The purpose of sabbatical leave is to make it possible for faculty to be released from regular academic responsibilities in order to devote time to creative work, research, or writing which will improve their professional status as well as their contributions to the College as an artist, designer, scholar and teacher. Part-time faculty bargaining unit members are eligible for sabbatical when they have accrued 36 teaching units: the equivalent of 6 years of a full-time faculty load. Bargaining unit members are annually sent a status report which provides information about contractual status; length of service; number of years in the bargaining unit, total teaching units accrued, teaching units accrued towards the next sabbatical; and the predicted year of eligibility. The year of eligibility is predicted using the current year’s teaching load. Part-time faculty should apply by November 15 of the year prior to the proposed sabbatical year. The department head shall submit their recommendation to the Dean, and the Dean will submit their recommendation by December 15 to the Provost for a decision. Notification of this decision will be given to the part-time faculty member by March 15.
A report of sabbatical activities should be submitted to the Provost by the end of the first semester completed after returning from leave.
Work flow
Faculty applicant completes the application form and submits to-->department head reviews the application and sends recommendation and application to-->dean reviews the application and sends recommendation and application to-->Provost (copying acadaff@risd.edu).
Approval is sent by March 15 to faculty applicant, department, dean, and the President of the PTFA.
The application for part-time sabbatical leave can be found at this link.