168.1 Sabbatical Leaves

168.1 Sabbatical Leaves

A. Background

Furman supports sabbatical leaves as a means to improve the quality of education to the University . Therefore, sabbaticals are to be designed to contribute to the professional resources and effectiveness of the faculty member and thus to enhance the value of his or her subsequent services to the University.

B. Policy

Any full-time faculty member who has taught at Furman for six (6) consecutive years (See File 165.5, C.5.) and is on tenure shall be eligible for sabbatical leave during his or her seventh year and remains eligible until a sabbatical is approved and taken. Each six (6) years of teaching subsequent to a sabbatical makes the faculty member eligible for an additional sabbatical. Sabbatical leaves will be approved on the basis of (1) the academic merit of the proposed program, and (2) the availability of University resources to allow the faculty member to be away without jeopardizing the academic program.

C. Guidelines

1. A person eligible for sabbatical leave must make application through the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean on forms provided by the Research and Professional Growth Committee . The application shall be accompanied by a project outline describing how the leave will be used to contribute to the applicant's professional growth. The application must be approved by the Research and Professional Growth Committee, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, and the President. The Research and Professional Growth Committee, with advice from the department, evaluates the academic merit of a sabbatical proposal and makes its recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean; the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean approves or disapproves the proposal in light of resources allocated to the academic program.

2. Except under extraordinary circumstances no faculty member within three (3) years of retirement shall be eligible for sabbatical leave.

3. The eligible member may elect to take a sabbatical leave of one half an academic year at full salary or a full academic year at half salary , provided such a leave can be arranged without detriment to the work of the department. Under the three term system a faculty member may receive a full salary for one of the twelve-week terms plus the eight-week term if he or she teaches three (3) courses the other twelve-week term, or may be on leave at half salary during all three (3) terms of session.

4. While the faculty member is on sabbatical leave, the University continues full payment on benefits.

5. It is presumed that faculty member on sabbatical leave will not be on salary for services in another institution or organization. This restriction does not apply to fellowships or grants-in-aid which, after due allowance for unusual expenses, adjusted costs of living, travel, and the like, do not increase the recipient's total income above his or her contract salary at the University. In unusual situations adjustments are made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean and the recipient on the merits of the individual case.

6. Acceptance of a sabbatical leave includes an agreement that the faculty member return to Furman University for at least two (2) years following the sabbatical. If resignation occurs during the two-year period, the faculty member may be liable for the cost of his sabbatical pro-rated according to the period of his time remaining in the two-year obligation. Death, disability, or dismissal for cause of the faculty member removes this liability.

7. In general, the sabbatical leave may be used in any activity serving the purpose of the program and may emphasize research and writing, travel with a definite purpose, or service in the government or business. Use of sabbatical leave for the restoration of health or threatened breakdown may be approved in unusual cases.

8. Teaching courses (which are normally offered by the applicant) in an American college or university does not ordinarily meet the concept of constructive use of the sabbatical, but the Research and Professional Growth Committee may approve such teaching up to one half of a full sabbatical year in those cases judged to promote the academic growth of the faculty member.

9. A written report will be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean and the Research and Professional Growth Committee within three (3) months of the faculty member's return to the University. The form and length of these reports are established by the Research and Professional Growth Committee.

10. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean includes an evaluation of the program in his annual report on the faculty to the Board of Trustees.

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