| A leave of absence may be granted for academic/professional reasons (academic leave) or personal reasons (personal leave). A leave of absence releases a faculty member from on-campus teaching and service responsibilities for a specified period. Academic leave is granted to facilitate scholarship or faculty development. Scholarship may include development of original works or creative activities. Faculty development activities include preparing grant proposals, developing expertise in a new field, and accepting visiting positions at other institutions. A faculty member may be granted a personal leave of absence of fixed duration for reasons such as childbearing, child rearing, personal or family emergencies, required military service, or illness. Conditions and procedures pertaining to faculty leaves of absence can be found in the University Faculty Handbook. Prior to taking an academic or personal leave of absence, tenure-eligible faculty members may petition in writing that the leave time not count toward tenure. This request may be made whether the leave is requested for professional growth and intellectual achievement, public or private service outside the University, or personal reasons such as childbearing, child rearing, or illness. The University will determine whether the leave time counts toward tenure. | |
