Faculty Leaves
Faculty, depending on their status (e.g., full-time, part-time, tenured/tenure-track), age, and length of time working at the university, have access to apply for sabbatical, difference in pay, and other leaves for which they are eligible. The following sections provide important information, timelines, and forms for these programs, as well as pre-retirement and retirement options for those who are eligible.
Different Types of Leave
Eligible full-time faculty may apply for Sabbatical Leaves to focus time and energy on sustained area(s) of research, scholarship, or creative activity related to their discipline that will bring benefit to the University, students, and their own professional development. There is an annual application process for submission and review of sabbatical proposals from eligible faculty.
More details about Sabbatical Leave and application form
Eligible full-time faculty may apply for a Difference In Pay (DIP) Leave, which is like a sabbatical, but can be taken with greater frequency. With a similar goal for faculty to focus time and energy on a sustained area of research, scholarship, or creative activity related to their discipline that will bring benefit the University, students, and their own professional development, the DIP provides faculty with monthly pay that is the difference between the faculty’s salary and the minimum salary of the instructor rank. There is an annual application process for submission and review of DIP proposals from eligible faculty.
More details about Difference In Pay Leave and form
Absence Notification and Documentation
Faculty members are responsible for notifying their department/division chair or school director in writing before any planned absence from a scheduled class, office hour, or other scheduled work-related activity, with as much advance notice as possible. Depending on the nature of the leave, the faculty member shall seek approval from the dean and provide written documentation as appropriate. This requirement applies even when coverage for class instruction has been arranged.
Faculty are also expected to notify their department/division chair or school director immediately in case of sickness or other emergency that prevents the faculty member's attendance for classes, meetings, etc.
In the case of any faculty absence of one day or greater, whether planned or for sickness or any other emergency purposes, the department administrator or designee shall submit appropriate documentation for payroll reporting purposes. The faculty member should submit sick leave usage and/or personal holiday usage as appropriate through Absence Management Self-Service, but if faculty are unable to complete this requirement for whatever reason, the department head/chair is responsible for and authorized to submit the leave usage on their behalf. The college dean/equivalent or their designee will serve as the final authority to approve all faculty absences and leave usage within their college/unit.
Faculty members who are contemplating retirement in the near future may find the following information useful in making retirement decisions. The following summarizes two faculty benefit programs that allow faculty to work less than full time, either before or after retirement.