The faculty improvement program, established in conformity with
section 3345.28 of the Revised Code,
provides extended periods for professional growth and development.
All fulltime, tenured members of the instructional
staff with teaching loads who have served at least seven years in any rank in
fulltime service are eligible for a faculty improvement leave It enables
faculty development away from campus and requires seven years of fulltime
service for eligibility.
This program is crucially important for enabling the
improvement of teaching techniques, extending the frontiers of knowledge, and
maintaining the vitality of individual faculty members and programs.
The program provides release from teaching duties and other
university assignments, either full compensation during one semester or
two-thirds compensation during two semesters, continuation of
university-provided insurance benefits and fee waivers, and eligibility for
salary increment and promotion. For participants in the state teachers
retirement system, contributions will be made as allowed by law. For
participants in the alternative retirement plan, contributions will be made as
permitted by the plan.
Specifics of the program are outlined below:
(A) Application for a faculty improvement
leave is initiated through the department chair to the dean, provost, and
president.
(B) In any single year,
because of commitments to teaching and service as well as to faculty
development, the university customarily will not authorize more than thirty
faculty improvement leaves.
(C)
Professional leave taken as a faculty improvement leave shall not normally be
deemed to be in lieu of assigned research (assigned duty in connection with a
specific research, scholarly, or creative program).
(D) A faculty improvement leave ordinarily
does not involve additional funding for a department. A request for faculty
improvement leave must indicate how the department will cover the load of the
staff member applying for the leave. In rare instances when extreme hardship
would result in a department if a faculty improvement leave were granted, funds
may be authorized by the provost or dean to hire replacement staff
(E)
All fulltime,
tenured members of the instructional staff with teaching loads who have served
at least seven years in any rank in fulltime service are eligible for a faculty
improvement leave. Faculty improvement leaves are granted on the basis
of the contribution that the appointee will make to the university upon
returning to normal assignment. Years of service are crucial for determining
eligibility but are not a major factor in discriminating among aspiring
candidates.
(F) A person may not
receive a second (or "the next") faculty improvement leave until seven years
have elapsed from the end of the previous leave.
(G) A request for a faculty improvement leave
should detail the activities proposed for the year or the term and indicate
their significance for the mission of the university. They may relate to
professional growth, disciplinary research, a research project dealing with the
effectiveness of various instructional methods, or teaching
development.
(H) Persons receiving
a faculty improvement leave are obligated to remain at Miami during the ensuing
academic year and to make a full report of the results of the assignment to the
chair, dean, and provost within ninety days of the completion of the leave. If
a person does not return to Miami university during the ensuing academic year,
he or she is expected to reimburse the university a prorated portion of
university salary received during the faculty improvement leave for the portion
of the post leave year that is not completed.
(I) Recipients of faculty improvement leaves
may receive money for approved study or research or other activities expressly
related to the purpose of the leave without prejudice to their receipt of
income from Miami, provided that the total remuneration from all sources
(including Miami) does not exceed the recipient's annual Miami university
salary.
(J) In addition to salary,
special arrangements may be made for grants to defray travel and similar
coincidental expenses. These arrangements must, however, be approved in advance
of the leave.
(K) Applications for
a faculty improvement leave should be received in the academic personnel
services office by December first of the academic year preceding the leave
period if one is to receive most favorable consideration.
(L) Questions regarding the program and its
guidelines should be addressed to the academic personnel services office.
Note: See Chapter 3339-4 of the Administrative Code for other
leaves of absence available to members of the instructional staff.
Replaces:
3339-6-08
