This overview of Paid Professional Leave is supplemental and not intended to conflict with the requirements of CBA Section 10
When can I apply for professional leave?
A faculty member must apply for and receive tenure before they submit their application for professional leave. They must also have served a minimum of six years at Western Washington University before they take their first professional leave. If these conditions are met, faculty are encouraged to start their application in the summer and submit it to their department chair before their department’s specified deadline in the fall.
Can I use professional leave for a professional development-type project?
Professional leave can be used to pursue an area of scholarship/creative endeavor. It can also be used as a means to improve teaching techniques, which by their nature and scope enhance a faculty member’s contribution to the programs of the university. Faculty who are interested in requesting leave for a professional development-type project should make that intention clear on their application. To do so, they should check the second box under the “purpose of the professional leave” section on the first page of the application, which states that their purpose is to pursue a “study program designed to improve teaching techniques.”
Do I receive my full salary while on professional leave?
State law requires that faculty on professional leave not receive a salary that exceeds the average of the fourth quartile of faculty salaries at Western. In other words, if a faculty’s regular salary is above the average of the top 25% of salaries at the institution, it will be temporarily reduced to reflect the dollar amount which serves as the precise cutoff. Other faculty, whose salaries do not exceed that benchmark, will continue to receive their full salary over the duration of their leave. Academic Budget and Administration will inform faculty whose salary exceeds the fourth quartile, as soon as salaries for the next year, when the leave will take place, are determined.
In addition to the salary that I receive while on leave, may I seek additional support from outside sources?
Faculty members are encouraged to seek external grants, fellowships, or other sources of support to supplement the salary that they receive while on professional leave. This outside compensation should be used to defray additional costs of travel, relocation of the faculty member and dependents to the location of the project, and other related project expenses. Faculty should disclose their intent to seek supplemental income on their professional leave application.
How many quarters are available?
The number of quarters that Western Washington University can grant is determined by the State of Washington. During each academic year, the University makes a good faith effort to grant as many professional leave quarters as are permitted by law. The number of available quarters is almost always less than the number of quarters that faculty request. As a result, the application process tends to be very competitive.
How many quarters can I request?
Faculty accrue professional leave eligibility at a rate of one quarter for every two years of full-time service at Western Washington University. Certain periods of other types of leave (such as extended medical leave) may be counted as service to the institution for purposes of determining a faculty member’s eligibility. No more than one quarter of another type of leave may be counted toward eligibility for one quarter of professional leave. No more than three quarters of another type of leave may be counted toward eligibility for three quarters of professional leave. Faculty members can bank up to three quarters of professional leave eligibility. They may not request leave for periods of less than one quarter.
How will my application be evaluated by the University Professional Leave Committee?
The University Professional Leave Committee, comprised of six rotating faculty members from around the university, evaluates applications based upon this list of factors in the Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement:
- Academic or scholarly significance;
- Soundness of design, procedure, or operational plan, including clear objectives and timeline;
- Relationship of planned activity to individual’s area of study and professional development;
- Expected outcomes and benefits, including dissemination of results;
- Evaluation of applicant’s ability to achieve the proposed goals;
- Value of the project in terms of academic benefits to the institution upon the applicant’s return from the leave.
When can I use the quarters that I receive?
Faculty are encouraged to coordinate the timing of their leave with their department chair and/or college dean. However, the faculty member is the one ultimately responsible for determining when the leave will take place. If a faculty member applies for one quarter of leave in AY 2016-17, they can choose to take that quarter in Fall 2017, Winter 2018, or Spring 2018. If that faculty member happens to be a librarian, they also have the option of taking their leave in Summer 2018. Once they make their decision, they should complete and submit a Special Leave Request form. This form notifies their department chair, college dean, and the provost of the exact dates of their proposed absence.
Can I postpone quarters that I have been granted to a subsequent year?
No. All quarters that a faculty member is granted must be used in the year after the request is made. For example, if a faculty requests one quarter in AY 2016-17 to be used in AY 2017-18, he/she may not request to postpone their leave until AY 2018-19. If a delay is necessary, a faculty member can choose to forfeit their quarter of leave and reapply in a subsequent year.
What must I do when I return from a professional leave?
Before they take their professional leave, faculty sign a repayment agreement that obligates them to return to the university for at least the same time that they were paid to be away on professional leave. If this requirement is not met, the person shall reimburse the University for the cost of the leave in terms of salary and fringe benefits. Returning faculty members should also submit a written report to their department chair, college dean, and the provost describing what they accomplished. This report should be submitted within one quarter after the faculty member returns from professional leave. The university professional leave committee uses these reports to determine if faculty members have a track record of accomplishing what they set out to do. This helps to inform the committee’s decision in future years when the same faculty applies for a subsequent leave and the pool is quite competitive.
How should I communicate changes that occur to my professional leave proposal?
Occasionally, plans change. Faculty who decide to alter the nature of their leave proposal should contact their department chair, college dean, and the Provost. Changes affecting the project’s timeline, location, and co-investigators should be submitted to the three parties listed above. If a faculty member wishes to forfeit one or more of the quarters that they received, they should inform each of the same individuals as quickly as possible.
Do the quarters that I did not receive roll-over to subsequent years?
Yes. If a faculty member requests two quarters but receives only one, they can submit another application in a subsequent year for the quarter that they were not granted.
Where can I access more information and resources having to do with professional leave?
Section 10 of the Faculty Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the primary source of information regarding professional leave that faculty members should consult. Faculty members are also encouraged to visit this webpage, which serves as a helpful supplement to the CBA. If you have specific questions about your eligibility or general questions about the application process, please contact Faculty Relations at facultyrelations@wwu.edu.