Vol. 38, No. 18

3-14-2007
By: Richard Gillette

Faculty leave policy made more generous

A new Faculty Professional Leave policy, approved by the Board of Trustees on March 2, will give faculty more incentive to invest in their professional development.

Beginning autumn quarter 2007, faculty on FPL will receive full compensation for up to two quarters and have the opportunity for non-continuous leave. Previously, the university paid faculty their full salary for one quarter and 75 percent for a two-quarter leave.

“The new leave policy will make it more attractive for faculty to take time away from their normal duties and spend an uninterrupted period focusing on their research,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Barbara Snyder.

The new policy was the result of work by the Faculty Career Enhancement Committee, which was formed at the request of President Karen Holbrook, Snyder and chairs of the Faculty Council and Senate Steering Committee.

The committee reviewed what the university was doing to support faculty efforts, including advancement through the professional ranks.

Chaired by Christian Zacher, Senate secretary and English professor, the committee recommended the university revise its FPL policies to put them more in line with peer institutions.

An analysis by Vice Provost Matt Platz showed that the university’s FPL program was not being widely used. One reason was that many faculty could not afford the decrease in income during a two-quarter FPL.

“The more generous FPL makes Ohio State’s leave policy even more supportive than the policies at some of our peer institutions,” Snyder said. “It will help us do a better job of promoting our faculty’s progress through the ranks and helping them achieve their fullest professional potential.”

The board also approved amendments to the Rules of the University Faculty dealing with the probationary service of tenure-track faculty following the birth of a child or the adoption of a child under six years of age.

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