Sabbatical Leaves

Sabbatical Leaves are intended to benefit the University by affording faculty employees time to take advantage of professional development opportunities such as conducting research, engaging in scholarly and creative activities, improving instruction, or obtaining faculty retraining.

• Sabbatical leaves may be taken for one academic year semester at full pay or two academic year semesters at half pay. Salary during a sabbatical leave is based upon an academic year appointment; instructional faculty classified as twelvemonth employees who take a sabbatical are reclassified as academic year employees for the duration of the leave, and their pay is adjusted accordingly. Please contact the Office of Faculty Affairs for details regarding how the sabbatical will affect your pay if your current assignment is 12-month.

• A full-time faculty unit employee is eligible for a sabbatical leave so long as s/he has worked full-time at this campus for six (6) of the seven (7) years preceding the leave, and at least six (6) years after any previous sabbatical or difference in pay leave. Credit granted toward the completion of the probationary period for service elsewhere applies towards fulfilling the eligibility requirement.

• A faculty unit employee on sabbatical leave may not accept outside employment without prior approval from the President. Written requests for approval to accept outside employment should be submitted via the Office of Faculty Affairs.

• Once the sabbatical leave has been completed, the employee must return service to the University at the rate of one term of service for each term of leave taken. Prior to final approval, applicants for sabbatical leave are required to file a statement of assets or a promissory note with the Office of Faculty Affairs guaranteeing the University against loss should the employee fail to return after the sabbatical leave.

• Within six (6) weeks after returning to service at San José State University, the faculty member must submit a written report, via the dean, to Faculty Affairs. Faculty members are also encouraged to present the results of the sabbatical leave at departmental, college or university forums.

• A faculty member who accepts a sabbatical for a full year at half-pay should be aware that his or her contribution to and credit in the CalPERS system is in proportion to the reduced salary earned while on leave. To receive full retirement credit, one may choose to reimburse the State to the level of a normal retirement contribution. Contact Human Resources for information regarding how to purchase full retirement credit at the conclusion of the full academic year Sabbatical leave.

For more information, see Article 27 of the CBA, University Policy S96-7, or contact the Office of Faculty Affairs.