Sabbaticals and Leaves of Absence

A. Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical leave is granted for the purpose of encouraging faculty members to engage in scholarly research or other activities leading to professional growth and an increased capacity for service to the University. After each period of at least 12 full semesters of full-time service at Boston University, members of the faculty with standard professorial titles (regardless of Tenure status) may be considered for a sabbatical leave consisting of one half year at full salary or one full year at half salary. A faculty member on leave with compensation retains all employee benefits during the leave period.

In order to make sabbatical leave possible, responsibilities within the department will be adjusted to take account of the faculty member’s absence. If, in the opinion of the chair and the dean, such adjustment is not possible, the sabbatical will denied for that year. In the event that sabbatical is thereafter granted, the year or years of denial on the basis of departmental needs will be credited toward eligibility for the subsequent sabbatical. The dean shall report this decision to the candidate and to the appropriate provost. Denial on this basis may not occur for more than two consecutive years.

The faculty member’s application for sabbatical leave shall contain a proposed plan for scholarly work or other activity leading to professional growth, as well as a proposal, whenever appropriate, for obtaining outside funding. The faculty member shall submit his/her application to the department chair who shall review its merits, consult with the appropriate departmental faculty, and inform the faculty member of his/her recommendation. The application, along with the recommendation of the department chair, will be forwarded to the dean. The dean shall review the merits of the application and, after consultation with the chair, inform the faculty member of his/her recommendation. If the department and College can accommodate the leave, the dean will forward it to the appropriate provost for approval. In instances where the application is not approved, the provost will provide the reasons for the disapproval in writing and the applicant may request of the provost that the matter be reconsidered. Normally the provost shall notify the applicant of the decision on the sabbatical within four months of the application. Those taking sabbatical leaves must agree to return to full-time service for at least one year.

B. Other Leaves

Upon application to the department and the School or College, a faculty member shall receive a leave of absence of one semester or more without pay whenever the appropriate provost, in consultation with the dean, determines such leave is consistent with the teaching and administrative needs of the faculty member’s department and School or College. Under special circumstances, a faculty member may apply for leave with compensation. Approval by the dean and the provost is required.

Faculty on leave without pay should consult with the University Office of Human Resources regarding the continuation of employee benefits.

School of Medicine faculty who participate in a practice plan do not receive benefits provided under the Faculty Handbook but instead receive benefits (including maternity leave, temporary disability leave and sabbatical leave) in accordance with the benefit plans adopted by their practice plans and approved by the Faculty Practice Foundation, Inc.

Adopted April 18, 2007, by the University Council.