Reason for Policy

To clarify the considerations CAS will make in recommending approval of leave without pay to the Provost.

Entities Affected

CAS tenure track faculty 

Enactment & Revisions

Enacted: 05/09/2016

Revised 2/21/23

Policy Statement

Authorization for a Leave of Absence (LOA)/Leave without pay (LWOP) must ultimately come from the Provost. The College of Arts and Sciences will base its recommendation to the Provost on the points below.

LWOP for professional or for personal reasons

The college will assess such requests on a case-by-case basis. If LWOP is approved, CAS may require that a faculty member return for at least one year of service upon completion of the leave.

LWOP will have an impact on: 

• Benefits – Employees must be .50 FTE or greater to be benefit eligible.
• Retirement – Could be affected depending on the employee’s retirement plan option.
• Sabbatical – Six years (18 terms) at 1.0 FTE are required for full sabbatical eligibility. Any reduction in FTE will affect your next fully funded sabbatical eligibility date.
• Tenure clock/review schedule – a tenure clock extension request must also be submitted via email to the department head and divisional dean if a LWOP request is approved. 

Requests for extensions of LWOP

Any requests for extensions to LWOP should be received at least 28 days before the approved LWOP expires. Failure to provide timely requests for extensions will result in automatic denial of the requests.

Access to Research Funds

Access to Academic Support Accounts and other related research funds stops during a full LWOP and resumes when the faculty member returns to the position. Exceptions in extraordinary cases require the approval of the Head and Dean during LWOP.