Sabbatical Procedures

School of Visual and Performing Arts
Sabbatical Application Procedures

Table of Contents

Criteria for the Sabbatical
Eligibility and Other Policies
Submission of the application
Application Process

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I. Criteria for the Sabbatical

In order for the faculty to carry out adequately the university's mission of teaching, research, and service, ample opportunities for professional development and growth must be made available to them. The sabbatical leave program is one significant way in which the university provides time to faculty members to pursue their endeavors intensively, unencumbered by normal responsibilities.

While a sabbatical leave is meant to afford faculty members the means to grow professionally and intellectually, it is also an investment by the university in its own future. A sabbatical leave is granted with the clear expectation that it will better enable the faculty member to contribute to the mission of the university. An application for sabbatical leave should be approved unless the university is persuaded that it will not achieve this purpose.

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II. Eligibility and Other Policies

Eligibility requirements and other sabbatical policies vary for Purdue University and Indiana University faculty members. For Purdue policies, see Executive Memorandum No. B-11 (1984) or successor. For Indiana policies, see the IU Faculty Handbook, p. 70 or successor.

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III. Submission of the application

All applications for sabbatical leave shall be forwarded to the chair of the candidate's department by the stipulated date. This date will be three weeks prior to the date stipulated by the Office of the Vice-chancellor of Academic Affairs.

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IV. Application Process

A. The Department Chair

The department chair will review the application and attach a letter to the application either recommending or not recommending the application. In a case where the candidate is the department chair, the dean will attach a letter to the application either recommending or not recommending the application. Within 4 working days of receipt of the application by the chair, the application will be forwarded to the College of Visual and Performing Arts Promotion and Tenure Committee and a copy of the chair's (or dean's) recommendation will be sent to the candidate.

B. The School Promotion and Tenure Committee

The School Promotion and Tenure Committee shall evaluate all applications for sabbatical at the school level. The School Committee shall conduct an open ballot on each sabbatical application. A simple majority of the ballots cast shall constitute a positive recommendation by the committee. The chair of the committee shall record the results of the balloting and the recommendation and append them to the application. A written summary supporting the vote shall be drafted and approved by the voting members of the committee. Within 4 working days after the close of the committee business, the recommendations and summary of the committee must be forwarded to the candidate, the department chair, and with the application to the Dean. It is in the best interests of the university and the faculty that full and frank discussion occur during the deliberations the committee. Therefore, the confidentiality of remarks made at such meetings should be carefully preserved.

C. The Dean

The dean will review the application and attach a letter to the application either recommending or not recommending the application. Within 4 working days of receipt of the application by the dean, the application will be forwarded to the IPFW Professional Development Subcommittee and a copy of the dean's recommendation will be sent to the candidate and the department chair.

D. The IPFW Professional Development Subcommittee

The IPFW Professional Development Subcommittee shall act on all sabbatical applications according to its own procedures and policies.