Sabbatical Leave Information
Applying for Sabbatical Leaves for 2025–2026 Academic Year
Applications for sabbatical leaves will be completed through Watermark. Please remember that sabbatical leave awards are highly competitive and only a limited number can be given in any one year. Sabbatical awards will be available in three forms: full-year at half-pay; half-year at half-pay; and half-year at full pay. The number of half-year full-pay sabbaticals will be limited by the funding available and the selection process will be competitive. In some cases, if a faculty member is not approved for a half-year full-pay sabbatical, the faculty member may be offered the opportunity to take the sabbatical at half-year half-pay. In each case, sabbatical awards cannot adversely affect the teaching/learning environment for students or other reasonable academic services provided by the college.
Our process and procedures for sabbatical leaves are in accordance with the Policies of the Board of Trustees (Article XIII) and the agreement between the State of New York and United University Professions (Article 23.6). Sabbatical awards are available for all academic employees who otherwise meet the criteria of the board of trustees policies and the agreement, and whose sabbatical leave proposals are approved.
If you are planning to submit a sabbatical application, you are urged to meet with your department chair/center director/program coordinator and dean as early as possible.
Sabbatical Leave Policies & Eligibility
The policy on sabbatical leaves with pay is defined in Article XIII of the Policies of the Board of Trustees and Article 23.6 of the agreement between UUP and the State of New York.
The Policies and Article 23.6 of the agreement state that “sabbatical leaves may be granted for planned travel, study, formal education, research, writing or other experience of professional value.”
Eligibility
Academic employees holding continuing appointments, who have completed at least six consecutive years of service within the university or who, if they previously have had a sabbatical leave, have completed at least six consecutive years of service within the university from the date of return from their last sabbatical leave, shall be eligible for sabbatical leave.
| Sabbatical Leave Type | Period of Leave | Reduced Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Half-Year Fall Only | 08/18/25 – 01/18/26 | 09/1/25 – 02/28/26 |
| Half-Year Spring only | 01/19/26 – 08/17/26 | 03/1/26 – 08/31/26 |
| Full Year | 08/18/25 – 08/17/26 | 09/01/5 – 08/31/26 |
Campus Policy & Procedure
- Approval of an application for a sabbatical leave shall be dependent upon a qualitative
review of the proposed activity based on all of the following criteria:
- The potential of the contribution that the proposed leave will make to 1) the college, 2) thought and knowledge within the disciplinary field, 3) the individual’s professional development, and 4) the department;
- The quality of the applicant’s work within his/her field and the extent to which this work offers promise for a productive use of the sabbatical, the extent to which the applicant’s prior work offers promise for a productive use of the sabbatical;
- The overall quality of the conception, definition, organization, and description of the proposed activity;
- The likelihood that the proposed activity will be accomplished; and
- The ability of the department to satisfy its teaching and service responsibilities in the faculty member’s absence.
- Requests for leaves will also be reviewed by the department chairs and deans to ascertain the impact of the leave on both the departments involved (if more than one is affected) and the effect of such leaves on the total instructional program of the college.
- Within one semester of return from sabbatical leave, a report reiterating the purposed objectives of the leave and detailing the accomplishments of the leave must be submitted to the college provost with copies to the appropriate dean and the chairperson for their review. The report will also be reviewed by the president and sent to SUNY Central for review by the chancellor’s office. It is essential that the report be carefully prepared to include substantive and complete information. Download the Report of Sabbatical Leave Activities form. Additionally, faculty awarded sabbatical leave will be placed in a pool of faculty to serve on the Sabbatical Review Committee in future years.
- It is strongly recommended that each individual discuss with his/her chairperson his/her plans for sabbatical leave at least one year in advance.
- Beginning in the fall of 2024 applications for sabbatical will processed in Watermark’s sabbatical workflow template. For faculty who wish to apply, email the assistant to the provost at [email protected] to request access to the application in Watermark.
A specific plan to assure coverage of the classroom seats of the academic employee going on leave will be prepared by the departmental chair/center director in consultation with the applicant and appropriate dean(s) and attached to the leave application at the time the leave request is made. This plan must assure total coverage of the teaching capacity of the academic employee who goes on sabbatical leave. Sabbatical leaves for will be available in three forms: full-year at half-pay; half-year at half-pay; and half-year at full pay. The number of half-year full-pay sabbaticals will be limited by the funding available, and the selection process will be competitive. In some cases, if a faculty member is not approved for a half-year full-pay sabbatical, he or she may be offered the opportunity to take the sabbatical at half-year half-pay. In each case these awards cannot adversely affect the teaching/learning environment for students or other reasonable academic services provided. Sabbatical awards are available for all academic employees who otherwise meet the criteria of the board of trustees policies and the agreement and whose sabbatical leave proposals are approved.
