Under the scientific disciplines, there are a number of faculties—nine in total across the entire university. The faculties oversee various subject areas and, among other things, make decisions regarding the allocation of resources among the faculty’s constituent departments. This assignment also earns you extra points when applying for exchange programs. Meetings are held almost exclusively on Thursdays between 9:15 AM and 12:00 PM. The academic year usually begins with a retreat, and this year the retreat will take place on September 4–5 at an off-campus location. Prior to the meetings, a preliminary meeting is held (on the Monday of the same week as the committee meeting at 9:00 AM) with all student representatives, the committee secretary, and the dean. During the preliminary meeting, which lasts about 30 minutes, the secretary reviews the agenda, and the representatives have the opportunity to ask questions and raise their concerns. This is a good opportunity to raise issues before decisions are made by the committee.