D. PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT LEAVE

1. WITHOUT PAY

Leave without pay may be granted for appropriate professional improvement activities. Such leave is approved for a maximum of one year and generally may not be extended for more than one additional year. Faculty members on leave without pay have no formal obligation to return to Auburn, but are expected to give adequate notice (generally at least six months) if they decide not to return. On formal request by the faculty member, the University will continue in force group life and health care insurance programs, making the institution's regular contributions. However, in cases where the professional improvement leave takes the form of employment with a government agency or with a firm or business relevant to the faculty member's field of specialization, such University benefits will not be available if these fringe benefits are provided by the temporary employer. If the faculty member does not return to Auburn University for at least one academic year after such leave, the University must be reimbursed for its contributions to the person's life and health programs. A minimum period of five years of University full-time service must be completed by faculty in non tenure track positions before they become eligible for professional improvement leave.

Application for professional improvement leave without pay should be submitted through the department head or unit head, dean, and Provost. Example of application form follows.

2. WITH PAY

In keeping with its role as a research institution, the University grants leave with pay for approved professional improvement activities. The University recognizes the importance of activities that provide an opportunity for professional renewal and growth. Efforts are made to fund as many professional improvement leaves as possible each year. The following guidelines apply to paid professional improvement leaves:

A tenure-track faculty member is eligible for a professional improvement leave after four calendar years of full-time employment. He or she may be granted one semester at full salary or two semesters at half salary. In order to facilitate such leaves, department heads should arrange teaching loads and course offerings in such a way as to minimize the need for additional funding to the department. The University, on its part, recognizes that departments in which faculty do not have research appointments will need extra help in providing such leaves.

Leave with pay may be cumulative, but in no case extends beyond three semesters, whether on full or half salary.

The application must be accompanied by a proposed program which gives reasonable promise of contributing to the improvement of the applicant's professional services to Auburn University. A fall deadline for applications for leave for the following academic year will be announced by the Office of the Provost. Application should be submitted through the department head and the dean to the Office of the Provost. Professional improvement leaves are competitively awarded.

A faculty member granted professional improvement leave must serve as a member of the Auburn faculty for one year after taking leave. If he or she does not do this, he or she must reimburse the University for the paid leave time. A faculty member granted professional improvement leave with pay must submit a written report of his or her activities and accomplishments to his or her dean and the Provost by the end of the first semester after returning to campus.

A faculty member on leave with partial compensation may receive fellowship support or part-time teaching or research appointments which do not interfere with their programs. The compensation for the period of the leave should not be greater than the total University salary would have been plus a reasonable allowance for relocating and meeting the cost of living in a new location.

3. PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT LEAVE FOR MEMBER OF THE ACES

Faculty members, tenure-track and nontenure-track, of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) will accrue 20 days (official work days) of professional improvement leave for each year of employment. The maximum number of professional improvement leave days a faculty member may accumulate is 120 days. For additional information, interested faculty should consult the ACES publication, Guidelines for Staff Development Handbook.

APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT LEAVE

With Full Pay ( ) With Half Pay ( ) Without Pay ( )

Begin Date: _______________ End Date: _______________

_________________________ ______________________ ________________________
Faculty Member Title Department

Course or kind of study to be undertaken and where:

State briefly how the University may benefit from this training (Attach additional sheet if necessary):

Employment Date: _________________ Total years of full-time service: ______

_

Prior PIL Dates: Specific dates: _____________ With Pay ____Without Pay _____

Specific dates: _____________ With Pay ____Without Pay _____

Specific dates: _____________ With Pay ____Without Pay _____

List source and amount of any stipend during this period of study:

_____________________________________________________________________________

If this is an Application for Leave with pay, I agree to return to the University for a period of at least one year following this leave of absence. If tenure-track faculty member, time off will__________ will not_________ be counted toward tenure.

Faculty Signature____________________________________ Date _________________

Identify proposed financial and personnel arrangements to insure that the employee’s work will be accomplished during the leave period:______________________________ .

____________________________________________________________________________

Recommended:

Department Head______________________________________ Date _______________

Dean________________________________________________ Date _______________

Approved:

Provost ______________________________________________Date _______________