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AUTHORITY: USF Faculty Rule 10.104 (17)(a) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between USF and the UFF
Effective: March 22, 2022
These procedures apply to full-time, tenured faculty, excluding those in administrative positions at the level of chair/director and above, at USF Health.
To implement the provision of USF Faculty Rule 10.104(17) (a) and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between USF and the UFF, the Senior Vice President of USF Health authorizes a USF Health sabbatical leave program for eligible faculty. The College Deans may implement an appropriate recommendation process within their respective colleges and submit recommendations to the USF Health Sabbatical Committee for review and ranking.
Sabbaticals are granted to faculty to increase a faculty member's value to the University through enhanced opportunities for professional renewal, planned travel, study, formal education, research, writing or other experience of professional value, not as a reward for service.
The following types of sabbatical are available to USF Health faculty who meet the eligibility criteria:
Full-time, tenured faculty members, excluding those in administrative positions at the level of chair/director and above, with at least six years of full-time service at the University shall be eligible to apply for a sabbatical. For a two-semester sabbatical at one-half pay, full-time, tenured faculty members with at least six (6) years of full-time service at the University without having had a sabbatical are eligible to apply. Eligible faculty may also apply for subsequent Sabbatical Leave after each additional six years of full-time service.
A tenured faculty member who is compensated, in part, through a contract or grant may receive a sabbatical only if the contract or granting source specifically allows a sabbatical in the conditions of award or funding agreement and the faculty member meets all other eligibility requirements.
Sabbatical Leave awards will provide for the following:
100% of University of South Florida contracted base salary support for up to one semester or the equivalent (19.5 weeks) or 50% of the University contracted base salary support for up to two semesters or the equivalent.
Note: Contracted base salary does not include stipends.
The amount of USF support may be reduced by the amount of any other financial assistance received for the Sabbatical program. The faculty member must arrange any other salary support, other support and the payment of fringe benefits from other sources, if and as applicable. No moving expenses or other expenses will be provided by USF Health.
Faculty members considering applying for a Sabbatical Leave should confirm with the USF Human Resources Benefits Office, SVC 2172, 813-974-3872, that any reduced salary as the result of the Sabbatical will not negatively impact their employee-paid benefits.
Compensation from the Academic Support Fund (ASF) and related UMSA benefits are not provided during a Sabbatical Leave and must be arranged by the faculty member before submitting the application with his/her department Chairperson or program on an individual basis relative to contributions to the Department or program and are not considered an entitlement or guarantee.
The chairperson will provide a memorandum for the personnel file if ASF support will be provided during the sabbatical and outline the amount and duration of such support. A copy of this memorandum will be included with the application package.
Sabbatical leaves are considered assigned duties. Faculty members should be evaluated while on such leave in a manner appropriate to the assigned duties involved. It is the responsibility of the faculty members to provide data for evaluation of their performance while on leave, consistent with the purpose of the sabbatical and as may be required by the faculty member's department.
Within 30 days after returning from the sabbatical, the faculty member must provide to the Dean and the Senior Vice President a concise written report to accomplishments during the sabbatical. This report shall include information regarding the activities undertaken during the sabbatical, the results accomplished during the sabbatical as they affect the employee and the College, and research or other scholarly work produced or expected to be produced as a result of the sabbatical.
Faculty members who accept the benefit of a Sabbatical Leave are expected to return for full-time employment at the University of South Florida Health for a minimum of one full year (12 months) following completion of the sabbatical. If there are to be agreements to the contrary, they must be made in writing prior to accepting and going on the sabbatical. In those instances in which the faculty member neither returned to College duties for a least one year nor had a written agreement to the contrary, the faculty member may be required to return to the College the salary received during the program.
Sabbaticals at half-pay (noncompetitive) will be granted unless the USF Health Sabbatical Committee has determined that the conditions stipulated in these procedures have not been met or that the department/unit staffing (instructional, clinical or research) considerations preclude such sabbatical from being granted. When staffing conditions preclude the granting of a sabbatical, the faculty member will be provided the sabbatical the following year or at a later time mutually agreed to by the faculty member and USF Health. The period of postponement will be credited towards eligibility for a subsequent sabbatical.
If the application submitted to the College Dean/designee is incomplete, it will be returned to the applicant with a specific written statement of the deficiency. To be reconsidered, a resubmitted application must be received by the Dean/designee no later than one week from the date of the notification of deficiency. To expedite the process, the Dean/designee will telephone the applicant in addition to sending the written statement of deficiency.
To be eligible for consideration, the applicant must complete the application and submit it and all required documentation to the Dean by the deadline date indicated in the timetable.
If the application submitted to the College Dean/designee is incomplete, it will be returned to the applicant with a specific written statement of the deficiency. To be reconsidered, a resubmitted application must be received by the Dean/designee no later than one week from the date of the notification of deficiency. To expedite the process, the Dean/designee will telephone the applicant in addition to sending the written statement of deficiency.
The USF Health Committee shall consider the following factors in the review and ranking of full-pay sabbaticals:
Applications for Sabbatical Leave in USF Health may be obtained from the Office of Faculty Affairs website and shall be submitted as outlined in this policy. A college internal review process may supplement this policy. When such process is in place, applicants will comply with the college internal review process and timetable. A faculty member who is applying for a sabbatical may not serve on a college or the USF Health sabbatical committee.
When possible, the Senior Vice President or designee will send out notification of sabbatical awards within one week of receipt of the USF Health Sabbatical Committee's rankings. With regard to full-pay sabbaticals, the Senior Vice President will make appointments from the list and consult with the Committee prior to an appointment that does not follow the Committee's ranking.
A selected faculty member should notify the Dean and the USF Health Office of Faculty Affairs of acceptance or rejection of a sabbatical in accordance with the announced deadline. If an awardee declines a full pay sabbatical offer, the Dean may offer such sabbatical to the next ranked person on the Committee's list without prior consultation with the Committee. A decision on acceptance or rejection of a sabbatical, or at least an expression of intention, should be made no later than the date indicated on the timetable, provided that those whose sabbatical plans are depending upon other factors (supplemental income, grant decisions, etc.) may indicate a conditional acceptance.
Prior to taking a sabbatical leave, the request must be approved in advance in writing by the Dean/designee.
Upon approval of the Application for Sabbatical Leave, the department prepares an Appointment Status form to begin the faculty member's leave, even if the leave is with full pay, and submits it to the Office of Faculty Affairs, Maildrop MDC 53, along with the approved application for sabbatical leave, acknowledgement from the external institution/organization, if applicable, and endorsements/recommendations.
Salary from sources other than the University received by a faculty member on sabbatical normally will result in reduction of the University salary to bring the total income to a level comparable to the faulty member's normal salary. However, in consideration of certain extenuating circumstances, i.e., salary received from an entity for work that is fundamental to the accomplishment of sabbatical purposes, the faculty member may request consideration of waiver of this requirement.
Faculty on one-half pay sabbaticals may receive salary from USF grants or contracts at a level that would make total compensation equal to the faculty member's full-time salary for the sabbatical period. In order for a faculty member to use grant/contract funds to supplement salary while on sabbatical the following conditions must be met: