Policy 1428 – Leaves of Absence

Revision Date:  6/6/2011

Responsible Office:  Provost

Reference:  Board of Supervisors Rules, Chapter 3, Section V and Policies and Procedures Memoranda
FS-lll.XX.-1 and FS-lll-XXl-2.

The Board of Supervisors Policy relative to leaves of absence is presented in A-F.

1. Application Procedure. An individual requesting a leave of absence shall make application at the institution
   and, with the recommendation of the institution President, it shall be forwarded to
   the System President for Board consideration.

2. Exclusion. An employee of an institution who is not a member of the faculty or administration
   is not governed under the Board’s policy on leaves of absence for faculty members.

3. Length of Leaves. Leaves of absence, other than for military leave, shall not exceed one year at a
   time. Faculty personnel on military leave (or special leave for war-connected service)
   from the institution shall be reemployed by the institution at the beginning of the
   next semester (or quarter) after the date on which the institution head shall receive
   written notification that such person wishes to return to his/her position, provided
   that such notification shall be given within 40 days after honorable discharge or
   termination of assignment from the armed forces.

4. Sabbatical Leave. Provision for leave with pay for the purpose of professional or cultural improvement,
   or for the purpose of renewal, is a well-established administrative device intended
   to improve the quality of higher education professional service. The Board recognizes
   that such a policy is justifiable and desirable and, therefore, provides for leaves
   of absence for full-time members of the faculty under the conditions specified below:

   “Faculty” is defined in LSA-R.S. 17:3304 as follows: “Members of the instructional
   staff of each College and University having the rank of instructor or higher and persons
   engaged in library, artistic, research, and investigative positions of equal dignity,
   shall constitute the faculty of each College and University. The head of each College
   or University and its academic officers shall be members of the faculty.”

   1. For the purpose of professional or cultural improvement, or renewal, this leave may
      be granted for two semesters (52 weeks for 12-month employees). It may be granted
      following any six or more consecutive fiscal years of active service in the institution
      where such individual is employed. An individual may not accumulate time in an attempt
      to qualify for more than one consecutive year of such leave. Leave also may be granted
      for one semester (26 weeks for 12-month employees) following three or more consecutive
      years of such service by an individual, provided that absence due to sick leave shall
      not be deemed to interrupt the active service provided for herein. A sabbatical leave
      taken during a summer session shall be considered a semester for leave purposes.

   2. The compensation from the State for the period of leave approved shall be at the rate
      of not more than 75% of the salary the individual will receive during the current
      fiscal year for the period of time leave is applied for and granted. Employers and
      employees shall contribute to the retirement system on the basis of full annual salary
      rate. Compensation payable to persons on leave shall be paid at the times at which
      salaries of the other members of the teaching staff are paid and in the same manner.

   3. In those cases where the faculty member or administrator receives outside compensation,
      such payment is to be approved in writing and in advance by the President as supportive
      of the purposes of the leave. If outside compensation plus paid leave would exceed
      the regular salary, the leave pay will be reduced so that the institution will pay
      no leave if the outside compensation equals or exceeds the regular pay. But, nothing
      shall prevent the faculty from being remunerated by outside agencies at higher rates
      than his/her regular pay.

   4. After each leave period is completed, evidence as determined by the institution must
      be submitted to the appropriate supervisor to indicate that the purpose for which
      the leave was granted has been achieved.

   5. At no time during any semester of an academic year shall the number of persons on
      leave with pay (except sick leave) exceed 5% of the total faculty.

   6. In accepting a leave of absence with pay, the faculty member shall be understood to
      assume a legal obligation as listed in Acts 1991, 858 (R.S.17:3328) to return to the
      institution for at least one year of further service. A copy of this rule shall be
      included in the institution faculty handbook and made known to each applicant for
      such leave.

   7. Individuals accepting sabbatical leave (with pay) are cautioned about prohibitions
      against dual appointments or dual employment as described in LSA-R.S.42:63.

   8. Sabbatical leave shall be granted only with prior Board approval.

5. Leave Without Pay. Leave without pay may be granted for a maximum of one year at a time upon recommendation
   of the institution to the System President and with the approval of the Board.

6. Forfeiture of Tenure or Employment. Refusal by a faculty member or administrator to comply with the provisions of this
   leave and sabbatical leave policy shall result in the forfeiture of tenure and/or
   employment.