Unless determined otherwise by the University Act of the Rhineland-Palatinate or the university's constitution, the Senate is responsible for handling all issues of fundamental importance to the university as a whole. It fulfills the following duties, among others:
- enacting the constitution and adopting other university statutes
- making decisions on the installation, modification and abolishment of study programs
- making decisions relating to research issues of key significance
- issuing statements relating to recommendations submitted by the faculties on the appointment of professors
- making decisions on central distinctions awarded by the university
- electing the President and Vice Presidents following recommendations by the Board of Governors
- appointing the university's representative for equal opportunities
- deciding on the overall development plan for the university.
Other duties are derived from Paragraph 76 Section 2 of the Rhineland-Palatinate University Act.