Professional Development Leave
This policy statement is designed to provide a clear distinction between the types of paid time available from work to UL faculty for job-related activities, community service, conference or workshops attendance, and scholarly research. It also places limits on time away from primary job responsibilities and outlines the approval structure.
In all cases, when a faculty member applies for or is asked to take one of the four types of leave described below, the impact of his/her absence on departmental staffing and service needs will receive a careful review.
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Administrative Leave
Administrative Leave Definition:
Time required or requested by Supervisor or Dean to improve skills, to receive new training, or to perform job duties off campus.
Extent:
Unlimited
Approval:
Supervisor and Dean
Form Required:
Faculty Absence Authorization
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Professional Service Leave
Professional Service Leave Definition:
Time taken by a faculty member for the purpose of sharing his/her professional expertise on a volunteer basis, with a professional organization, a local community organization, agency or school.
Examples: State/National committee work or presentation at a local public school, or before a community group.
Extent:
Up to 5 requests within a fiscal year -- should not exceed 5 working days total.
Approval:
Supervisor and Dean
Form Required:
Faculty Absence Authorization
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Conference/Workshop Leave
Definition:
Time requested by faculty member to attend a conference or workshop designed to enrich the faculty member's professional life. Examples: ALA, OLC, ALAO, OELMA. This includes presentations at conferences and workshops as well as attendance. Other types of professional activities which are not conference/workshop, i.e. State/National committee work will be considered on a case by case basis.
Extent:
Up to 10 working days within fiscal year -- Request begins in department with supervisor. Denial at department level must be accompanied by written justification.
More than 10 working days within fiscal year -- Request begins in department with supervisor. The supervisor will indicate approval or disapproval. Disapproval requires written justification from the supervisor. Then the request is referred to CAC using Conference/Workshop Leave Request Form. CAC will review and recommend approval or disapproval to the Dean. Denial is at the sole discretion of the Dean.
Approval:
As noted above
Form Required:
Faculty Absence Authorization
Conference/Workshop Leave Request (if beyond 10 days)
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Research Time Leave
* (for fuller explanation see the official policy as approved by UL faculty in 12/90)
Definition:
Time to facilitate faculty progress toward research, writing, and related scholarly activities. These activities include the preparation of manuscripts, media, papers, proposals, reviews, and other intellectual endeavors that may lead to publication or other professional contributions in the field of librarianship or in subject disciplines. Research time may not be used to attend meetings and conferences of professional associations.
Extent:
200 hours within fiscal year
Approval:
Department Head, Associate Dean, CAC, Dean
Form Required:
Research Time Request
* It is the responsibility of the individual faculty member and the supervisor of that faculty member to track time used in Service, Conference/Workshop Leave and Research Time Leave.
Approved: CAC, 9/12/94
Revision Approved: CAC, 4/3/95
Approved: UL faculty, 4/12/95
Revision Approved: UL faculty, 5/2/96
Editorial Changes: Handbook Committee, 11/13/07