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Faculty Handbook

Appendix VI—Faculty Development Leave

Faculty Development Leave Introduction

Faculty Senate shall evaluate and recommend to the provost/vice president for academic affairs applicants for faculty development leaves. The standards contained herein shall guide the administration of this program. Faculty Senate will act in accordance with the highest standards of academic and professional conduct and will consider confidential all information supplied to it.

Purpose

The purpose of the faculty development leave program is to improve the education available to students at the University and to implement this program as part of compensation for the faculty.

This statement should become the guiding principle for administration of the faculty development leave program.

Criteria

1. A faculty member is defined as a person employed by West Texas A&M University whose full-time duties as specified in his/her contract are teaching and research. Any member of Faculty Senate must resign from the senate prior to submitting an application for faculty development leave.
2. Faculty members are eligible to be considered for a faculty development leave when they have served as members of the faculty of West Texas A&M University for at least two consecutive, full-time academic years. This service may be as an instructor or as an assistant, associate or full professor.
3. Faculty members may have faculty development leaves granted up to one academic year at their full regular salary.
4. The president of West Texas A&M University shall certify to Faculty Senate at the appropriate time the number of leaves available.
5. A faculty member on faculty development leave may accept a grant for study, research or travel from any institution of higher education or from any charitable, religious or educational corporation or foundation or from any federal, state or local governmental agency. However, a faculty member on faculty development leave may not accept employment from any other person, corporation or government unless the Board of Regents determines that it would be in the public interest to do so and expressly approves the employment.
6. Faculty members on faculty development leaves shall continue to retain the same rights regarding retirement programs applicable to any other member of the faculty on full-time duty. They shall retain the same rights and eligibility for benefits of old-age and survivors insurance, hospitalization, medical, income protection, life insurance and other programs of such nature as the faculty on full-time duty. The administration shall cause to be deducted from the members’ salary, the cost of such programs as is legal and/or elected by the faculty members on leave.
7. After a faculty development leave has been granted by West Texas A&M University, at least five years of full-time academic service to the University must elapse from the date of the termination of the first faculty development leave until the date of the granting of a faculty development leave by West Texas A&M University to the same faculty member. No faculty development leave shall be granted within two years of a return to the campus from any other leave.
8. A faculty member shall execute a legal agreement to serve two full consecutive academic years after completion of a faculty development leave. The legal agreement shall include a clause requiring the faculty member to reimburse the University in the amount received as salary from West Texas A&M University while on leave if the faculty member should refuse to fulfill the two years of service. Should faculty members desire to extend their leaves without pay subsequent to completion of a faculty development leave, the faculty member may do so by agreement with the administration of West Texas A&M University. In this event, the two years of obligated service will commence at the termination of the extended leave period. Permanent disability of the faculty member attested to by a medical doctor shall be the only exemption from fulfilling this agreement.
9. Faculty development leaves may be granted for such purposes as enabling the faculty member to engage in study, research, writing, field observations and like projects. Faculty Senate will require each applicant to complete an application form which will include a statement or outline of the proposed use of the leave.
10. Faculty Senate shall by majority vote of total membership of the senate, make its recommendations to fill the quota certified by the president of this institution. The senate shall give due consideration to each applicant and base its deliberations and decisions upon the following criteria:
    1. Individuals presenting evidence of highest critical need in order to maintain academic effectiveness.
    2. Total years of academic or professional service at West Texas A&M University.
    3. Potential contribution to an academic or professional discipline.
    4. Possession of a terminal degree.
11. All applications for this leave will be accepted by Faculty Senate. Recommendations by the appropriate department head and dean along with the applicant’s qualifications and needs as outlined in the above policy statements will be used by Faculty Senate in making recommendations to the president.
12. A faculty member not receiving a leave must resubmit his/her application for any succeeding semester or semesters in order to be reconsidered.
13. Appropriate deadlines for receiving applications and certifying the list of those recommended to the president shall be established to facilitate the processing of leaves.

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