January 2, 1996

Chairperson Policy #8

Faculty Professional Leaves

Discussed by ADCOM: 1/9/96

Revised: 2/20/96

Independent of sabbatical leaves (for which University rules exist), faculty occassionally receive invitations to make extended professional visits away from campus. These can take the form of leaves with or without pay, from teaching or committee responsibilities or both. Generally, along with the affected faculty member, I propose to always discuss such leave opportunities with the ADCOM for advice. However, I believe the final decision is mine. To the extent that generalization is possible, I have the following strong opinions on this subject.

1. It ought to be my responsibility to evaluate each case on its merits.
2. Assesment of departmental effort and responsibility by counting (eg., number of courses, number of committees, etc.) is not a true measure of comparative effort. There is a built-in spectrum of effort demanded, depending on the specifics. It ought to be my responsibility to evaluate this.

The alternative to this is to set up numerical rules in order to "share the burden" or to prevent misuse. I am not comfortable with general rules which are based on the presumption of the lowest common denominator. Further, except when colleagues are negatively impacted, I'm not comfortable with the notion that what we do is by definition a "burden" requiring sharing. I can envision two sorts of leaves:

Leaves with outside support. Opportunities independent of sabbatical leaves where a faculty member might spend an extended period away from campus with full support from the host institution occassionally occur as a result of normal activity. I propose that ADCOM and I would view such absences favorably, with the salary savings apportioned as per custom. I would anticipate that normal activities would resume, after the faculty member returns, without the requirement of repayment for teaching or service missed.

Leaves without outside support. Opportunities occassionally arise in which a faculty member is invited to spend a period away from campus for periods less than a full year and for which there is not enough support from the host institution to forgo the MSU salary. I intend to try to find ways to allow these situations to succeed. I can conceive of two circumstances:

1. 1. The opportunity is prestigious or an honor and is a specific invitation from a respected institution. This might be in the eye of the beholder, but should not be a continuation of normal activity, simply transferred to a different location. I would ask the ADCOM for advice on degree to which it agrees that there is a measure of prestige associated with the invitation. I will not tend toward a 1:1 repayment of teaching or service duties for such a situation.
2. 2. The opportunity is a continuation of normal activity and is a specific invitation from a respected insitution. Here, after discussion with ADCOM, I might approve such a leave, but with the stipulation that there will be a complete repayment of teaching and service missed.

Any such arrangement will require approval of the central administration, but the above will govern my recommendations. I do not anticipate that we will support more than one such leave without outside support per academic year in the department.