Administration & Governance - Faculty Affairs - Faculty Sabbatical Leave Process
Purpose:
To enable faculty members to engage in intensive study in order to become more effective teachers and scholars and to enhance their services to the University. Sabbatical leave may be granted for the purpose of enhancing teaching, course and curriculum development, or conducting research or any other scholarly activities related to instructional programs within the field of expertise of the faculty member. <Link to campus policy and application>
Eligibility (campus policy)
The faculty member must have completed six or more years of full-time instructional service, or the equivalent, at the University of Wisconsin (excluding leaves of absence, regardless of funding source), and not have taken a sabbatical in the UW System during those six years.
Preference shall be given to those making significant contributions to teaching and those who have not had a leave of absence, regardless of funding source, during the prior four years.
Sabbatical Support
- The school will provide financial support of 65% salary for full-year faculty sabbatical.
- A single semester sabbatical is available with the following provisions:
- One of two required courses must be absorbed by the department (e.g. another faculty member, double up enrollment or curricular flexibility),
- The SoHE will provide one course financial support if needed, and
- Only one single-semester sabbatical per department per year will be approved so as not to affect course offerings.
Sabbatical Expectations
We respect time reserved for sabbatical leave for sabbatical projects; however, from time to time, we may seek advice, input, and engagement for certain critical department or school functions.
- We expect those on sabbatical leave remain connected to the School’s activities to the extent possible via online communications. It’s the individual’s responsibility to keep up with the critical departmental/school decisions and graduate student oversight.
- Sabbatical report must be filed with the Dean’s office in addition to the campus expectation.
Criteria
- One faculty member per department may be on sabbatical leave during any given academic year (exceptions must be discussed with the Dean)
- Negotiations for timing should take place in advance to minimize the impact on the department.
- Preferences should be given to those who exceeded the eligibility time frame, and those whose contributions to teaching programs will be greater.
- Priority will be given to those who are requesting the full year of sabbatical (given that teaching can be covered with salary savings).
Process
- Each January the Dean’s office will provide the Chairs a list of all faculty eligible for sabbatical leave. Interested faculty must share their intention for sabbatical application with the chair no later than February 15th. The Chair reviews the sabbatical requests and seeks departmental input on impacts to department teaching resources and committee service responsibilities.
- Upon initial departmental approval, candidates may assemble the formal online application in consultation with the Chair regarding the goals and scope of the proposal, including the intent to be available for communications and availability for urgent student and/or department/school matters.
- All applications are submitted to the department executive faculty for recommendation to the Dean and Associate Dean no later than April 30th
- All approved sabbatical applications with Dean’s recommendation are forwarded to SoHE September Executive Faculty Committee meeting for final approval.