At the University of Washington, sabbatical is formally referred to as Paid Professional Leave, though it is commonly called Sabbatical Leave. Academic leaders play a critical role in reviewing and recommending sabbatical requests. This page outlines the information leaders are asked to provide on recommendation or decision forms, helping ensure that each case is evaluated consistently and that unit operations are maintained during a faculty member’s absence. The guidance below specifies what appointing unit leaders, SCC leaders, and UNDEP leaders need to consider when reviewing applications.
What leaders need to know
Unit leaders will be asked to complete recommendation or decision forms for each sabbatical case in their unit. Below is the information that is requested on each of the forms, so that leaders can be prepared when reviewing a case.
Appointing Unit Leaders (chairs/campus deans)
- What is the recommendation and reasoning?
- What priority level would you assign to the candidate? There often are not enough sabbatical quarters for everyone who wishes to take a sabbatical, so how important is it for the given candidate to be awarded a sabbatical? This is a high, medium, low ranking.
- How will essential department functions be covered in the applicant’s absence?
- Has it been confirmed that the applicant will not receive (non-UW) compensation for any remunerative employment related to their sabbatical activities and that any outside work in the sabbatical plan is separate and distinct from those activities?
- Has it been confirmed that sufficient funds are available to support the requested salary percentage during sabbatical? This includes ensuring financial support for any joint appointments.
- Has it been confirmed that there are no 25-71s or adjudications against this applicant?
SCC Leaders (deans/chancellors)
DEP
- What is the decision and does it differ from the Appointing Unit Leader recommendation?
- How many quarters are approved?
- What percentage of support has been approved?
- How many quarters are contingent on receiving an additional allocation from the Provost?
- Is the applicant’s outside work separate and distinct from work listed on their Sabbatical Plan?
- Has it been confirmed that the applicant will not receive compensation for any remunerative employment related to their sabbatical activities and that any outside work in the sabbatical plan is separate and distinct from those activities?
- Is there confidence that the unit will be able to cover the essential functions during the sabbatical?
UNDEP
- What is the decision and reasoning?
- How many quarters are approved?
- What percentage of support has been approved?
- How many quarters are contingent on receiving an additional allocation from the Provost?
- Is the applicant’s outside work separate and distinct from work listed on their Sabbatical Plan?
- Has it been confirmed that sufficient funds are available to support the requested salary percentage during sabbatical? This includes ensuring financial support for any joint appointments.
- Has it been confirmed that the applicant will not receive compensation for any remunerative employment related to their sabbatical activities and that any outside work in the sabbatical plan is separate and distinct from those activities?
- Is there confidence that the unit will be able to cover the essential functions during the sabbatical?
- Is there confidence that the unit will be able to cover the essential functions during the sabbatical?