West Virginia
University at Parkersburg Board of Governors
POLICY B-03
SABBATICAL LEAVE
1.1 This policy establishes a uniform
sabbatical leave policy for faculty members.
1.2 Authority. – W. Va. Code §18B-7-2
1.3 Effective Date. – April 12, 2002
(Transferred from WVU Board of Governors on July 1, 2008)
Section 2. Purpose
2.1 Sabbatical leave may be granted to a
faculty member so that he/she may engage in research, writing, or other
activity calculated to contribute to professional development and his/her value
to West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Section 3. Eligibility
3.1 Any person holding faculty rank is
eligible for sabbatical leave after completion of at least six years of
full-time employment in a faculty rank.
After completing a sabbatical leave, a faculty member shall not be
eligible for another sabbatical leave until the seventh subsequent year as a
regular member of the faculty. During
this period of time a maximum of two regular semesters in either an authorized
part-time status or an authorized unpaid leave of absence may be counted toward
eligibility for sabbatical leave provided that in the latter instance the leave
of absence was for appropriate professional purposes. Separate summer school
employment shall not be counted toward eligibility for sabbatical leave.
Section 4. Conditions Governing the Granting of Sabbatical Leave
4.1 The awarding of sabbatical leave is
not automatic but shall depend upon the merits of the request and on conditions
prevailing at the college at the time.
Review of leave applications subsequent to an earlier leave will
consider achievement during previous leaves.
Sabbatical leave recommendations will be approved by the president. Each year the president will forward information
on approved sabbatical leaves to the Board of Governors.
4.2 The applicant for a sabbatical leave
will forward the application to the department chair and the dean for review
and endorsement. The review shall
determine whether the leave will further the professional development of the
applicant and whether it is in the best interest of the unit, taking into
account the prevailing fiscal circumstances.
A fully-approved application will be forwarded to the president for
final approval after determining that equitable procedures and standards have
been observed.
Section 5. Compensation
5.1 A faculty member on sabbatical leave
shall receive full salary for no more than one-half of the nine-month or
twelve-month contract period or half-salary for no more than the full
nine-month or twelve-month contract period.
The maximum compensation will not exceed one-half of the annual salary
regardless of the length of the sabbatical leave.
Section 6. Obligations of the Faculty Member
6.1 An applicant for sabbatical leave
shall submit in writing a detailed plan of the activity that he/she proposes to
follow. The plan, as approved, will
represent the faculty member’s assignment during the sabbatical leave period. The approved plan shall not be modified
without the written consent of the president.
6.2 In accepting a sabbatical leave, a
faculty member shall sign a statement indicating that he/she is aware of and
agrees to all conditions of the leave as specified therein.
6.3 While on sabbatical leave, a faculty
member may not accept remunerative employment without the written consent of
the president. Fellowships, grants,
assistantships and similar stipends shall not be considered remunerative
employment.
6.4 Upon completion of a sabbatical leave,
a faculty member shall file with the president a written report of his/her
scholarly activities while on leave.
6.5 A faculty member is obligated to
return for a full contract year of service upon completion of the leave. Failure to return will obligate the faculty
member to reimburse in full the institution for salary and benefits received
during the period of leave.
Section 7. Obligations of the Institution
7.1 A faculty member’s institutional
position, status, and rank shall not be adversely affected solely by his/her
assignment while on sabbatical leave.