Note that the trustees’ policies and the agreement permit academic employees to submit an application to the president of the college up to six months in advance of the effective date of the leave, but in no event later than six months in advance of such date unless such requirement is expressly waived by the chief administrative officer. The college president may approve such sabbatical leave as the college president deems appropriate and such leave shall be reported to the chancellor. However, the following timetable is to be followed, except in unusual circumstances.
| Action | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Provost announces timetable and calls for applications from faculty | Friday, August 30, 2024 |
| Application submitted to department chair in Watermark | Friday, October 11, 2024 |
| Department chair submits approved files to dean | Friday, October 25, 2024 |
| Dean submits approved files to Sabbatical Review Committee | Friday, November 8, 2024 |
| Sabbatical Review Committee submits evaluated files to deans and associate VP for academic affairs | Monday, December 2, 2024 |
| Deans and associate VP for academic affairs submit evaluated files to provost | Monday, December 30, 2024 |
| Provost submits recommendations to president | Friday , January 17, 2025 |
| President notifies candidates | Friday, January 24, 2025 |
SOURCE: THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK POLICIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Article XIII, Title E. Sabbatical Leave
- Policy: Sabbatical leaves for professional development may be made available to members of the professional staff who meet the requirements set forth below. The objective of such leave is to increase an employee’s value to the university and thereby improve and enrich its program. Such leave shall not be regarded as a reward to service nor as a vacation to rest period occurring automatically at stated intervals.
- Purpose: Sabbatical leaves shall be granted for planned travel, study, formal education, research, writing or other experience of professional value.
- Eligibility: Academic employees having continuing appointments and college administrative officers not in a negotiating unit established pursuant to Article XIV of the Civil Service Law who have completed at least six consecutive years of service within the University or who, if they previously have had a sabbatical leave, have completed at least six consecutive years of service within the University from the date of return from their last sabbatical leave, shall be eligible for sabbatical leave. In computing consecutive years of service for the purpose of this section, periods of vacation leave and periods of sick leave with salary shall be included; periods of leaves of absences, other than vacation and sick leave with salary, and periods of part-time service shall not be included but shall not be deemed an interruption of otherwise consecutive service.
- Terms and Conditions: Sabbatical leaves may be granted for periods of one year at rates not to exceed one-half basic annual salary or for periods of one-half year at rates not to exceed full basic annual salary. Eligible employees on sabbatical leave may, with the prior approval of the chief administrative officer, accept fellowships, grants-in-aid, or earned income to assist in accomplishing the purposes of their leaves. In such cases, the chief administrative officer may adjust the sabbatical leave salaries to reflect such income, either prior to or during the periods of such leaves, provided, however, that in no case shall sabbatical leave salary be reduced if total earnings are less than full salary.
- Applications: Applications for sabbatical leaves shall be submitted to the chief administrative officer as far in advance as possible to the requested effective date of the leave, but in no event later than six months in advance of such date unless such requirement is expressly waived by the chief administrative officer. Each application shall include a statement outlining the program to be followed while on sabbatical leave, indicating any prospective income, stating that the applicant will continue as a member of the professional staff for a minimum of one year upon return and stating that upon return the applicant will submit to the chief administrative officer a detailed report of professional activities and accomplishments while on sabbatical leave.
- Approval: Consistent with provisions of section 4 of this title, the chief administrative officer may approve such sabbatical leave as the chief administrative officer deems appropriate and such leave shall be reported to the Chancellor.
- Leave Credits: Vacation leave and sick leave credits shall not be accrued or used during sabbatical leave.
Suggestions to Faculty Members Who are Planning to Apply for Sabbatical Leaves in the Future
- The important consideration in supporting or denying support for sabbatical leaves is found in Article XIII, Title E, Section I of the Policies of the Board of Trustees in the following words: “The objective of such leave is to increase an employee’s value to the University.”
- The college is in agreement with the American Federation of Teacher’s Higher Education Program and Policy Councils statement on First Principles: “Research, scholarship and creative activity are essential to the success of American Higher education. For ideas to flow between students and teachers, and reach society at large, knowledge must be continually expanded as well as transmitted. Colleges and universities differ greatly in their research activity, but good teaching always draws on new scholarship, and vice versa.” (“On Campus” October 1997, p. 11).
- All sabbatical leaves should be planned well in advance so that one's chairperson, colleagues, and Dean have the opportunity to discuss the proposed project (usually 12 months in advance).
- Academic employees are encouraged to seek external funding in support of their sabbatical activities. In the “idea” and initial preparation stages for these sabbatical projects where external support may be appropriate, academic employees need to consult with Sponsored Research and Programs, Beaumont Hall 320, for assistance in locating possible additional funding sources. Furthermore, all academic employees may wish to consult with sponsored research to ascertain the viability of external support for their proposed activities.
Computer Policy
If a faculty member requires the use of his/her assigned computer during a sabbatical (for either home or office use), the faculty member’s department chair and dean must approve that use and notify computer systems and desktop support in writing. Every attempt will be made to find a computer for temporary appointments, but there are no guarantees.
Campus Office Policy
If a faculty member requires the use of his/her assigned office during a sabbatical, the faculty member’s department chair and dean must approve that use.