Sabbatical Policy Statement
SUNY Policies provide for sabbatical leaves for the professional development of faculty and professional staff (Article XIII, Title E, Policies of the Board of Trustees). These policies are reaffirmed in the applicable Agreement between the State of New York and the United University Professions, Inc. (Article 23.6, 1995-1999 Agreement). Copies of both these documents are incorporated into this Policy Statement as appendices.
To assist course scheduling, professional scheduling, and other academic planning objectives, it is in the University's interest to establish institutional procedures for the application, review, and approval of individual requests for sabbatical leaves within the broad parameters established by SUNY Policies and the applicable Agreement. This Policy Statement sets forth those institutional procedures for the University at Albany.
Eligible employees may apply to the Campus President for sabbatical leave through their applicable Department Chair, Dean, and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
2. To
assist planning for both faculty members and
the institution, applicants are strongly encouraged
to submit proposals for sabbatical leaves
to their immediate supervisor (typically the
Department Chair or in some cases the Dean)
as far in advance as possible, and in any
event not later than October 1st (to the
Dean's office), for proposed leaves in the
following academic year. As a result of the
review and approval process, proposals initiated
after October 1st will be less likely to
be approved unless they relate to an unanticipated
contingency – e.g., an unexpected prestigious
fellowship, an unusual research result that
requires more immediate follow-up.
3. A
complete application for sabbatical leave
consists of the following: (a) a sabbatical
leave request form (HRM-3); (b) a one or two-page
statement of the activities to be conducted
during the leave period, including a description
of the outcomes of the proposed activities
as well as their importance to the University's
educational program and the applicant's professional
development; (c) a statement identifying any
proposed income other than salary from the
campus while on leave; (d) a statement acknowledging
an obligation to return to the University
at Albany for a minimum of one year at the
conclusion of the leave; (e) a copy of the
applicant's current curriculum vitae; and
(f) where applicable, a copy of the report
following the applicant's last sabbatical
leave and/or other statements describing the
value of the last leave. Supporting materials
– e.g., copies of invitations from host institutions
for a period of residency, other letters of
support – may also be attached as appendices. Incomplete applications will be returned
to the applicant.
4. Applications
will be reviewed by the applicant's immediate
supervisor, who will provide a written statement
recommending or not recommending the proposed
leave. The immediate supervisor (normally
a Department Chair or Dean) may ask for additional
information and/or consult with others in
evaluating the request. The immediate supervisor's
recommendation must address the impact of
the leave on the applicant's department or
program – i.e., describe how the leave will
benefit the institution. It will normally
be expected that one-semester leaves will
be recommended on a load absorbed basis.
5. Applications
will subsequently be submitted for review
and endorsement to the applicant's Dean or
the Provost for Rockefeller College as appropriate.
All applications will subsequently be sent
to the Provost and Vice President for Academic
Affairs, who will forward the application
with his/her recommendation to the President.
If the Dean and/or the Provost decline to
endorse the proposal, the application form
and supporting materials will also be forwarded
to the President with a statement indicating
the reasons for not recommending the leave;
in such cases, a copy of the Dean and/or Provost's
statement will be transmitted to the applicant.
6. The
President will send the applicant a written
notification of approval or disapproval of
the sabbatical leave request. Normally notification
will be provided by December 1st.
7. Changes in approved sabbatical
leave plans must be promptly communicated
to the Provost through the applicable Department
Chair and Dean.
8. As required by Trustees Policies, the faculty member must submit an activity report as soon as possible following the leave, and no later than the end of the first full semester after return from the leave.
Appendix I: Article XIII, Title E., Sabbatical Leave, Policies of the Board of Trustees. This document can be found at:
http://www.suny.edu/Board_of_Trustees/PDF/ policies.pdf
(see page 31 in the hardcopy and page 45 in the PDF file)
Appendix II: Article 23.6, Sabbatical Leave, 2003-2007Agreement between the State of New York and United University Professions. This document can be found at:
http://www.goer.state.ny.us/cna/current/uuppsnu/ 08art23.html
NOTE:
- Any break in service (such as, leave without pay, leave with partial pay) results in a change in eligibility for a sabbatical.
- College of Arts and Sciences leave requests, including sabbaticals are due to the Dean's Office with the Department Chair recommendations, leave plans and current CV by October 1 st of the year prior to the leave.
