Sabbatical Leaves and Educational and Travel Grants

A full-time A/P and Support Staff employee may apply for a sabbatical leave or an educational or travel grant, which may be granted by the College in its sole discretion. Sabbatical leave may be granted for reasons such as study, research, program development, professional development, or other creative activity with reciprocal advantage to the College and the employee. An educational or travel grant may be granted to support an employee’s professional development.  

1. Sabbatical Eligibility and Leave Period
   
   
   1. A sabbatical leave may be granted to the same person only once within every six-year period.
      
      Sabbatical leaves are typically granted to employees who have at least six years of service with the College. On rare occasions, sabbatical leave will be granted to an employee who has less than six years of service. A/P or Support Staff currently on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) are not eligible for sabbatical leave.
      
      
   2. The College will notify the applicant of any approved sabbatical leave duration. The typical leave is up to six months. The leave will not be longer than one year and must be taken from July 1 through June 30.
      
      
2. Criteria for Evaluating Sabbatical Leave Applications

   An employee must apply for sabbatical leave using the College approved applicant process. In reviewing a sabbatical leave request, the College will consider:

   1. The proposed plan or design.

   2. Evidence of prior commitment to the proposal.

   3. Evidence that leave will be reciprocally advantageous to the employee and the College.

   4. Recommendation statements which accompany the application.

   5. Confirmation from the employee’s immediate supervisor that the employee has a proven track record of being committed to and following through on work activities related to scholarship, professional development, program development, College service, community service, and similar activities.

   6. Confirmation of any prior sabbatical leaves, including the name, date, and written report/communication of the results.

   7. Alignment with the College’s mission, vision, and values.

3. Salary and Benefits During Approved Sabbatical Leave

   An employee on a sabbatical leave of one-semester or up to six-months will receive that employee’s full salary for that period, as reflected in the employee’s memorandum of appointment. An employee on a sabbatical leave of two semesters or up to 12 months will receive 50% of the employee’s full salary for that period, as reflected in the employee’s memorandum of appointment.

   Benefits will continue during sabbatical leave, except retirement contributions. It is the employee’s responsibility to check with the Human Resources Office to determine how a sabbatical might affect years of service reported for the employee’s retirement.

4. Responsibilities of Approved Sabbatical Leave Recipient
   
   
   1. Prior to starting sabbatical leave, the sabbatical leave employee shall resign from College elected offices, unless otherwise approved by the College in writing.
      
      
   2. The sabbatical leave employee will inform the College of any non-College salaries, grants, or fellowships received by the employee during sabbatical leave as soon as possible, but in no event later than the last day of approved sabbatical leave. The employee shall likewise establish to the College’s satisfaction, before the last day of approved sabbatical leave, that the employee’s income from such sources does not exceed the employee’s research expenses and travel and relocation expenses that are essential to the sabbatical leave project. If the employee fails to do so, the employee shall upon the College’s demand repay the College all or a portion of the gross salary paid by the College to the employee during sabbatical leave, as determined by the College.
      
      
   3. The College Sabbatical Leaves procedure outlines the steps to take if a sabbatical leave employee desires to request any changes to the leave.
      
      
   4. An employee granted a sabbatical leave is expected to return to normal responsibilities at Delta College for at least two years following the leave. Should the employee not return for the required period, the employee shall upon the College’s demand repay the College all or a portion of the gross salary paid by the College to the employee during sabbatical leave, as determined by the College.
      
      
   5. Within 90 days after returning from sabbatical leave, the sabbatical leave employee shall submit a concise sabbatical leave written report to the College President. This report will become a part of the employee's permanent Human Resources file and may be made available to the College community. Additionally, the College President or designee may require a sabbatical leave employee to make a presentation at a group forum and/or Fall Learning Days. If the sabbatical leave employee fails to timely submit a written report, the written report fails to demonstrate progress on the sabbatical leave project, or the employee fails to make a required presentation, then the employee shall upon the College’s demand repay the College all or a portion of the gross salary paid by the College to the employee during sabbatical leave, as determined by the College.
      
      
   6. Additionally, failure to submit a report or to make a required presentation will result in notification to the appropriate supervisor and appropriate Cabinet Member. Failure to demonstrate progress on the sabbatical leave project in the final report will be noted in the employee’s Human Resources file and may impact the approval of any future sabbatical leave requests.
      
      
   7. If an employee is required to repay the College all or a portion of gross salary under this policy and fails to do so upon the College’s demand, then the employee shall also promptly reimburse the College for any attorney fees incurred by the College in seeking enforcement of the repayment obligation.
      
      
5. Approval Process: to be approved for sabbatical leave or an educational or travel grant, the employee must receive written approval from the employee’s immediate supervisor, a Cabinet Member, and the President.

 

Board Action 5664 – March 10, 2026
Board Action 5262 – December 11, 2018
Board Action 5209 – December 12, 2017
Board Action 4918 – February 21, 2012
(V. D. only) Board Action 3496 – April 12, 1994  
Board Action 2543 – June 3, 1986  
Board Action 1793 – December 12, 1978  
Board Action 1652 – March 14, 1978  
Board Action 1643 – February 14, 1978  
Board Action 1203 – January 21, 1975