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PROFESSIONAL LEAVE REQUEST PROCEDURE
(SABBATICAL AND DIFFERENCE-IN-PAY)

This appendix is based upon current applicable CSU policy and upon Articles 27 and 28 of the Unit 3 Collective Bargaining Agreement. It concerns only paid professional leaves for faculty, librarians and counselors: sabbatical and difference-in-pay. Eligibility for such leaves is defined in Sections 27.2 and 28.4 of the faculty contract. Please see the appropriate sections of the University Manual and Article 22 of the Unit 3 Collective Bargaining Agreement for information on professional leaves of absence without pay.

I. Requests for Leave

Eligible persons desiring a leave of absence with pay shall submit a request in accordance with the schedule in Part III below. The request must be submitted on the official University form (Appendix 26A) during the Fall Quarter of the academic year preceding that in which the person wishes to take a leave. The original and 9 copies of the request shall be forwarded via the dean/director to Academic Affairs. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will make available copies of successful proposals from the previous three years.

II. Professional Leave Committee

The Vice President for Academic Affairs will direct the administrative activities connected with sabbatical and difference-in-pay leaves. The Professional Leave Committee is composed of one representative from each of the academic schools, colleges, and the library. Election to the Professional Leave Committee will be for two years with approximately half of the committee elected each year. In addition, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will designate a representative from Academic Affairs to participate as a non-voting member. Those eligible for election to the committee are tenured faculty unit employees who have taken professional leaves in the last three years. Eligible faculty unit employees may nominate themselves or may be nominated by any other faculty unit employee. If an area were not to have candidates who are eligible, candidates from the affected area who are tenured faculty unit employees may be nominated. If there are no nominations from an area, the Steering Committee will nominate three eligible candidates.

The election will be conducted during Spring Quarter with the newly elected members assuming their responsibilities in the Fall. The candidate with the second highest vote will become the alternate and will replace the committee member from that constituency should resignation occur. Those persons eligible to vote are probationary and tenured faculty and librarians of the respective constituency.

The Professional Leave Committee is responsible for judging the merits of all applications for sabbatical and difference-in-pay leaves on the basis of the following criteria: professional benefits to the applicant and University; merits of the proposal; qualifications of the applicant; and quality of expected outcomes. The Committee's review will be based upon an evaluation of the written request and an interview of the candidate.

The Professional Leave Committee forwards to the Vice President for Academic Affairs a ranked list of faculty and librarians whom it recommends be granted paid leaves.

The Professional Leave Committee will reconvene when final reports are due, to approve or disapprove the reports from faculty returning after leave.

III. Request Schedule

    1. Applicants will submit their requests to the Dean/Director by the first campus business day in November. Each request must be accompanied by a letter of evaluation from the applicant's department chair. Department chairs should work to coordinate requests for professional leaves so that the number of leaves subsequently awarded will minimize adverse consequences on curriculum and resources.

    2. The Dean/Director will forward the request to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within one week after the first business day in November. Each request must be accompanied by a letter of evaluation from the applicant's Dean/Director.

    3. The Professional Leave Committee will interview candidates according to a schedule set by the Committee. (Applicants will be notified of their interview date.)

    4. The Professional Leave Committee will send its recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs by December 15.

    5. The Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the candidates of the decisions by February 1.

    6. Candidates whose requests are denied may submit a written request for reconsideration to the Vice President for Academic Affairs by March 1. The Vice President for Academic Affairs shall respond to the request for reconsideration by April 1.

Note: An official schedule consistent with A-F will be established by the Office of Academic Affairs early Fall Quarter of each year.

IV. Acceptance of Leave

Faculty granted a professional leave with pay must submit a formal acceptance on the official University form (Appendix 26B). Acceptance of a leave with pay is subject to the conditions and agreements specific in Appendix 26B.