Faculty Leave Information

An academic appointee is considered to be on a leave of absence (LOA) any time he or she takes a leave from normal duties during the prescribed periods of service. Academic appointees who leave the campus prior to obtaining formal approval are in violation of University policy.

Academic appointees with academic-year appointments are expected to be in residence from the first day of the fall quarter through the last day of the spring quarter, except during official University holidays. The UCSD Academic and Administrative Calendar lists the actual quarter dates and official holidays. Academic-year appointees may not be absent during the periods between quarters without requesting an official leave, unless they are traveling on official University business.

For both academic-year and fiscal-year appointees, periods of academic recess (e.g., periods between quarters) include recess from formal classes, but not recess from research, committee and other administrative duties, or other University obligations.

To request a leave of absence, faculty must complete the online Request for Absence form. Academic Personnel Specialist Brenda Guzman will review the request and get in touch with you if additional information is needed. You will be notified when your request has been approved by the Chair, and if necessary, the Social Sciences Dean, depending on the length and type of leave. A paper version of the form can also be found in the mailroom next to the fax machine.

An absence during exam week should be an exceptional request only, made at least one month in advance as it must be approved by the Department Chair, the Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and the Committee on Educational Policy (CEP). Faculty request for a leave of absence during finals week do not require CEP approval unless the faculty member is instructor of record or mentoring an associate-in that quarter.

Further details: FACULTY REQUEST FOR LOA DURING FINALS WEEK 

Reference #9: Policy on Final Examinations

UCSD has a variety of programs and policies to accommodate family leaves, for example childbearing leave or elder care leave. 

Academic Family Accommodation Policies

Please contact your academic personnel specialist for more information about Pregnancy, Newborn Child and Adopted Child,  FMLA

• Approval can take up to several months, please let the Chair know as soon as possible.
• Formal requests should be submitted at least one full quarter in advance of the leave.
• Exceptions to policy may take up to six months for decision to be made by the UC Office of the President.

Intended Use: Any leave requested that involves the university paying salary, benefits or both.
Possible Duration: Variable
Restrictions/Constraints: Varies depending on type of leave
Affect Pay: Possibly
Affect Benefits: Possibly
Require Use of Sabbatical Credits: Refer to Extended Leave Policy

• Compensation from all sources may not exceed 100% of UCSD salary and must be approved in advance

Intended Use: Any leave requested that stops the university from paying salary and benefits.
Possible Duration: Up to one year
Restrictions/Constraints: Leave without Pay will not be granted to faculty who accept permanent appointments outside of UCSD
Affect Pay: Yes
Affect Benefits: Yes (can affect service credits as well)
Require Use of Sabbatical Credits: No

Leave without Pay Fact Sheet

• Leave requests (with and without pay) up to 14 calendar days or 10 service days.
• Requires advance approval of the Department Chair via e-mail. 
• Used to travel to conferences or to make presentations off-campus.
• Requires finding a replacement instructor for course coverage.

• 10 to 60 Service Day Absence During Non-Teaching Quarter.
• Normal duties (including mentoring and service) may be performed from a remote location to facilitate field research and non-classroom teaching, conference attendance.
• All service requirements are still fulfilled.
• Official duties will not be reassigned.
• Typically may only occur during a non-teaching quarter.
• Request must be made to the Department Chair in writing and requires divisional approval.
• Change of Work Locations requests may be escalated to the Executive Vice Chancellor for final approval at the Dean's discretion.

Intended Use: A leave requested as a research opportunity that requires the use of earned sabbatical credits.
Possible Duration: Up to one year
Restrictions/Constraints: Faculty must return to active duty immediately upon their return
Affect Pay: Possibly if sabbatical is below 100%
Affect Benefits: Possibly (can also affect service credits)
Require Use of Sabbatical Credits: Yes

Taking a sabbatical

UCSD Academic Leave Policy

A sabbatical leave is a privilege accorded to qualified faculty to enable them to engage in intensive programs of research and/or study, thus to become more effective teachers and scholars and to enhance their service to the University.

Sabbatical credits are accrued at the rate of one credit for each full quarter of service at 50% time or more. Academic-year appointees can earn up to three credits in one year. Credits are not accrued during sabbatical leave, leave without pay and leave with pay for more than one quarter.

As of Fall 2014, there is no longer a sabbatical credit accrual maximum. Additionally, deans will have authority to approve the borrowing of up to one year’s sabbatical credit if the faculty member is in good standing and for a compelling reason.

To find out your sabbatical credit balance, please contact Sociology's academic personnel specialist.

Sabbatical leaves must be requested at least one quarter before the proposed leave but preferred as far in advance as possible to allow for course scheduling.To request a sabbatical leave, download and complete the ALAS form. Return the ALAS form along with a sabbatical leave objective, to Sociology's academic personnel specialist.

Faculty members are required to submit a detailed report of the results of the sabbatical leave, including an account of progress made and plans for completion of research and publication of the results. This report must be submitted to the department chair within 90 days of the faculty member’s return.

For more details see Leave Greater than 15 Calendar Days

• Leave request with and without pay for 15 calendar days to one year, or sabbatical requests are at the Dean's Authority
• Require completion of an Academic Leave of Absence/Sabbatical Form (ALAS) form (prepared by your Academic Personnel Specialist) 
• Require approval of the Department Chair and Dean of Social Sciences 
• The Executive Vice Chancellor retains authority for leaves in excess of one year and exceptions to University and campus policies
• Require the following information e-mailed to your Academic Personnel Specialist:
  • Start and end dates of leave
  • Purpose of the leave (one-page maximum)
  • Location during the leave
  • Paid or Unpaid
  • If a sabbatical, full or partial?
  • Copy of any invitation received from an outside institution
  • Documentation of any proposed outside compensation

o    Between 11 and 30 Service Days

§  Involves forfeiture of sabbatical credit at a pre-set rate

§  Requires finding a replacement instructor for course coverage

§  Please address how will you perform your normal duties including but not limited to mentoring, service, research.                   

o    Greater Than 30 Service Days

§  Require a written report of activities within 90 days of return to campus

§  Used for scholarly activities

§  Sabbatical credits accrued at the rate of one credit per service quarter in residence

§  Sabbatical credits expended at the rate of nine credits per 100% quarter on leave (partial sabbatical acceptable)

§  Normal pay and benefits are received (except in some partial sabbatical cases)

§  University service not required for the duration of the leave

§  Sabbatical-in-residence requires fewer sabbatical credits expended

§  Faculty will teach one course that meets at least 3 hours per week

§  A faculty member on sabbatical leave in residence who meets this teaching requirement shall be freed from all other teaching obligations and from all committee and administrative work

§  Used when receiving outside funding or opting for no UCSD pay for leave duration.  See CIO-Conflict of Commitment/Outside Professional Activities policy and APM 025

§  Require permission to Engage in Category I Activity

§  Benefits implications: faculty who will be accepting payment from an outside source during the leave may elect to continue UCSD benefits by paying for premiums, or may opt to discontinue benefits

Place your request online here.

A paper version can also be found in the Sociology mailroom next to the fax machine. For fastest processing time, please submit online at the link above.