Paid Professional Leave (Sabbatical)

Overview
Eligibility Criteria
Faculty Application Instructions
Chair's Role in the Process

Overview

Each year, the College of Engineering is allocated a limited number of quarters of Professional Leave with Pay. Faculty members who meet certain eligibility criteria (described below) may apply for this leave annually each fall quarter.

Leaves are awarded to coincide with the normal academic quarter dates:

Autumn quarter: 9/16 - 12/15
Winter quarter: 12/16 - 3/15
Spring quarter: 3/16 - 6/15
Summer quarter: 6/16 - 9/15*

(* Note: If state funds are not normally used to pay salary in the summer, they cannot be used for paid leave.)

A faculty member who wishes to apply for Professional Leave with Pay will prepare an application dossier (described in Faculty Application Instructions below) and forward it to his or her department chair.

The department chair will review the application and prepare a cover letter citing his or her independent recommendation related to the leave. The chair will submit the entire package to the Dean.

The application and chair's letter will be reviewed by the Dean, who will then submit a recommendation to the President. The Regents of the University of Washington have final authority to grant leave upon recommendation from the President.

Faculty members are generally notified of their leave award status during winter quarter.

Eligibility Criteria

A faculty member is eligible for a professional leave not earlier than the seventh year of service to the University or not earlier than the seventh year after return from a previous professional leave. Leave Without Pay taken by a faculty member may extend the period of time before he or she is eligible for Paid Professional Leave. Faculty members are encouraged to contact the Dean's Office or Academic Human Resources for assistance in determining their eligibility for Paid Professional Leave. Assistant Professors are not eligible for paid professional leave until they have been reviewed and approved for tenure/promotion.

Applications for professional leave of absence are accepted by the College of Engineering annually, during Fall quarter. Applications should be submitted at least 9 months in advance of the date of the proposed leave.

Faculty Application Instructions

The following documentation is required of the applicant:

Four (4) copies of a letter including the following:

A detailed statement of the applicant's plans for utilizing the time requested. This statement should include such information as the time sequence for completion of any project or plan.
The names of foundations or institutions, if any, with which the applicant expects to be affiliated during the leave, an outline of special resources available for the proposed work, and the source and amount of any supplementary grants or salary.
A statement of evidence of productivity in scholarly or creative work and a brief review of professional activities.

One (1) copy of the applicant's current CV.

If the applicant so desires s/he may submit supporting letters from faculty members of the rank of associate or full professor, or from any other appropriate individuals not necessarily associated with the University. Four (4) copies are required of each of these items of support if submitted.
While not included with the application, applicants for professional leave should note that a statement regarding the value of the applicant's project in terms of benefit to the institution, including evidence of productivity in scholarly and creative work and a brief review of professional activities, should be submitted to the Provost upon return from Professional Leave.

Chair's Role in the Application Process

Upon receipt of an application for professional leave, the department chair will prepare the following materials and submit them to the Dean, along with all copies of the materials described above.

Either a letter of recommendation approving the leave and stating the merits of the applicant's programs, her/his ability to accomplish it successfully, and the benefits which will accrue to the University as a result of the proposed leave, or a letter disapproving the leave and stating her/his reasons for such recommendation.
The UW Application for Paid Professional Leave (PDF) form is available online or from your department administrator. The form should include any information about outside funds that are available. Please fill out the form completely and carefully.

Note that salary while on leave may be full or partial depending on the period of the leave and whether the faculty member has full or partial tenure. Details are provided in the form document.

The Department Chair will forward all copies of the entire application dossier, along with his or her letter and the Application for Paid Professional Leave form, to the College of Engineering Dean.

On the basis of information provided by the applicant about financial support from outside sources, the details of her/his financial supplement from the University will be worked out by the applicant's department chair in accordance with the formula for professional leave support.