Academic Affairs

Sabbatical Leave of Absence

The granting of sabbatical leaves of absence is intended for the mutual benefit of the University and the person granted such a leave. Sabbatical leaves may be granted to faculty members in order to provide a period of creative activity for the purpose of furthering professional competence. The granting of such leave will in no case be automatic, and each request for sabbatical leave will be judged on its own merits.

The University Sabbatical Leave Committee requires that formal applications be submitted by February 1. The president will subsequently provide written notification of their decision by April 1.

For more information on sabbatical leaves of absence refer to the:

Sabbatical Leave Committee

The Sabbatical Leave Committee is defined in section 11 of Senate Procedure 706.1.1, Sabbatical Leave Procedures.

Procedure

A faculty member must prepare a sabbatical leave proposal in order to be considered for a sabbatical leave of absence. Documents required include:

  • Sabbatical Leave Application;
  • Supporting documentation, e.g., description of proposed activities to be conducted while on sabbatical;
  • Most recent sabbatical report, if applicable;
  • Summary of scholarly activities and related past grant work;
  • Most recent vita focusing on the accomplishments during the last six years;
  • Other documentation as needed, e.g., conflict of interest statement;
  • Sabbatical Leave Supervisor Recommendation Form.

Sabbatical proposals must include a clear work plan (activities, places, and dates). Letters of support from partnering organizations should also be included with your proposal. The original sabbatical leave proposal with signatures and an electronic copy should be sent to the Sabbatical Leave Committee chair prior to the February 1 deadline (for upcoming academic year sabbatical requests).

Overview & Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITY

ACTION

Faculty member (applicant)

Sends to the their immediate supervisor a written statement of intent to submit a proposal for sabbatical leave. The applicant writes a sabbatical leave proposal which must include a clear work plan (activities, places, and dates), letters of support from partnering organizations, and the Sabbatical Leave Application. The applicant presents the sabbatical leave application and proposal to the applicant's immediate supervisor (e.g., department chair, division director, or dean).
 

Immediate supervisor (department chair, division director, or dean)

Writes a recommendation, with advice from the faculty as described in the charter of the department; forwards the electronic proposal (even if recommendation is negative) as one document to the chair of the University Sabbatical Leave Committee; sends a copy of the proposal and recommendation for informational purposes to the provost and, if applicable, to the dean; sends a copy of the recommendation to the applicant.


 

University Sabbatical Leave Committee

Reviews the proposal. Suggests modifications to the proposal, if appropriate, and the applicant may submit a modified proposal directly to the Committee. Writes a recommendation to the president on all applications for sabbatical leave. Forwards the proposal with the recommendation to the president.


 

President

or their designee

Reviews the proposal and makes a determination. Notifies each applicant as to whether or not the sabbatical leave has been granted. Sends copies of the notification to the immediate supervisor (chair or dean) of the applicant, and to the dean, if applicable. Sends the proposal, recommendations, and notification to Academic Human Resources for deposition in the academic record file of the applicant.

Priority Criteria for Instructional-Track Faculty

As there are limitations on the number of instructional-track-faculty who can be granted sabbatical leave in a year, applications will be prioritized based on the following criteria. Faculty preparing to apply for sabbatical leave should review these criteria and craft their application accordingly. This is a living list of criteria that can be reviewed and updated as needed to address changing institutional priorities and needs.

  • Number of years as instructional-track faculty member at Michigan Tech since last sabbatical (this will be years of service as instructional-track faculty for first several years of offering sabbaticals). Those who have been working the longest without a break/sabbatical should be given some preference in this category.
  • Potential benefit of intended activities during sabbatical leave to students who will be taught in the future. Sabbaticals that will ultimately benefit larger numbers of students should be given some preference in this category.
  • Potential benefit of intended sabbatical activities to the department/program with which the faculty member is most closely associated (including university-wide general education program). Sabbaticals that will lead to changes/improvements across a department, degree program, college, or University should be given some preference here.
  • Potential benefit of sabbatical leave to the faculty member requesting sabbatical. The relative benefit to the person requesting the sabbatical should be considered here; this is an opportunity for professional growth that can benefit the individual throughout the remainder of their career and enhancing the expertise of the faculty at the University is a goal.
  • Potential for dissemination of new skills, tools, and/or approaches to other Michigan Tech faculty upon completion of sabbatical. Sabbaticals that will result in new information being brought back to Michigan Tech and shared with others, so as to benefit those others, should be given some level of preference here.
  • Potential for sabbatical leave to lead to new and or expanded collaborations with colleagues at other sites, whether university/government/industry. Sabbaticals that will result in expanded professional networks for employees should be given some preference in this category.