Some of the questions can be answered by direct reference to policy statements in the Faculty Handbook. A summary of these policy statements is provided above. However, questions are also raised about other matters not specifically covered in the policy but for which faculty need some guidance. The following paragraphs attempt to provide reasonably succinct answers to these other kinds of questions. It is important, first, to recall the rationale for a sabbatical program at a university.
Sabbaticals are basically a form of faculty development.
The university is making an investment in the development of its human resources and, in fact, its most critical resource. What the university expects to get in return is a better, more productive faculty member. The rationale provided above gives an indication of the amount of effort expected in a sabbatical. The faculty member on sabbatical is not on vacation. A sabbatical proposal may concentrate on either research or curriculum development.