Policy No.FSEC.2003.009
7.10 FACULTY DEVELOPMENT LEAVE
Approved by University Council, April 10, 2003
1. Authorization for Faculty Development Leave
1.1 State-funded faculty development leaves are authorized by Section 51.101-Section 51.108 of the Texas Education Code. At such time as the Texas Legislature appropriates funds to cover faculty development leaves, the President will take steps to activate the authorized program and will, at such time, indicate by announcement to the faculty that the program is in effect.
1.2 In the absence of state-funded faculty development leaves, the University of Houston-Clear Lake will regulate and administer its own Faculty Development Leave Program. This program will be subject to the availability of funding.
2. Purpose of Faculty Development Leave
2.1 The Faculty Development Leave program is aimed at enabling faculty to engage in study, research, writing, field observation, and other suitable professional or academic activities for the purposes of improving their professional effectiveness.
3. General Guidelines
3.1 Faculty Development Leave Grants at UH-Clear Lake are to provide opportunities for up to three full-time faculty members from each School of the university to increase their academic and professional activities. These activities enhance the role a faculty member plays within an academic program, a school and the university as a whole.
3.2 Each school will appoint a Faculty Development Leave Committee to implement the selection process outlined in these guidelines.
3.3 Faculty Development Leaves will be awarded on a competitive basis and will go to those faculty who, in the judgment of the committee, the Deans, and the Senior Vice President and Provost demonstrate the greatest potential for scholarly accomplishment and professional development during the period of the leave. Major criteria which affect the determination for granting a leave are the applicant's previous accomplishments, the quality of the proposal submitted, and the potential contributions the completion of the proposal would make to the faculty member's professional development as well as to the mission and programs of the applicant’s school.
3.4 When granted the leaves will be for either one academic year at one-half salary or for one long semester at full, regular salary.
3.5 In accepting a Faculty Development Leave, the faculty member shall agree to return to the University for a period of not less than two long academic semesters. After the completion of the Faculty Development Leave, the faculty member will file a report with the Dean along with the Senior Vice President and Provost with a copy to the Chair of the Faculty Development Leave Committee, stating how the goals of the proposal were accomplished during the period of the leave and how the leave enhanced the faculty member's professional advancement.
3.6 Applicants are encouraged to seek external funding for travel, research or study. No person on faculty development leave, however, can accept employment from any other person, corporation, institution, or government unless approved by the President.
3.7 Those eligible for Faculty Development Leave are all full-time members of the faculty, including professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors, and full-time members of the professional staff whose duties include teaching, research, administration, including professional librarians, or the performance of professional services. Those eligible to apply must have been employed by the University for a minimum of two consecutive academic years immediately prior to application. Eligibility requirements need not include assignment to teaching.
3.8 Applications for the Faculty Development Leave grants are to be submitted on or before December 15 to the office of the Chair of the Faculty Development Leave Committee of the individual Schools. Applications (five copies are required) should have the following
3.8.1 Applicant's name, title, school and academic area.
3.8.2 Curriculum vitae, which should present: 1) Academic degrees with the dates and positions at UH-Clear Lake and elsewhere; 2) Professional activities (publications, previous grants, significant other professional activities). 3) Statement of other significant contributions to the activities and the general development of UH-Clear Lake. Full statement of the activity and specific outcomes for which the proposed development leave is requested (including specific reference to the research, study or other activity to be undertaken, where the work will be done, its relevance to the applicant's responsibilities at UH-Clear Lake and any other information that will be helpful in the selection process).
4. Selection Process
4.1 Each school will establish a Faculty Development Leave Committee. The manner of selection and the size of the committee will be left to the discretion of the faculty of the individual school, except that all program areas within a school must be represented on the committee.
4.2 It shall be the responsibility of the committee to review each development leave proposal and evaluate each on the basis of potential for scholarly accomplishment, professional development, and contribution to the mission and programs of the school in which the applicant is situated.
4.3 Each Faculty Development Leave Committee will select up to four (4) proposals they believe warrant recommendation. The committee may choose to rank order all proposals .The committee shall forward all proposals together with their recommendation to the Dean.
4.4 Upon receipt of the recommendations, the Deans of the respective schools may nominate up to three of the submitted proposals. The Deans shall forward their nomination(s) to the Senior Vice President and Provost.
4.5 If a faculty member relinquishes the award, the Dean may nominate one of the remaining submissions for the award.
Approval Date: April 10, 2003
Sunset Date: April 10, 2003
