The Academic Council of the National University "Odessa Law Academy" is a collegial governing body of the University. It includes the rector of the University, vice-rectors, deans and heads of educational and research institutes; academic secretary; head of the library; chief accountant; representatives of student self-government and primary trade union of students and post-graduates. Besides, the Academic Council of the university includes at least 20 elected representatives among the heads of departments, professors, PhDs, LlDs; at least one representative among the employees of the university; 1 elected representative among post-graduate and doctoral students; at least 7 elected representatives among students.
The Academic Council performs a number of significant functions providing the University with comprehensive support. In particular, the Council determines the strategy and perspective directions for the development of University's educational, scientific and innovative programs; develops and submits a draft of the University Articles of Association, makes decision on amendments and additions; adopts the financial plan and annual financial report of the University; determines the system and approves the procedures for ensuring the quality of higher education; upon the recommendation of the Rector makes a decision on the creation, reorganization and liquidation of the structural units; selects deans, directors of institutes, heads of departments, professors and associate professors, director of the library, heads of university structural units; approves educational programs and curricula; accepts the main directions of research and innovation; confers academic titles of Professor, Associate Professor and Senior Research Assistant and submits appropriate decisions for the certification board in the field of education and science, and also fulfills other important functions stipulated by the Article on the Academic Council of the National University “Odessa Law Academy”.
On June 18, 2016, in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Higher Education” dated July 1, 2014, the conference of the personnel of the National University “Odessa Law Academy” elected new academic board of the University, approved by order of the rector No. 22-98 of June 21, 2016 . At the first meeting of the Academic Council, the President of the University, Doctor of Law, Professor, Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine, Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Member of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine Sergey Kivalov was unanimously elected Chairman.
Doctor of Law, Professor, Honoured Lawyer of Ukraine Valentina Dudchenko, has been Scientific Secretary of the Academic Council of the University since 1998.
Over the years, the Academic Council has established itself as an authoritative body that deals with most issues of the University’s life and makes a significant contribution to the development of education and science in our region.