CLS Sabbatical Leave Program

The College of Liberal Studies announces sabbatical leave application requests in the spring of each year, 18 months in advance of actual leave dates. Proposals (one (1) original and five (5) copies) are due in the office of the College of Liberal Studies no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Friday following Labor Day.

Examples of successful recent sabbatical applications are available for review from the reserve desk of the library under the title College of Liberal Studies Sabbaticals. Members of the CLS Sabbatical Committee are available for consultation, especially in the early phases of your proposal preparation. Applicants are advised to review and strictly adhere to sabbatical proposal guidelines.

Sabbatical Guidelines (PDF)

Sabbatical Application Form (PDF Version)
The above form is in Microsoft Word. You can download the Word Viewer here.

Purpose of the CLS Sabbatical Program

The purpose of the faculty sabbatical program is to enable recipients to be engaged in intensive study or creative endeavor in order to become more effective teachers and scholars and to enhance their services to the University. This privilege is granted to faculty members on the merit of their past academic contributions.

Eligibility

A faculty member is eligible for a sabbatical leave under the following terms:

  1. A faculty member must have completed six (6) or more years of full-time instructional service, or its equivalent, in the UW System and not have taken a sabbatical within the UW System during the previous six (6) years of full-time service, or its equivalent. The faculty member must be tenured by the time the sabbatical is to begin.
  2. Leaves of absence, regardless of source funding (including personal resources), will be excluded in determining a faculty member's years of full-time service.
  3. Preference shall be given to those making significant contributions to teaching and who have not had a leave of absence, regardless of source of funding, in the previous four years.
  4. A sabbatical will not be awarded to a faculty member denied reappointment to a permanent position in the year following the sabbatical leave.
  5. If individuals want to obtain funding from the Faculty Development Committee to support the sabbatical leave they must also submit a complete Faculty Development Grant Proposal (guidelines are available in the Provost's Office) to the Faculty Development Committee.

Types

Two types of sabbatical leaves are available to faculty members:

  1. A faculty member may take a sabbatical leave for an academic year and receive financial support from UW-La Crosse at any level up to sixty-five percent (65%) of his/her full compensation for that period.
  2. A faculty member may take a sabbatical leave for one semester of the academic year and receive financial support from UW-La Crosse at any level, up to a maximum of his/her full compensation for that period.

Conditions

The following conditions govern the CLS Sabbatical Program:

  1. A faculty member may receive and is encouraged to seek supplementary grants or other awards while on sabbatical leave, but such compensation, when combined with the amount of institutional compensation, shall not exceed the full compensation normally received from UW-La Crosse for that period
  2. Such additional grants or awards may be received by a faculty member only if the conditions for accepting the additional resources do not interfere with the stated purposes of a faculty member’s sabbatical leave.
  3. A faculty member may seek additional support specifically for travel or unusual living expenses incidental to the sabbatical leave without restriction by the full-compensation maximum (see Condition #1 above).
  4. A faculty member may not use the sabbatical leave to accept other paid employment during the period of the leave, unless as stipulated as a condition of the leave. If so stipulated, Condition #1 is operative.
  5. A faculty member must specify all grants or other awards applied for, or to be received during the leave, in his/her application for the sabbatical program.
  6. A faculty member must agree to return to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for at least one (1) academic year of service after the termination of the sabbatical, or repay any compensation (salary, plus the University’s share of fringe benefits) received from UW-La Crosse during the sabbatical.
  7. A faculty member must inform the Dean in writing of any changes in the proposed sabbatical project after its initial acceptance. If such changes are substantial, the Dean shall report to the CLS Sabbatical Committee for possible reconsideration.
  8. A faculty member must submit to the Dean a detailed written report outlining his/her accomplishments during the leave within three (3) months of completing the sabbatical. The faculty member shall also provide a one-page abstract report to the CLS Sabbatical Committee and will be asked to appear before the Committee to discuss the leave and provide a University-wide lecture/workshop based on the accomplishments of the sabbatical.

Selection

  1. The Dean will announce the formal call for faculty sabbatical proposals for the next academic year in March of each year (18 months prior to the sabbatical). At the time of the announcement, the Dean will indicate the number of faculty sabbaticals that the college is able to support.
  2. After the proposals are submitted to the Dean, the applicants will meet with the CLS Sabbatical Committee to discuss their proposals.
  3. The CLS Sabbatical Committee will review proposals. Proposals are evaluated according to the guidelines for application and the criteria for selection, with special emphasis on priorities that may be established by the College. These priorities will be outlined in March when the Dean announces the call for sabbatical proposals. General guidelines for sabbatical leaves are found in the Wisconsin Statutes. (See attached, paragraph C).
  4. Criteria for Selection
    1. Sabbatical project enhances teaching, course and curriculum development and/or research or any other scholarly activities related to instructional programs within the field of expertise of the faculty member taking such leave.
    2. Sabbatical project will yield results, which are publishable in a reputable journal, in book form, in teaching, or through other recognized forms of presentation and dissemination.
    3. Sabbatical project demonstrates originality.
    4. Sabbatical length and schedule is appropriate to accomplish sabbatical project objectives.
    5. Evaluation procedures are appropriate to the project proposed.
  5. Sabbatical proposal is complete, well written and clear. Proposals will not be considered if incomplete.
  6. Proposals must include a letter indicating departmental support for the prospective sabbatical. The proposal and departmental letter of support must contain evidence that ensures that the quality of the program offerings will not be reduced below acceptable standards or that delay or interference with necessary departmental and University functions will not be occasioned by the absence of those faculty on sabbatical leave.
  7. The CLS Sabbatical Committee will make its recommendations in writing to the Dean of the college, who, in turn, will forward these recommendations with an endorsement or non-endorsement to the Provost/Vice Chancellor. The Provost/Vice Chancellor reviews the proposals and recommendations and consults with the Chancellor who makes the final recommendation to UW-System. The Dean will contact candidates in writing regarding the final sabbatical decision. A copy of this letter will be sent to the CLS Sabbatical Committee.
  8. Formal announcement of those faculty members receiving sabbatical awards will be made annually at the December meeting of the Board of Regents.