Tenure Track System is one of the distinguished pay scale in universities all over the world. People are given honor alot while they are on tenure track system in USA universities. What is the importance of Sabbatical leave in this system? A person on sabbatical leave should be considered working for the parent university even when he is in Child university?
Hi, Ali,
I believe that sabbatical leave varies from institution to institution. Where I teach, the application for a sabbatical is contingent upon the completion of a major research or creative project. One semester's leave may receive full compensation, but a year's leave is at most half of the normal salary. Upon return to the parent institution, a report of progress is required and two years of continued employment. Leaving before the two years is complete requires repayment of the wages earned during the leave.
My experience with the California State University system is the same as Peter's. I took a sabbatical leave on full pay for one spring semester and spent the spring and summer writing a book. That book, Creative Synergy, is now published and is modestly contributing to our understanding of creativity.
Sabbatical leaves exist so that professors can have the time to focus on a longer project like mine. It is too hard to focus on a demanding project while teaching full time, juggling classes and grading and committee work.
The whole point of the requirement that professors do scholarly work is that they keep on learning after their terminal degree. Sabbaticals are intended to allow faculty to focus on a major project which benefits theit OWN understanding of a subject, as well as that of others.
At my school, a certain number of sabbatical semesters is budgeted for each year, and the award of sabbaticals is competative, based on applications.
The main purpose for Sabbatical leave is to move to a better ranked university for one or two years to do advanced research. So, the main puropse is research, however universities may ask the faculty to do other academic work such as teaching. Thus, the agreement should be clear and approved by all parties before signing the contract.
Interesting! It appears that sabbaticals in the U.S. have a different focus than they do elsewhere. The Cal State system is like that described by Peter and Michael, not that described by Muayyad.
The university system I work for differentiates between different types of leaves. A sabbatical does not have to specify exactly what research leave is specifically for research. The applicant has to spell out the research plans and report on accomplishments at the end of the leave.
A sabbatical does not require the same kind of documentation. I may be given for a variety of reasons. One may choose to engage in an activity for which there is not enough time during a regular work year, such as teaching at a K-12 school or collaborating with a colleague on a project at another institution. It may also have been negotiated as part of a an agreement to do a job that goes way beyond usual requirements--thus being truly used for "rest."
The third type of leave is medical. I assume the question was not about medical leave. That also requires very specific documentation, and may involve reduced pay.
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