As part of COVID-19 mitigation measures the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor and Vice Provost for Academic Personnel have agreed with Senate leadership to review requests from faculty to return some of the credits used for sabbatical leaves disrupted by the pandemic.  The use of any returned credits will be subject to the same conditions as all credits for sabbatical leave, including the requirement for approval from the Chair and Dean.

Eligibility:

  • Faculty who took a sabbatical leave during Winter Quarter 2020 and/or Spring Quarter 2020 and whose ability to conduct sabbatical leave work was halted or reduced due to the COVID-19 disruption in March 2020.
  • Faculty who took a sabbatical leave during Fall Quarter 2020 through Winter Quarter 2022 and whose ability to conduct sabbatical leave work was halted or reduced due to specific COVID-19 related disruptions that were NOT anticipated despite the ongoing pandemic. Note: As a reminder, all faculty were given the opportunity to cancel their planned sabbatical leaves.

Procedures:

Requests should be made by completion and submission of the COVID-19 Sabbatical Leave Credit Return Request form to Academic Personnel by October 14, 2022. Requests will be reviewed by a three-member faculty committee nominated by the Senate, which includes two equity advisors. The committee will recommend whether, and if so, how many sabbatical leave credits should be returned based on the timing and extent of disruption. The Vice Provost will have final approval authority.

Criteria for full versus partial credit return for sabbatical leave quarter(s):

Full return: sabbatical research activity was completely halted due to COVID-19 related

  • closing of labs, archives, performance venues
  • travel restrictions
  • unavailability of other necessary resources
  • substantially increased dependent care responsibility

Partial return: sabbatical research activity was reduced but not halted due to COVID-19 related

  • decreases in occupancy that limited time in labs, archives, performance venues,
  • restricted travel
  • decreases of other necessary resources
  • increased dependent care responsibility

How to Apply:

  • Complete the COVID-19 Sabbatical Leave Credit Return Request form
  • Include a copy of the Sabbatical Leave of Absence Form (UCI-AP-75) that was approved for the sabbatical quarter(s) referred to in the request.
  • Route forms for Chair and Dean input and approval prior to submission.
  • Submit both completed forms to acadpers@uci.edu by October 14, 2022.