Purpose. The primary purpose of leave without pay is to provide faculty members the opportunity to pursue personal or professional goals that are not possible given their usual obligations to the College. Examples include, but are not limited to, conducting research for another entity, pursuing educational or retraining goals, and providing community service. In accepting a leave without pay, a faculty member thus accepts an obligation to return to duties at the College upon completion of the leave.
Terms. A leave without pay may be granted for one semester or for a full year. During the leave without pay the faculty member receives no salary from the College. Fringe benefits and credit toward tenure during the leave period must be negotiated. A faculty member on leave without pay is considered to be a continuing member of the Hendrix faculty, and such leave does not affect eligibility for sabbatical leave. Faculty members may apply for a faculty project grant for the leave period.
Process. Faculty interested in pursuing a leave without pay should consult the Provost before submitting a written request. Although there is no formal deadline for requests, time must be given for the College to make arrangements for the faculty member’s absence. During deliberations, the Committee on Faculty may discuss the proposal with the Department Chair for an understanding of benefits and costs involved. The Committee on Faculty makes a recommendation to the President. Decisions are announced by the President.
Except under extraordinary circumstances, a single period of leave (including sabbatical leave) may not exceed one academic year. If a faculty member desires to extend a period of leave beyond this limit, she or he must consult in advance with the other members of affected departments or programs and then apply for the extension to the Committee on Faculty by December 1 of the year of the leave.
Upon return from a leave without pay, the faculty member is expected to submit to the Committee on Faculty a brief written report describing the results and benefits of the leave.