Faculty Sabbaticals
Sabbaticals
University of Utah Policy & Procedures Manual
Eligibility
- For the purpose of faculty sabbatical leaves, the following definitions apply:
- "Annual base salary" means the total compensation approved in advance as the amount payable to a faculty member for normal and expected working time and effort, not in excess of 100% of full-time, for all services to be performed under all assignments during the appointment period. This term does not include compensation for separate assignments during nonworking intervals, approved overload assignments in the Division of Continuing Education, additional compensation for occasional services or payments made pursuant to authorized consulting or professional service contracts. See Policy and Procedures 2-67, Additional Compensation and Overload Policy.
- "Appointment date" means the effective date of appointment of an individual to a tenured or a tenure-producing faculty position.
- "Academic service" means the cumulative time during which a faculty member has been engaged in the performance of services to the university, pursuant to that person's faculty appointment since the appointment date or, if the faculty member has had one or more previous sabbatical leaves, since the completion of the most recent sabbatical leave granted by the university.
- The basic eligibility criterion for a faculty sabbatical leave is six years of academic service in a tenured or tenure-producing faculty position at the University of Utah.
- A previous leave of absence other than a regular sabbatical leave may, in the discretion of the university, be considered as a factor relevant to a decision to grant or deny a request for a faculty sabbatical leave.
- Upon recommendation of the president, the Board of Trustees may waive the basic eligibility criterion when in its judgment unusual conditions exist which justify granting a requested faculty sabbatical leave.
A faculty member must have been on the staff of the University of the Utah for at least six years before permission will be considered for a sabbatical leave.
Process
- Sabbatical requests are initiated by the faculty member.
- Leaves should be initiated at least three months in advance.
- A letter is written to the department chair describing the purpose of the leave, the manner in which it is expected to improve the applicant's ability to function in current job, the time frame and financial details.
- The chairperson of the department shall forward the application with a recommendation as to its disposition to the Faculty Administration Office.
- Eligibility requirements are checked and, if in order, the director forwards to the associate dean for financial affairs and the dean for their approval.
- The request is then forwarded to the vice president for health sciences office.
- Following approval of the vice president, the request is returned to the department
Funding for sabbatical leaves from the School of Medicine is negotiable. However, the usual policy of the University of Utah regarding funding of faculty members for sabbatical leaves is as follows:
| Duration of Leave | Percentage Paid by University |
|---|---|
| One teaching session |
100% |
| One teaching semester |
95% |
| + one additional session (3 sessions) | 85% |
| Two teaching semesters |
80% |
These percentages are the maximum percentages paid and are based on the total base salary paid through payroll. For additional information on sabbatical leaves, refer to University P. & P. 8-8 Chapter VIII.
Limitation on Sabbatical Compensation
- If the recipient of the sabbatical leave obtains a foundation grant or other compensation from non-university sources for the period of the leave, the university shall not be obligated to pay more than that amount of sabbatical compensation which, when added to the non-university compensation, will equal 110 percent of the individual's annual base salary for the period of leave. If an allowance for transportation and/or cost-of living differential is included in the outside compensation, the amount of this allowance will be disregarded in computing the sabbatical compensation to be paid by the university.
- A faculty member who is on sabbatical leave of absence, whether in residence or away from the campus, may not, as an employee, provide any services to the university for which compensation is paid in excess of the approved sabbatical compensation.
