March 23, 2020
This message was sent to all deans.
Extending Sabbatical Leaves
Dear IUPUI Deans:
Due to the many complications associated with the COVID19 pandemic, IUPUI will defer all currently-approved sabbaticals for one year. All travel is apt to be extremely challenging in the months ahead. Furthermore, the unprecedented nature of this situation calls for us to be as fiscally prudent as possible. In particular, if teaching responsibilities associated with the faculty member on leave can only be fulfilled by hiring visiting faculty or part-time faculty, it is important to curtail these expenses if at all possible.
Deans may recommend exceptions to this deferral by March 31, 2020 by sending a brief email to Dr. Margie Ferguson (mferguso@iupui.edu) that stipulates the rationale for the requested exception (e.g., the teaching responsibilities of the faculty member on leave can be covered by current full-time-faculty).
Since sabbatical requests have already been approved by the IU Board of Trustees, any deferred sabbaticals that retain their original purpose can go forward in AY 2021-2022 without additional campus or Board approval, though deans should approve the new timing. For sabbaticals which have been delayed by campus or schools, the overall limit of one per seven years remains, but the requirement for four years in-between is waived.
We are aware this will be disappointing and disruptive to faculty research plans. These are extremely challenging times, and we do hope that you understand that we are making this decision to help protect the overall fiscal health of IUPUI, IUPUC and IU Fort Wayne.
Sincerely,
Kathy E. Johnson, Ph.D.
Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Psychology
