The
University Senate of Michigan Technological University
Proposal
15-14
(Voting
Units: Academic)
“Request
for Change in Board of Control Policy 6.7 on Sabbatical Leave”
1. Introduction
Sabbatical
leaves are recognized by BoC policy as part of furthering professional
competence, and are intended for the mutual benefit of the University and the
faculty[1].
Leaves are by Senate policy intended to give respite from normal duties with
encouragement to explore professional avenues outside of Michigan Tech[2]. Current
policy provides, during an approved leave, relief from service and teaching
duties and 100% of academic year salary for a one-semester leave, and 50% of
academic year salary for a two-semester leave.
Historical
data reveal that about 12% of faculty who are eligible for a sabbatical obtain
one in a given year. Of these, less than 40% involve international travel, and
in the past two years less than 30% of approved leaves have been for two
semesters. Under current policy funds are only released back to the unit when a
two-semester leave is taken; thus those funds are only available for teaching replacement
if a two-semester sabbatical is elected.
The
mutual benefits of sabbatical leaves would be increased if incentives for
longer leaves and opportunities for greater exploration of opportunities beyond
Michigan Tech were available.
2. Proposal
The
University Senate recommends the following change in Board of Control Policy
6.7 on Sabbatical Leave:
Replace
the text in the table in Section 2 under “Rate of Pay while on Sabbatical
Leave” corresponding to a duration of leave of “2 Semesters”,
which reads:
“50%
of academic year rate”
With the
text:
“67% 80%
of academic year rate” (administration amendment in red
approved by Senate 03/26/14)
3. Rationale
Increasing
compensation for a two-semester sabbatical leave to 80% 67% of academic
year salary would provide a significant incentive for faculty to pursue longer
leaves. When faculty take such leaves they provide mutual benefits to faculty
and to the University.
Reducing the compensation penalty for the longer leave would provide
a significant incentive for faculty to select this option. Additionally,
reducing this penalty may allow faculty to pursue sabbaticals that are
otherwise prohibitively burdensome because logistical challenges reinforce the
cost penalty.
When
faculty select the longer leave funds are retained within the academic unit,
which can be used to pay for teaching replacement. This reduces the burden on
academic units where single-semester sabbaticals are elected, and no funds are
retained, especially when those sabbaticals are taken during the semester in
which a faculty member has the greatest teaching load.
The
longer, two-semester sabbatical provides a greater opportunity for
transformative benefit, by facilitating or incentivizing longer or more
in-depth projects and opportunities for international travel. This contributes
directly to Michigan Tech’s strategic vision of growing as a premier
technological research university of international stature.
[1]
http://www.admin.mtu.edu/admin/boc/policy/ch6/ch6p7.htm
[2]
http://www.sas.it.mtu.edu/usenate/propose/05/9-05.htm
Introduced to Senate: 22 January
2014
Approved by Senate: 05 February
2014
Administration offered Amendment:
28 February 2014
Senate approved amendment
replacing 80% with 67% and striking the first paragraph
on page 2: 26 March 2014
Approved by Board of Control: 02 May 2014