allocation of net income;
• the staffing plan and personnel assignments;
• agreements;
• health and safety issues;
• matters related to social activities;
• the layout and configuration of the premises;
• the draft rules of procedure;
• any other matter referred to it by the Assembly of the Collège de France or by the Chairman of the Collège de France.

The International Committee for Scientific and Strategic Guidance (COSS) of the Collège de France

In 2003, the Collège de France established the International Committee for Scientific and Strategic Guidance (COSS).

The COSS is composed of twelve prominent foreign scientists, selected by the Collège de France Assembly. The chair and vice-chair of the COSS are appointed by the Chairman of the Collège de France. The secretary is appointed by the members of the COSS.

The role of the COSS is “to analyze the scientific and strategic orientations of the Collège de France and the conditions under which these missions are carried out, in order to propose recommendations for their development or enhancement.” The COSS must also examine the coherence of the institution’s strategy, the significance and utilization of the multidisciplinary nature of the chairs, international policy, the adequacy of research resources in relation to established objectives, and the optimization of administrative structures. The COSS is not intended to examine the scientific activities of each chair individually, as these are already evaluated separately by the relevant bodies.”

COSS members are appointed for a four-year term. Half of the COSS membership is renewed every two years.

The Social Administration Committee (CSA)

Effective January 1^st, 2023, the Social Administration Committee (CSA) will serve as the forum for social dialogue. The Collège de France’s CSA comprises the Chairman of the Collège de France or his or her representative, the official with authority over human resources management, and staff representatives. There are seven regular staff representatives and seven alternates. Generally speaking, the CSA is consulted on matters relating to the operation and organization of departments, as well as management guidelines concerning the multi-year human resources strategy, mobility, promotion, and the advancement of career paths.

A specialized working group on health, safety, and working conditions has been established within the Social Administration Committee. Generally speaking, it is responsible for examining all issues related to the protection of physical and mental health, hygiene, employee safety in the workplace, work organization, telework, challenges related to disconnecting from work and measures to regulate the use of digital tools, the improvement of working conditions, and the relevant legal requirements.

The Joint Institutional Committee (CPE)

The Joint Establishment Committee (CPE) plays an important role within the civil service’s consultation framework. The CPE is a joint consultative body composed of representatives of BIATSS staff and representatives of the administration. It is consulted on adverse individual matters related to hiring and proposals to deny permanent appointment, secondment, leave of absence, and transfer.

The Joint Consultative Committee for Non-Tenured Staff

The Joint Consultative Committee for Non-Tenured Staff has jurisdiction over all public-law contract employees (including doctoral students on contract) working within the scope of the Collège de France’s missions. It is a joint body comprising representatives of the administration and the staff.

Other Commissions and Committees

On specific topics and areas of activity, other committees and commissions prepare the assembly’s decisions regarding working conditions and participate in the social dialogue within the Collège de France.