Faculty Sabbatical Leave - PPM 3-25

No. 3-25 Rev. 05-08-07 Date 2-15-78

I. POLICY
A sabbatical leave shall be interpreted to mean a leave of absence with compensation for one semester or two semesters as approved by the Board of Trustees for purposes of study, research or other pursuit, the objectives of which are the professional improvement and advancement of faculty members as well as an increase in their usefulness to the institution.
A one-course reduction in a tenure-track faculty member's contracted workload for one semester is available for the purpose of promoting scholarly activity before tenure is granted (See Section VI).


V. PROCEDURE FOR FACULTY SABBATICAL
A. Applications for sabbatical leaves shall describe in detail the purpose for which the leave is requested and the manner in which it is expected to improve the applicant's ability to discharge obligations to the University.

B. Applications for sabbatical leaves should be submitted to the appropriate department by December 1 of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the sabbatical leave is to occur. The department chair shall forward the application with a recommendation as to its disposition to the dean of the college. The dean shall review this application, make a recommendation and, in consultation with the provost, determine if the leave ought to be granted. A report and recommendation to this effect shall be submitted to the president and, if the president concurs, to the Board of Trustees for final approval. The applicant will receive notice of the final decision by February 15 of the academic year preceding the academic year in which the sabbatical leave is to occur.

C. Applications by faculty members holding appointments in more than one department or college shall be submitted to and be the subject of a recommendation from each appropriate chair, dean and the provost.

D. Upon the completion of a sabbatical leave, the recipient shall file with the provost, the dean and the department chair a detailed report of activities during the leave and of the extent to which the purposes of the leave were met.

Beginning Fall 2013 each college will report the number of sabbaticals granted for the current semester, the number of faculty returning and the number of sabbatical reports filed from the previous semester to the Salary, Benefits, Budget and Fiscal Planning Committee within 45 days of the beginning of the semester. The report is filed with the Faculty Senate and the individual returning from sabbatical will present their findings at a department and/or college meeting.