The primary purpose of professional and/or research leave is to afford opportunity to the library faculty member to increase his or her professional standing and value to the institution. According to the UMBC Faculty Handbook, section 11.3.1, to be eligible for the professional and/or research leave, the library faculty member must have attained permanent status in professorial rank and must have been on active, full-time service with the University for a period of at least six years, subsequent to any previously granted professional and/or research leave; provided, moreover, that:
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- The library faculty member will, at least six months prior to the beginning of the proposed leave period, submit a formal written request, setting forth clearly the nature of the proposed professional and/or research project, and his or her reasons for believing that the project will be professionally beneficial both to the applicant and the University. The written request, together with an endorsement from the Library and Provost to the effect that the faculty member’s service can be spared during the professional and/or research leave period, will be forwarded to the President for final action.
- The library faculty member applying for professional and/or research leave will, as a condition for being granted leave, agree to return promptly to the University at the termination of the professional and/or research leave period, to remain in service for at least one full annual contract period, except in circumstances in which the President of UMBC, the Chancellor of the University System, and the Board of Regents may decide otherwise.
- Professional and/or research leave usually will be granted for one 5-month or one 6-month period on full pay, or for one 10-month or one 12-month period on one-half pay for ten- and twelve-month appointees respectively. In certain exceptional and meritorious circumstances, and where long and distinguished service to the University may strongly justify, approval may be granted for a professional and/or research period of more than twelve months, but in no case for more than twenty-four months on one-half pay.
- The library faculty member on professional and/or research leave will be permitted to accept, in addition to the pay he/she receives from the University, only such awards, grants, contracts, fellowships, et cetera, as may also be given in aid of the approved professional and/or research project, the primary purpose of the professional and/or research leave being to afford opportunity to the library faculty member to increase his or her scholarly attainment. Compensation for occasional consulting services rendered during the period of professional and/or research leave, such service not to exceed that which would conform with the University’s policy on consulting services, shall not be considered payments of salaries or wages.
- Within three months of their return from professional and/or research leave, library faculty members will send to their supervisor, the Library Director, and the Provost a summary report of their professional and/or research leave activities, including a review of their work while on leave, a statement of publications prepared or anticipated, and their own assessment of the success of their leave.
Librarian Professional and/or Research Leave Docusign Form
For additional information, please reach out to the Library to discuss Professional and/or Research Leave.