Faculty Sabbatical Policy

Purpose

The sabbatical is one of academia's most important vehicles for the professional renewal and development of regular tenured faculty, with benefits that extend beyond the faculty recipient to peers, students and the institution as a whole. This policy establishes guidelines for University faculty sabbatical processes.

Scope

This policy applies to full-time tenured faculty.

Policy History

I. Effective Date: April 4, 1984

II. Approval: March 18, 2014

III. History:

• Approved in its original form: April 4, 1984
• Approved as amended: January 1988
• Approved as amended: January 1997
• Approved as amended: May 2013
• Approved as amended: March 18, 2014

IV. Maintenance of Policy: Office of the Provost

Definitions

(a) “Sabbatical” is a plan for providing teachers with an opportunity for self-improvement through a leave of absence with full or partial compensation following a designated number of years of consecutive service (originally after six years).

Policy

The University of Dayton does offer sabbaticals, with some financial support from the Provost. Sabbatical leaves at the University are competitively awarded with priority given to proposals that promote faculty growth and offer benefits to the institution and its students.

A sabbatical, per the University of Dayton, consists of the following defining elements:

1.  It has a clearly-defined purpose of providing opportunities for self-improvement for regular tenured faculty;

2.  It is a paid leave;

3.  Determinants of eligibility include length of service;

4.  It stipulates a required return to service of one full year following the sabbatical; and

5.  It requires a peer review process and the filing of a sabbatical report.

Reference Documents

1. University of Dayton Faculty Policy and Governance Handbook: Faculty Sabbatical Process