Jacksonville State University
Office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs

Memorandum

 

TO:                JSU Faculty, Deans, Associate Vice Presidents and Directors

From:            Rebecca O. Turner
                      Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs

DATE:            August 14, 2007

SUBJECT:     Faculty Educational Leave
                         Professional Development Leave
                         Grow Your Own

Grow Your Own: A doctoral scholars program for African American students, faculty and administrators that provide support for completion of doctoral education program that prepares individuals for teaching or an administrative position at JSU, especially in areas under-served by people of color.

Faculty Educational Leave Program

I.         PURPOSE
The Faculty Educational Leave Program is intended to provide opportunities for faculty to pursue completion of a terminal degree. The leave program is intended to assist in the expense of tuition and fees incurred with graduate studies.

 

II.         ELIGIBILITY
Faculty who are full‑time, regular faculty members holding academic rank are eligible to apply for the Faculty Educational Leave Program.  Temporary faculty and adjunct faculty are not eligible.

 

III.        APPLICATION
All applications must clearly describe the educational program to be pursued, as well as the benefit to the University. The strength of the application is largely a function of the expected benefit to the University, the needs of the University and the future professional life of the faculty member. A limited number of leaves will be granted on a competitive basis. The total number of leaves available will be determined by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs. All leave applications must be approved by the department head and dean.  Final approval is made by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and the President.

 

IV.       LIMITATIONS
The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will determine the number of awards of faculty educational leave to be made each year. Budget constraints, resources necessary to provide coverage for the teaching load of those selected, and other restrictions within the effected department will determine the number of awards. These will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis. The award will be for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months for which the faculty member may receive up to $1,500 per month while enrolled full‑time in approved graduate study. Consideration will also be given for faculty to pursue a terminal degree on a part‑time basis and to continue employment at a reduced workload expectation and salary equivalent. A pro‑rata award of up to $1,500 per month while enrolled in approved part‑time graduate study will be awarded in proportion to the reduced work load expectation, e.g., 50% reduced work load = $750 award. Fringe benefits will be continued during leave by prior arrangement. Depending on college/department needs, award terms may be renegotiated (i.e., salary, length of leave, and length of employment requirements following leave).  Educational Leave will not count as time toward tenure or toward promotion. However, prior to beginning the leave, each faculty member must meet with the department head and dean who will determine the manner in which this leave will be evaluated as part of the annual evaluation.

 

V.        APPEAL
A formal, written appeal of leave denial must be filed with the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs within fourteen (14) days of notification of a denial. The decision of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs is final.

 

VI.       FACULTY EDUCATIONAL LEAVE REPORT
Upon returning from Faculty Educational Leave the faculty member will provide the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs with a brief description of accomplishments during the leave period in accordance with the outlined program of study in the application. In addition, an official transcript of grades and any other official verification of course work completion will be provided. The faculty member will be responsible for providing proof of enrollment, transcripts of grades, and other proof of satisfactory progress for each term of leave. The report, transcript, and other verification are due within sixty (60) days upon completing Faculty Educational Leave. The faculty member is required to return to the University's employ for a time equal to that of the Faculty Educational Leave.

Failure to submit a report for each Educational Leave period will result in forfeiture of the Leave Award necessitating a full return of all Educational Leave funds to the University in addition to cessation of future funding for Educational Leave.

 
Application for Faculty Education Leave (Word format)

 Application for Faculty Education Leave (PDF format)

 

I.          PURPOSE
The purpose of professional leave is to relieve faculty of normal duties so that they might pursue significant projects facilitating their professional growth and development, thus enhancing their future contributions to the mission of the University.  It is not the purpose of the Professional Development Leave Program to fund the pursuit of advanced degrees.

 

II.         ELIGIBILITY
Faculty who have completed at least six years of full-time service with the University are eligible to apply for professional leave.  Awards will be made on a competitive basis.

 

III.        APPLICATION
Application for professional leave is made by submitting to the department head a standard University form which includes a narrative outline of the project to be pursued, a statement explaining how the project will contribute to the faculty member's professional growth and development and the faculty member's qualifications for undertaking and completing the project.  Also, the application will include anticipated results of the proposed project (e.g. publications, reports, etc.).  The strength of the application is largely a function of the expected contributions to the University and future professional life of the faculty member.  The application may be for one semester leave at full-pay or for two consecutive semesters at half-pay.  May Term leave is available and counts as a one-semester leave, subject to the same rules, procedures, and limitations as Fall or Spring Semester leave.

 

IV.       LIMITATIONS
Budget constraints and academic program needs will determine the number of leaves available per term.  The Office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs has committed the resources necessary to provide coverage for the teaching load of those selected for leave if it is necessary.  Other constraints within the affected department may necessitate further commitment of resources.  These will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.  Fringe benefits will be continued during leave by prior arrangement.

 

V.        SELECTION
Each academic dean is charged with the responsibility of recommending applications from within the college for the purpose of selecting the strongest applications to forward to the Office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.  The Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs will make a recommendation to the President for approval/denial.
 

VI.       APPEAL
Applicants for professional leave may appeal decision to deny leave to the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.  A formal, written appeal must be filed within fourteen (14) calendar days of notification of the decision to deny leave.

 

VII.      PROFESSIONAL LEAVE REPORT
Upon returning from professional leave the faculty member will provide the Chair of the Professional Development Committee with a brief description of the project's results and a list of accomplishments according to the objectives outlined in the application.  The report is due within sixty (60) days upon completing professional development leave and should be provided in the following format:

 

A.        Name

B.        Brief Description of Project

C.        Evidence of Accomplishments of Project Objectives

 

Failure to submit a progress report will result in the cessation of funding for future grants. 

Upon accepting leave each faculty member will agree to return to the JSU faculty and to give a formal scholarly presentation to colleagues and other interested individuals during the Fall or Spring semester immediately following the term of professional development leave. 

Prior to beginning leave, each faculty member must meet with the department head and dean who will determine the manner in which this leave will be evaluated as part of the annual evaluation.

Application for Professional Development Leave (Word format)

Application for Professional Development Leave (PDF format)

 

GROW YOUR OWN: A DOCTORAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM

for

African American Students, Faculty, and Administrators

at

Jacksonville State University

 
The purpose of the Grow Your Own program is to provide support to African American graduate students, faculty, and administrators at Jacksonville State University (JSU), Jacksonville, Alabama, for the completion of doctoral education programs that prepare them for teaching or administration at JSU, especially in areas underserved by people of color.

 Doctoral scholars must have earned a bachelors or masters degree from a regionally accredited college or university with at least one degree from Jacksonville State University.  They are required to be accepted into or enrolled in a doctoral program in the State of Alabama. However, scholars desiring to earn the doctorate outside the state will be supported only at the in state tuition rate.

 Doctoral scholars are encouraged to seek a doctorate in fields with the least minority representation (business, mathematics, science, health or health related fields, history, English and math or science education). The Grow Your Own Program is designed to support  doctoral education for individuals who will return to JSU to teach or hold administrative positions, rather than professional degrees such as M.D., D.B.A., D.D.S., J. D., or D.V.M., that prepare for practice.

 Annually in June, evidence of satisfactory academic progress will be required of each scholar. Doctoral scholars must successfully complete all coursework within three years, followed by one year of university supported dissertation research. They will be asked to sign a contract agreeing to work for three consecutive years at JSU and serve as a JSU employee during the dissertation year.

All records pertaining to this program will be kept on file in the Office of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, 235 Bibb Graves Hall.

Any change to the above criteria must be approved by the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.

Application for Grow Your Own