
II-2.01 POLICY ON PROFESSIONAL AND/OR RESEARCH LEAVE FOR FACULTY MEMBERS ENGAGED EXCLUSIVELY OR PRIMARILY IN LIBRARY SERVICES (Approved by the Board of Regents, April 7, 2000) The President of an institution may grant professional and/or research leaves to faculty members engaged exclusively or primarily in library services. The primary purpose of such leaves is to provide an opportunity for a librarian to conduct scholarly work or to engage in applied research which will increase the librarian's value to the institution or enhance the reputation of the institution. 1. To be eligible for professional and/or research leave, a full-time librarian shall have been granted permanent status and must have been in active service with the institution as a librarian for a period of at least six years prior to an initial leave being granted. A full-time librarian must remain on active service with the institution for an additional period of at least six years to become eligible for a subsequent professional leave and/or research. A part-time librarian shall have been granted permanent status and shall have completed six or more years of at least half-time service. Ordinarily, a leave of absence without pay shall not be regarded as service to the institution for purposes of determining eligibility for professional and/or research leave. 2. Ordinarily, professional and/or research leave will be granted for one-half of the recipient's annual contract period at his or her normal compensation or for the full annual contract period at one-half normal compensation for both full- and part-time librarians. 3. Ordinarily, as a condition for receiving professional and/or research leave, the recipient shall agree to return promptly to the institution at the termination of the leave and to serve on his or her normal basis for at least one full annual contract period. 4. During the period of professional and/or research leave, the recipient will be permitted, with the approval of the President or designee, to accept, in addition to the compensation he or she receives from the institution, such grants, awards, contracts, fellowships, or other compensation or stipends as may be related to the approved professional and/or research leave project. 5. While on professional and/or research leave, the recipient may accept compensation for consulting services rendered during the professional and/or research leave, provided that such services shall not exceed those allowed by the University System Policy on Professional Commitment of Faculty and that they do not interfere with his or her approved professional and/or research leave project. 6. All benefits and privileges of a librarian on professional and/or research leave shall continue in the same manner as if he or she were not on such leave, i.e., accrual of sick leave, opportunity for promotion, merit raises, and other benefits. Such a leave period shall not be regarded as service to the institution for purposes of determining eligibility for a subsequent professional and/or research leave. 7. Each institution shall develop procedures and criteria for approval of and funding for professional and/or research leave, including the requirement of a summary report on professional and/or research activities by the librarian. These procedures and criteria shall be filed with the Office of the Chancellor. Replacement for: BOR VII-2.15-POLICY ON LIBRARIANS (Section on Professional Leave)