Requests for Sabbatical
College of Engineering faculty may plan sabbatical leave activity with colleagues in industry: to conduct research, to develop a deeper understanding of research needs or manufacturing challenges, or to learn new techniques and procedures. Sabbatical activity may also take place at government, higher education, research, or other non-profit organizations.
Requesting the Leave:
Faculty members should fill out the Form J and submit this to their department chair. Sabbatical leave plans should include a paragraph explaining in detail the proposed research, an indication of the place(s) (institution(s), city(s)) where the proposed work will be carried out, including where the majority of time is to be spent, and a description of any employment relationship. Please check with your department chair for the appropriate departmental deadline for submission. All sabbatical plans must be fully described and approved at the departmental level (by the chair or committee, depending on departmental policy) and by the College Executive Committee. Any significant change in plans after approval is received must be similarly disclosed.
Salary Funding During a Sabbatical Leave:
Faculty members on a one-term sabbatical receive full College funded salary for that term; those on full-year sabbatical receive one half of their College funded salary over the full academic year. Faculty on a one-term sabbatical will receive TIAA-CREF benefit contributions at the full time rate or 100%. Those on a full-year sabbatical (i.e., equivalent to a 50% appointment) will receive one half of their TIAA-CREF contributions. The University's policy on sabbaticals appears in Section 201.30-2 of the Standard Practice Guide (SPG).
College of Engineering faculty requesting a full-year sabbatical may seek funding for the balance of their academic year compensation from internal as well as external sources. Sabbatical effort may be charged to sponsored research projects with approval from the sponsor. Sponsor approval must be documented when the appointment is submitted. Sabbatical effort may be charged to faculty discretionary funds with approval from the chair and dean. Approval will be based on the sabbatical plan, and will require documentation that all other faculty support obligations - such as student and research fellow funding or offset requirements - are being met.
Total employment compensation, regardless of source, may not exceed the academic year compensation rate. The term of the academic year sabbatical is September through May.
Faculty Obligations:
A report to the chair is required, in accordance with UM Standard Practice Guide (SPG), from the faculty member upon completion of the sabbatical leave. The chair should notify via email or a memo to Associate Dean Tony England that the sabbatical report has been received. The ADAA office then sends confirmation of reports to HR Records and Information Services.
A faculty member granted a sabbatical leave is required "to return to the University for at least one year following the completion of [the] sabbatical."
Faculty members eligible for a retirement furlough "must not have taken a sabbatical leave during the four years preceding the beginning date of the retirement furlough."
Conflict of Interest and Commitment and Consulting During Sabbatical:
A paid appointment with another employer may not exceed 50%. The University of Michigan remains the primary employer for purposes of conflicts of interest. Faculty may sign no agreement that supercedes or conflicts with University of Michigan employment policies and procedures.
Faculty with a 50% University of Michigan appointment may consult up to two days per month. Faculty with an appointment in support of sabbatical activities at another institution must negotiate consulting rights with that employer; however, total consulting days may not exceed four days per month. All consulting activity must be disclosed to the University
Timeline for Approval:
Sabbatical leave requests for the academic year 2008-2009, including a cover letter of endorsement by the Department Chair are due to the ADAA office by Wednesday, January 30, 2008 for consideration by the College Executive Committee. Exceptions to the guidelines provided above must be fully detailed in the sabbatical request and approved by the department chair before submission to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Following Executive Committee Approval, the requests are submitted to Staff Records, and the Provost and Executive Vice-President for Academic Affairs. University letters of approval are usually sent out in mid to late April.
Changes in Sabbatical Leaves after Executive Committee Approval:
Changes to approved sabbatical leaves must be requested, with full justification, and submitted for Executive Committee approval. Please note that the timeliness of a change in plans in important; in particular, salary payments may be impacted.
