3.7 Faculty Leave

3.7.1 Holiday Entitlements

Holiday entitlements are defined in PRP Chapter 33 Leave.

3.7.2 Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical leave offers tenured faculty members opportunities for study, research, acquisition of new techniques, and enhanced professional development. Sabbatical leave allows faculty members to focus on such matters without teaching and administrative duties. Details are described in the Sabbatical Leave Application Handbook.

Tenured faculty members are eligible to apply for sabbatical leave if they have served at least six (6) years since joining OIST as full-time faculty members. The tenure-track period is included as part of the sabbatical qualifying period so that untenured faculty members can apply for sabbatical leaves after being awarded tenure. Years from the OIST Promotion Corporation period are not counted.

For every three (3) years of academic service, tenured faculty members earn six (6) months of sabbatical credit. The maximum sabbatical credit that can be accrued is twelve (12) months.

Once eligibility is granted, at least nine (9) months before the start of the academic year in which sabbatical leave is to commence, the applicant must submit a “Request for Sabbatical Leave Application Form” online.

As part of sabbatical leave application process, an agreement between the host institution and OIST must be prepared. This agreement must include management of intellectual property that may result from the sabbatical research, and other pertinent sabbatical terms and conditions.

After submitting the online application form, the applicant must make necessary arrangements with the Deans of the Graduate School (DGS) and Faculty Affairs (DFA) to cover teaching, supervision of students and unit members, and administrative responsibilities during sabbatical leave.

When arrangements described in Sections 5 and 6in the Handbook have been approved in principle by the Provost and the three Deans (DFA, DGS, and DoR) and if the Executive Vice President for Technology Development and Innovation and General Counsel validate the Intellectual Property-related arrangements with the host institution, the Provost and the three Deans will sign the Sabbatical Leave Application Form. The application form will be sent by the Faculty Affairs Office to the President for final approval.

3.7.3 Leave without Salary

A leave without salary is a period of leave that is without salary from the University or its disability, retirement, or other benefits programs.

3.7.3.1 Requesting a Leave without Salary
Leave without salary should be requested on a standard leave request form for review and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School and the Dean of Faculty Affairs.

3.7.3.2 Review Criteria for Leave without Salary
In deciding a request for leave without salary, consideration will be given to the faculty member’s teaching and other academic responsibilities, scholarly productivity, number of doctoral theses supervised, previous leaves without salary, and any other relevant circumstances.

3.7.3.3 Effect of Leave on Term of Appointment
A leave without salary for faculty on fixed-term appointments extends the term of appointment by a period equal to the duration of the leave, unless there is advanced written agreement. This extension is not automatic and must be requested from and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School and Dean of Faculty Affairs.

3.7.3.4 Effect of Leave on Term of Research Support
With a leave without salary the period of research support may be extended by a period up to the duration of the leave.  The total funds committed are not increased.  Extension of the period of research must be approved by the Dean of Faculty Affairs.

3.7.3.5 Period of Partial Leave without Salary
Periods of partial leave without salary have the same effect on Term of Appointment and Term of Research Support as described in 3.7.3.3, and 3.7.3.4, but on a proportional basis.

3.7.4 Period of Pure Research Leave

Full-time faculty members may apply for a period of pure research leave, which is defined as leave from teaching and other institutional responsibilities during which the faculty member receives full or partial salary supported by the University.

3.7.4.1 Requesting a Period of Pure Research Leave
Applications for periods of pure research should be requested on the regular leave form for review and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School and the Dean of Faculty Affairs.

3.7.4.2 Reviewing a Request for Period of Pure Research Leave
In deciding a period of pure research leave request, consideration will be given to the faculty member’s teaching and other contributions to the educational program of the University, scholarly productivity, number of doctoral theses completed under his or her supervision, previous leave without salary, and any other relevant circumstances.

3.7.4.3 Effect of Leave without Salary or Pure Research Leave on Sabbatical Leave Service Accrual
Sabbatical eligibility does not accrue during periods of leave without salary or pure research leave.

3.7.5 Family and Medical Leave Policies

The family, medical, childcare and other leave policies for OIST employees are described in PRP Chapter 33 Leave. In addition to the standard leave options, faculty can request adjustments in time or amount of teaching through the Dean of the Graduate School. 

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