Sabbatical Leave

Administrative Procedure 5.309

Elgin Community College grants the administrative group one sabbatical leave per year for the purposes of improving the effectiveness of the individual in his/her performance of College-related responsibilities and/or conducting research related to problems or issues identified as priority needs of the College.

The following procedures will apply to these leaves. All applicants for administrative sabbatical leaves will demonstrate clearly how their programs of study or projects will contribute to these purposes. Although major projects are preferred, short-term projects may be equally valuable. All applicants will execute a Sabbatical Leave Agreement for the sabbatical leave period. The President will develop and monitor the administration procedures for this program.

No more than one individual will be granted a sabbatical leave during a given fiscal year. If a selected person does not take the full 90 or 180 days options, or it is not deemed necessary for completion of his/her project, then additional leaves may be offered to other applicants with worthy projects, so long as the combined leave does not exceed 180 days.  Likewise, individuals seeking a leave in the summer which overlaps two fiscal years of the College may do so under the following conditions:

• The time allotted in the second fiscal year is counted toward the allotment of the first year; and
• Only one individual is on leave at any one time.

1. Eligibility

The following criteria are requirements for eligibility:

A. A full-time administrator, defined as Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Dean, Director, Assistant to the President and other professional administrators.

B. Six years of continuous, full-time service since initial employment or last sabbatical leave.

C. The presentation of a well developed plan of study or project which demonstrates a contribution to the improvement of the effectiveness of the individual in his/her performance of College-related responsibilities, and/or the problem-solving of issues identified as priority needs of the College. All written applications will be screened by a committee comprised of the College President and two representatives from the College.  This committee will prepare its recommendations and submit them to the College each year. Written applications must be submitted to the President's Office by March 1 of each year.

2. Selection

All written applications will be screened by a committee comprised of the College President and two representatives from the College. This committee will prepare itts recommendations and submit them to the College each year. Written applications must be submitted to the President’s Office by march 1 of each year.

3. Remuneration

A. Salary

i) Remuneration will be based upon the average daily salary rate.

ii) One-half (2) of the established contractual salary will be paid for 180workingday extended sabbatical leaves.

iii) Full salary will be paid for 90-working-day sabbatical leaves.

iv) Due to the nature of the administration's responsibilities and the difficulty in finding adequate, short-term replacements, sabbatical leave proposals of less than a semester's duration will be given full consideration.

v) Sabbatical leaves approved to exceed 90 days, but less than 180 days, will be paid at one-half (2) the established contractual salary for all days approved.

vi) Taxable remuneration received from other agencies, organizations, institutions, or persons during the sabbatical leave will be reduced from the college salary, provided such remuneration will not include: royalties, dividends, interest or like income not derived from work performed during the period of the sabbatical leave.

B. Benefits

i) The College will provide full health and life benefits for the employee and dependents in the amount of the established contractual salary, except as modified by law in the case of the State Universities Retirement System.

ii) During the period of the leave, the employee will not earn or be eligible to take sick, vacation, holiday and personal days.

4. Sabbatical Recipient Role

Administrators accepting a sabbatical leave will follow these conditions:

A. A reasonable completion of the program of study or project for which the sabbatical leave was granted.

B. A presentation of a comprehensive report at the conclusion of the leave will be made to the President and the Board. This report will include, but is not restricted to, a summary of the program of study or project, an evaluation of the experience, and how the results of the leave will be used to improve the related responsibilities and/or contribute toward the  problem-solving of identified College needs.

C. Return to the employment of Elgin Community College for at least two (2) complete fiscal years following the conclusion of the sabbatical leave. Failure to return will require repayment of the full amount of the salary actually paid. If the recipient returns for only one fiscal year, he/she will repay one-half (2) of the salary actually paid. Failure to complete the full two (2) fiscal years in any other way shall require repayment of the salary actually paid on a prorated basis.

D. The signing of a sabbatical leave agreement with the College, acknowledging and agreeing to the terms and conditions of the sabbatical leave, will be required.

This policy was last reviewed on 08/31/2023.