A sabbatical leave of absence is an opportunity for the intellectual growth of a faculty member who has completed a minimum of six (6) consecutive years of full-time service to be attained by study, travel, research, creative activity, or other useful service which, in the opinion of the Sabbatical Leave Committee, the President, and the Board of Trustees of Danville Area Community College, constitutes a full-time commitment, will enhance the service of the faculty member, and will benefit the College and the students of the district.

A blank Sabbatical Leave Agreement is set forth in the Appendices.

SABBATICAL LEAVE PROPOSAL PROCEDURE -- FULL-TIME FACULTY

Purpose

A sabbatical leave of absence is an opportunity for the intellectual growth of a faculty member who has completed a minimum of six (6) consecutive years of full-time service to be attained by study, travel, research, creative activity, or other useful service which, in the opinion of the Sabbatical Leave Committee, the President, and the Board of Trustees of Danville Area Community College, constitutes a full-time commitment, will enhance the service of the faculty member, and will benefit the College and the students of the district.

1.Sabbatical Leave Proposal

a. The sabbatical leave proposal submitted by the faculty member shall provide the Sabbatical Leave Committee with a specific purpose and objective of the educational program/activities which will be engaged in during the period of absence. As a minimum, the candidate shall include the following in the proposal:

1. A specific purpose and objective of the sabbatical.

2. Specific activities during the sabbatical (for instance, location, coursework, related activities, supervisor, time frames, statements of approval/acceptance/matriculation, previous study or related activities which shall contribute to the outcome of this sabbatical, recommendations, dissertations/thesis topic, resumé, etc.).

3. Perceived application of the activities of the sabbatical to the recipient's assignment upon return from leave.

b. The proposal should include why the stated plan and activities cannot be carried out without the requested leave.

c. The proposal shall describe any and all possibilities of remuneration from sources outside the College.

d. The candidate shall express an understanding that any sabbatical leave shall be subject to the terms and conditions specified in the Sabbatical Leave Agreement.

2.Assessment by the Sabbatical Leave Committee

a. Each proposal will be assessed by the Sabbatical Leave Committee, consisting of the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services, Director of Personnel, Dean of Career and Technical Education or other individual designated by the Vice President for Instruction and Student Services, the President of the Education Association, and two faculty members chosen by the EA President on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Retraining or upgrading of the knowledge and skills of the faculty member whose program/service is declining in enrollment or which may be targeted for consolidation or elimination.

2. Broadening the knowledge and skills of the faculty member to prepare him/her to teach new offerings of the College or to qualify him/her to teach in other disciplines/programs.

3. Other projects which evidence substantial potential benefit to the professional development of the individual, which would make him/her more valuable to the College.

4. Clearly delineates the specific activities that the faculty member will complete during the sabbatical leave.

b. The Sabbatical Leave Committee will rate each proposal on a scale of one (low) to five (high) and will provide evaluative comments. The employee sabbatical proposal must obtain a score of twenty-four (24) points of a possible thirty (30) total points, or the equivalent percentage if the total is more or less than (30) points, to be presented to the Board of Trustees.

3.Review Process and Timetable

a. Proposals must be submitted to the Sabbatical Leave Committee Chairperson (Vice President for Instruction and Student Services) by February 1 of the year preceding the academic year during which the leave will be taken, with a copy to the applicant's Division Chairperson.

b. The Sabbatical Leave Committee will review and evaluate those proposals received by the stated deadline in 3-a of these procedures. The evaluation will be based on the evaluative criteria described in 2-a and 2-b of these procedures. The Committee will rank the proposals in priority order and make their recommendations to the College President by March 1 of the year preceding the sabbatical leave.

c. The College President will review the recommendations and supportive materials presented by the Sabbatical Leave Committee. After careful consideration of all materials, the College President will make a presentation to the Board of Trustees at the Board's regular March meeting.

d. The Board of Trustees will consider the College President's presentation for approval at the regularly scheduled March meeting, or later if all information is not available by the March meeting.

e. Those sabbatical leave proposals not approved will not carry over into the following year or subsequent years. New proposals must be submitted annually from any faculty members desiring consideration.

f. Any faculty member failing to use a Board-approved sabbatical leave will not be eligible to apply for another sabbatical for four years. The only exception shall be for verified medical reasons or for the convenience of the College.

A faculty member granted a sabbatical leave must comply with the specific terms and conditions that are detailed in the Sabbatical Leave Agreement. Failure to fulfill any of these obligations and/or failure to comply with any of the terms and conditions of the Sabbatical Leave Agreement shall obligate the faculty member to reimburse the College for the salary paid to him during the leave.

4.Sabbatical Leave Reporting - Changing Conditions

a. A faculty member who is granted a sabbatical leave is expected to carry out the plan and achieve the specific purpose and objective as presented in the proposal. If after approval, conditions change prior to the start of the leave, the faculty member is obligated to notify, in writing, the College President of any proposed revisions in the approved plan as promptly as possible. Under such extenuating circumstances, the College President may approve the modified plan or may cancel the approved leave prior to the start of the academic year or term.

If conditions change after the start of the approved leave, the faculty member is obligated to notify, in writing, the College President of any proposed revisions in the approved plan as promptly as possible. The College President may take action as he deems necessary to protect the interests of the College. Such action may include but not limited to reimbursement of the salary paid to the faculty member.

Failure to notify the President of changing conditions is a breach of the Sabbatical Leave Agreement and shall obligate the faculty member to return the reimbursement of the salary paid to the faculty member.

Sabbatical Leave Reporting - Completion Report

a. Upon completion of the sabbatical leave, and prior to return to duty, the faculty member shall submit to the College President evidence of compliance with the terms and conditions as specified in the Sabbatical Leave Agreement.

1. If the leave was for formal study, an official transcript of credits and a full and complete description of the program studies, including an assessment of the program with respect to its contribution to the faculty member and the College.

2. If the leave was for travel, a full and complete written report of the faculty member's travels, including an assessment of the travels and the benefit to the professional development of the individual and its contribution to the College.

3. If the leave was for a special project, a full and complete written report, including an assessment of the project, materials developed, and the benefit to the professional development of the faculty member and its contribution to the College.

b. The report and all supportive data will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sabbatical Leave Committee. Any discrepancies or failures to comply with the proposed plan and activities in the approved sabbatical leave proposal will be noted and any action necessary as a result of the sabbatical will be recommended to the College President.

c. At the regularly scheduled October or February Board meeting, the College President will provide the Board of Trustees with a summary report concerning the sabbatical leaves granted during the previous academic year or term.

d. The faculty member may be required to report and shall provide such additional information as the College President or Board may require.

6/11/90 (date of Sabbatical Procedures)