A.    Sabbatical leave is an opportunity offered to qualified faculty to engage in scholarly and creative activities that will enhance their capacity to contribute to the university. Sabbatical leave is not a faculty benefit, but rather a program for professional development and creativity that benefits the entire educational enterprise and is granted by the institution in consideration thereof.

A.    Eligibility

1.      UVU's sabbatical program is available to all tenured faculty members with current full-time appointments to UVU.

2.      The basic eligibility criteria are tenure and six (6) years of academic service in a full-time faculty position at Utah Valley University.

3.      A previous sabbatical leave may, at the discretion of the vice president for Academic Affairs, be considered as a relevant factor in granting or denying a request for a sabbatical leave.

4.      Sabbatical leaves are subject to availability of funds and suitable instructional replacements.

5.      Upon recommendation of the department chair, the dean and the vice president for Academic Affairs, the president may waive the basic eligibility criteria when, in their judgment, unusual conditions exist which justify granting a sabbatical leave.

6.      Sabbatical leaves are approved by the Board of Trustees.

7.      Applying for a sabbatical leave is a competitive process, since sabbatical funding is limited.

B.     Length of Sabbatical Leave

1.      In or after the sixth year of academic service, faculty members may apply for one or two semesters of sabbatical leave for the following academic year. A minimum of six (6) years should elapse between sabbatical leaves regardless of the length of the leave unless extraordinary circumstances are deemed to exist by the Department Chair, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

C.     Employment Status While on Sabbatical Leave

1.      While on sabbatical leave, faculty members may be eligible for all general or special adjustments in salary for which they would otherwise qualify.

2.      Sabbatical recipients retain UVU benefits.

3.      While on sabbatical leave, a faculty member may not provide any service to UVU for additional compensation.

D.    Compensation Standards

1.      The college, school and department will work together to fund the sabbatical leave and the costs of instructional replacement during the absence of the faculty member.

2.      For a one-semester leave, the recipient shall be compensated 100 percent of their annual base salary, prorated for one semester.

3.      For a two-semester leave, the recipient shall be compensated 80 percent of their annual base salary.

4.      Additional compensation for travel and cost of living away from UVU may be requested by the applicant and taken into consideration by the department chair, dean and vice president for Academic Affairs.

5.      A faculty member on sabbatical leave may accept a fellowship, assistantship, research grant or similar employment, provided his/her UVU compensation and sabbatical plan are approved by the dean, the vice president for Academic Affairs, the president and the Board of Trustees.

6.      A faculty member may also receive an allowance from non-UVU sources for transportation, housing and/or cost-of-living differentials, etc. Such allowances shall not affect the computation of the UVU compensation.

E.     Reporting Requirements

1.      Upon the conclusion of a sabbatical leave, the recipient shall file a report of his/her activities during the leave, including a summary of the benefit resulting from the leave. This report will be distributed to the department chair, dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Outcomes may include, but not necessarily be limited to:

a.       creative works,

b.      shows, exhibits,

c.       articles,

d.      books, or

e.       under previously negotiated circumstances, a degree or progress toward a degree.

F.      Obligations to return from a Sabbatical Leave

1.      The recipient of a sabbatical leave must return to service at UVU for a period of time equal to the length of the leave. If he/she does not return, or returns for a shorter period of service than required, UVU will be entitled to a proportionate refund of the compensation paid during the leave. An agreement will be signed by a faculty member that states if they do not return, or return for a shorter period of service they are aware they are subject to payment of refund, attorney fees, or fees for collection efforts.

1. During or after the sixth year of service, faculty may send a request for a sabbatical leave to their department chair by November 15 for sabbaticals beginning the following fall semester or by April 1 for sabbaticals beginning the following spring semester. Applications shall include the purpose of the leave, a detailed description of the activities during the leave and proposed outcomes. Faculty will be notified within ten (10) business days of the decision of the Board of Trustees according to the dates in the table at the end of this document. In cases of denial, candidates will be informed of the reasons for the denial, so they may better prepare future applications.
   
   

   SUMMARY OF DATES FOR SABBATICAL LEAVE REQUESTS
   

                                                      APPLICATION DUE DATE FOR FALL SEMESTER

   Date	Request is sent to:
   Nov. 15	Dept. Chair
   Dec. 1	Dean
   Dec. 15	VPAA
   Jan. 15	President
   Feb.	Board of Trustees

                                            

                                                      APPLICATION DUE DATE FOR SPRING SEMESTER

   Date	Request is sent to:
   Apr. 1	Dept. Chair
   Apr. 15	Dean
   May 1	VPAA
   May 20	President
   June	Board of Trustees