10.2 Sabbatical Leave Policy

10.2.1 Statement of Authority and Purpose 

This policy is promulgated by the Board of Trustees pursuant to the authority conferred upon it by §23-41-104(1), C.R.S., and in accordance with the requirements of §23-5-123, C.R.S., in order to set forth a policy outlining the terms and conditions under which sabbatical leave shall be granted to tenured faculty at Mines.  This policy shall supersede any previously promulgated Mines policy that is in conflict herewith. University Staff are not eligible for sabbatical leave.

10.2.2 Policy Statement   

The Board is cognizant of the necessity of maintaining a high caliber of faculty at Mines and the importance of the faculty's contribution in delivering quality education to Mines students.  The Board recognizes that faculty sabbaticals play an important role in developing and enhancing faculty expertise and promoting faculty excellence in teaching and research.  The Board also recognizes that a faculty sabbatical is a privilege, rather than a right, and should be granted only when it directly benefits Mines and the education of its students.  Therefore, the Board shall judiciously grant faculty sabbaticals that are designed to foster teaching and/or research excellence at Mines and thereby result in a benefit to the State of Colorado. During the sabbatical the faculty member should suspend all service and instructional assignments, except as authorized elsewhere in the Faculty Handbook or by the Provost.

10.2.3 Policy

The following rules and procedures shall henceforth apply to the granting and administration of all sabbaticals at Mines.

1. A faculty member will first become eligible for a sabbatical after completing six years or an aggregate of twelve semesters of full-time service to Mines and attaining tenure at Mines before or during that period. Time served by a faculty member in an administrative position at Mines shall count toward fulfillment of the service requirement. In order to be eligible for a subsequent sabbatical, a faculty member must complete six more years or an aggregate of twelve more semesters of full-time service at Mines following the academic year of the sabbatical. To be eligible, the faculty member must also satisfy the report requirement after the previous sabbatical (as described in section H below) and must meet all other requirements associated with sabbatical leave outlined in this Policy. A sabbatical approved for a full year must be completed in two consecutive semesters that fall within the standard period of service. Mines may grant a sabbatical to a faculty member but delay the sabbatical for up to one academic year if Mines determines that such delay avoids significant disruption to Mines' operations or delivery of services. When Mines delays a sabbatical, the faculty member will be eligible to seek a sabbatical after six years or twelve semesters of full-time service at Mines following the academic year for which Mines granted the prior sabbatical.
2. When applying for a sabbatical during an academic year, a faculty member shall submit a sabbatical plan to their Department Head by the date specified in the published Academic Affairs Calendar of Submissions. The proposal shall specify in detail: (1) how the sabbatical activity will result in the faculty member's professional growth, enhance the reputation of Mines and the educational experience of Mines students and strengthen and/or expand the faculty member's area(s) of expertise; and (2) the goals that the faculty member will achieve while on sabbatical.
3. The Department Head shall review the sabbatical plan and forward the plan along with a recommendation to grant or deny the sabbatical request to the Provost by the date specified in the published Academic Affairs Calendar of Submissions.  The Provost shall review these documents and, if the Provost approves the sabbatical request, forward the file to the President with their recommendation.  The President shall review these documents and forward the file to the Board along with their recommendation for final Board review.
4. All sabbaticals by Mines faculty shall require Board approval in advance of the academic year in which they are taken.  In considering a sabbatical request, the Board shall consider: the quality of the faculty member's proposed activities while on sabbatical; the individuals who will be involved in such activities; the benefits to be received from such activities by the faculty member, Mines and Mines students; the hardship imposed, if any, on the faculty member's colleagues or department due to the sabbatical; and the number of sabbaticals or requests for sabbaticals currently outstanding within the department or area of expertise of the faculty member requesting a sabbatical. The Board has the right to grant the sabbatical, but delay the sabbatical date by up to one academic year based upon these considerations. 
5. If, due to serious and unforeseen circumstances, a faculty member becomes aware that they will be unable to fulfill the approved sabbatical goals during the sabbatical period, the faculty member shall expeditiously consult with their Department Head and the Provost to establish amended sabbatical goals for the remainder of the sabbatical period.  If such circumstances involve a personal or family illness, sick leave may be substituted for the sabbatical, and in such case, the faculty member's record will not reflect the granting of sabbatical leave.
6. Compensation for faculty on sabbatical shall be provided on the following basis: (1) 50% of the academic year base salary plus 100% of the employer-provided benefits for a one-year sabbatical; (2) 100% of the academic year base salary plus 100% of the employer-provided benefits for a one-semester sabbatical.
7. A faculty member receiving paid sabbatical leave must return to full-time employment at Mines for at least two semesters after the conclusion of the sabbatical.  A faculty member who does not fulfill this condition will be required to repay the full amount of compensation (salary plus employer-provided benefits) received from Mines during the sabbatical period. A faculty member may petition the Provost for an exception to the repayment requirement by demonstrating that the sabbatical has already achieved the goal of benefiting the university and state. The Provost shall have sole discretion to determine the allowance and terms of any such exception, and the decision of the Provost shall be final and non-appealable.
8. Upon completion of a sabbatical, the faculty member shall submit a final sabbatical report to the Board, including a summary of their activities while on sabbatical and the benefits derived by the faculty member that includes a brief (150-200 word) abstract of the sabbatical report. Final sabbatical reports need not include specific details of the faculty member's research conducted while on sabbatical.  A faculty member may also be requested to make a brief oral presentation of their completed sabbatical to the Board.
9. The Provost shall review the sabbatical plan and the final sabbatical report prior to its submission to the Board, and certify in writing whether or not the faculty member has met the goals stated in the plan.
10. The Board may not grant a subsequent sabbatical to any faculty member who does not meet the goals or amended goals stated in their sabbatical plan.
11. Every participant in the sabbatical process shall be responsible for ensuring that each sabbatical granted by Mines meets the requirements of §23-5-123, C.R.S., and this policy.  Any employee involved in applying for, reviewing or approving a sabbatical at Mines who acts in bad faith or in a willful and wanton manner may be subject to disciplinary sanctions if the above-mentioned requirements are not met.

Promulgated by the Mines Board of Trustees on September 9, 1994.
Amended by the Mines Board of Trustees on December 16, 1994.
Amended by the Mines Board of Trustees on June 10, 1999.