4.4 Sabbatical Leave

Members of the tenure-earning or tenured faculty may apply for sabbatical leave, as described in HR 304.

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4.4.1 Eligibility

For each six academic years of full-time service, as defined by the faculty member's department and school of primary appointment, a member of the tenure-earning or tenured faculty is eligible to apply for paid sabbatical leave for a period of one-half such year at full pay or one such year at half pay, except as provided below. Sabbatical leave credits may not be accumulated (for example, leave will not be granted for one year at full pay after twelve years of full-time service). Sabbaticals are not awarded automatically after any six-year period of service but are awarded on the basis of individual merit.

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4.4.2 Plan of Activities During Sabbatical Leave

Applicants will be required to submit a plan of activities for the period of leave to consist of professional development, a program of investigation, creative writing or artistry, and the like. Sabbatical leave may be spent on campus or off campus, depending on the type of activity to be undertaken. A faculty member shall not be expected to carry on committee assignments or special administrative functions during a period of leave.

If the individual expects to receive support (e.g., income, allowances for travel, subsistence or accommodation) during the sabbatical period to supplement their sabbatical salary, a Request for External Activity Approval must be made and a copy of the approval therefor attached to the sabbatical application. The University compensation associated with a sabbatical leave is intended to make it financially possible for a faculty member to carry out their program. Projected outside earnings may be taken into account in the decision to grant sabbatical leave and in setting the percentage of salary to be received from UAB. Total compensation during a sabbatical leave should not normally exceed the faculty member's full-time UAB base salary for the leave period.

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4.4.3 Approval of Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical leave applications for any part of the school year should be submitted at least six months, and preferably one year, in advance of the start of the leave. Applications are to be submitted to the Department Chair or directly to the appropriate Dean in the absence of departmental organization. Sabbatical leaves are subject to approval by the appropriate Dean(s), Provost, and the President. Each unit reserves the right to establish specific guidelines for approval of sabbatical leave.  The teaching needs of the unit will be considered.  It may be necessary to make special readjustments in sabbatical leave dates when leave is requested by more than one person in a department for the same period of time due to teaching, scholarship, and service obligations of the department.

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4.4.4 Accrual of Vacation and Sick Time While on Sabbatical Leave

Full-time faculty with twelve-month appointments, while on sabbatical leave, accrue vacation and sick time at the regular rate if on one-half year sabbatical leave at full pay and at one-half the regular rate if on a one-year sabbatical leave at half pay. Full-time faculty with nine-month appointments, while on sabbatical leave, accrues sick time at the regular rate.

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4.4.5 Upon Conclusion of Sabbatical Leave

Recipients of paid sabbatical leave are expected to return to the full-time service of UAB for at least one academic year and must submit a concise report of the activities during the sabbatical to the Dean and Department Chair.

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4.5 Other Leaves of Absence

UAB provides a wide variety of leave types for eligible employees. Paid leaves, other than sick time (4.3), holidays (4.1), and vacation (4.2), are described in HR Policy 304 and include leave for bereavement, jury duty, witness in court, military leave with pay (21 days or less), sabbatical leave (4.4), voting, Family and Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA; see 4.5.2) and paid living donor. Professional leave and external activity leave are described in 4.5.6 and 4.5.7 respectively. Unpaid leaves include family and medical leave, educational leave, personal leave, and active military service (greater than 21 days) and are described in HR Policy 305.