The purpose of sabbatical-like leave is to provide time for non-tenure-track faculty to engage in professional development through learning and collaborations with colleagues related to their teaching and service responsibilities. Sabbatical-like leave is granted with the expectation that the leave will significantly enhance the faculty member’s capacity to contribute to the objectives of the campus related to their teaching and service roles.
Sabbatical-Like Leave
Eligibility
All IU Kokomo full-time senior lecturers, teaching professors, associate clinical professors, and clinical professors are eligible to apply for sabbatical-like leave after seven years of full-time service and after achieving an appointment at a senior rank.
Faculty members granted sabbatical-like leave are eligible for another sabbatical-like leave after an additional seven years of full-time service.
Time on sabbatical-like leave counts as full-time service for purposes of establishing eligibility for a subsequent sabbatical-like leave. Leaves without pay (other than prestigious leave) do not count as part of the period by which eligibility for sabbatical-like leave is determined.
Typically, sabbatical-like leave will not be granted to a faculty member who:
a. has been denied reappointment for the academic year immediately following the proposed leave,
b. is under an improvement plan or other probationary employment status, or c. is under a disciplinary sanction for violation of any university policy.
Sabbatical-like leave will not be granted to a faculty member who is in
the last year of service prior to retirement or intends to resign at the end of the year for which a leave is requested.
Criteria
The following criteria are used to evaluate requests and determine the sabbatical-like leave granted each academic year:
Purpose. The proposed activities to be undertaken during the leave are clearly defined, fully described, relevant, and consistent with the purpose of sabbatical-like leave.
Enhancement. The extent to which the proposed leave activities will enhance the faculty member’s ability to contribute to campus objectives related to their teaching and service roles.
Academic Record. The degree of likelihood the proposed leave activities will be completed successfully and as described, based on the faculty member’s overall record of academic performance, including the outcomes of prior sabbatical-like leave.
Priorities. All the above being equal, when multiple sabbatical-like leave requests are received in any academic year, preference will be given to faculty not previously granted sabbatical-like leave and to those which can be completed with the least cost and/or least interruption to campus and academic unit functions. To the extent possible, sabbatical-like leaves will be granted over time to academic units in proportion to the size of their faculty ranks.
Review & Approval
The EVCAA, Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer will endeavor to fund at least one sabbatical-like leave and four sabbatical leaves each academic year.
Faculty are encouraged to develop sabbatical-like leave requests in collaboration with their dean and other unit faculty, within the context of a multi-year plan for the timing of applications that affords equal opportunity to all eligible faculty, minimizes the cost of substitute teaching, and avoids interruptions to program continuity and unit operations.
Sabbatical-like leave requests are evaluated by deans, the EVCAA, and Chancellor based on the criteria described above. Final approval of leave requests rests with the EVCAA.
Approved sabbatical-like leaves may be postponed if agreed to by the dean and EVCAA, but leaves may not be postponed longer than two academic years, and only one sabbatical-like leave may be postponed each academic year.
Faculty may appeal directly to the EVCAA a decision to delay or deny a sabbatical-like leave request.
Conditions
Sabbatical-like leave may be for one semester at full salary or for one academic year (or two consecutive semesters) at half salary.
Faculty granted sabbatical-like leave must agree in writing to reimburse Indiana University for any salary, retirement contributions, and insurance premiums paid during the leave if they do not return to university service for at least two semesters following the leave.
Faculty granted sabbatical-like leave must adhere to the proposed plan and activities during the leave that were approved during the review process. No later than three months following the completion of the leave and a return to university service, a report of activities engaged in during the leave must be submitted to the EVCAA.
Faculty granted sabbatical-like leave may not accept salary or stipend during the leave other than grants from various sources for travel and expenses legitimately related to their leave activities.
Faculty granted sabbatical-like leave for one year at half salary may engage in activity consistent with that for which the leave is granted and receive salary, stipend, or honoraria from other sources in amounts such that total funds received do not exceed the approximate annual income normally earned.
Application Format
Applications for sabbatical-like leave should be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs (koacadem@iu.edu) no later than October 15 of each year, for leave requests for the following academic year.
Applications should include the sections and information described below. Applications should not exceed five pages in length and should be submitted in PDF format. An up-to-date CV should be attached to the application.
Sabbatical-Like Leave Application
1. Name & Academic Title:
2. Academic Unit:
3. Period of Requested Leave:
4. Date of Initial Appointment as Full-Time Faculty at IU Kokomo:
5. Dates of Previous Sabbatical-Like Leave:
6. Dates of Leave of Absence other than Sabbatical-Like Leave:
With Pay:
Without Pay:
7. Other/External Sources of Financial Support:
8. Overview:
Describe thoroughly but succinctly the purpose, scope and intent of the proposed teaching- and/or service-related research or professional development activities to be undertaken during the leave. Include all pertinent information necessary to fully understand and objectively evaluate the request, such as methods, materials, sequences, timelines, collaborations, locations where work will be completed, costs, etc.
9. Prior Related Scholarly or Creative Activities:
Summarize prior work or professional development related to the proposed leave activities and indicate how the proposed leave is relevant to and/or will complement or extend that earlier work or training.
10. Benefits:
Describe and explain the specific benefits and enhancements to academic unit programs, courses and students expected to result from the leave activities.
11. Dean Letter:
Include a letter of support from the academic unit dean which:
a. verifies the faculty member’s eligibility;
b. addresses the criteria of purpose, enhancement and academic record;
c. describes specific plans and costs for delivering courses and maintaining program continuity during the faculty member’s absence; and
d. provides any additional information that may be relevant to the approval process.
12. Pledge to Indiana University:
If granted sabbatical-like leave, I will complete my employment obligation to IU Kokomo as described in the leave conditions.
____________________________ ____________________
Signature Date
Office of Academic Affairs Spring 2025