25.10 – Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical leave is a benefit provided to enable tenured Members to maintain their effectiveness as teachers, scholars, and professionals. A sabbatical leave is for the purpose of scholarship/research and/or professional development, to the benefit not only of the leave-taker, but also of the Employer, the students, and the academic community in general.

25.10.1 – Application Deadlines

Eligible Members requesting a sabbatical leave shall make application in writing to the Dean/Director as follows:

a) if a Member wishes to apply for a sabbatical to start any time between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, they must apply before 1 March 2024.

b) if a Member wishes to apply for a sabbatical to start any time between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, they must apply before 1 March 2025.

c) if a Member wishes to apply for a sabbatical to start any time between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2028, they must apply before 1 March 2026.

d) if a Member wishes to apply for a sabbatical to start any time between 1 July 2028 and 30 June 2029, they must apply before 1 March 2027.

25.10.2 – Sabbatical Application

The application shall include a summary of scholarship/research and professional activities undertaken by the Member during their most recent leave (see Article 25.10.10) as well as a detailed statement of plans (namely goals and objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of the scholarship/research proposed) for the entire period of the sabbatical leave and shall indicate the benefits which shall accrue to the Member, to the institution, and to the academic community. Applications shall be submitted on the appropriate form and be accompanied by the Member’s current curriculum vitae.

25.10.3 – Department Recommendation on Sabbatical Application

The Department shall meet with the Member and make a recommendation based on Article 25.10 by 1 April. The Dean/Director shall meet with the Member and forward the application, the Department’s recommendation, and their own recommendation to the President by 15 April.

25.10.4 – Sabbatical Frequency and Sabbatical Replacements

(a) The Employer shall provide paid special leaves and sabbatical leaves for all eligible Members. For the Members employed in the Special Projects, the Employer shall provide paid special leaves and sabbatical leaves for a full year for one (1) Member (or equivalent) in any one (1) year, provided there is (are) Member(s) entitled to such a leave under the provisions of this Article.

(b) Members will be permitted to apply for a sabbatical over a two (2) year period. In that event, seniority toward a future sabbatical shall be counted from the time of return from the second half of the sabbatical but shall include the period of service between the two (2) sabbatical halves.

(c) A Member may opt to apply for a one-half (1/2) sabbatical leave after six (6) years of service. Should this option be approved, the Member shall be entitled to receive one hundred percent (100%) of salary and benefits. If this option is taken, the Member will be deemed to have received the equivalent of a full sabbatical.

(d) The Employer shall provide four (4) full-time or equivalent appointments in each academic year for the purpose of replacing Members on sabbatical leave. As part of the annual staffing process, the Employer shall consider requests for additional full-time or equivalent appointments for the purpose of replacing Members on sabbatical leave.

(e) The Employer shall make available a pool of funds sufficient to replace forty-two (42) courses (i.e., the equivalent of three (3) courses for fourteen (14) full-year sabbatical leaves) each academic year for the purpose of replacing Members on sabbatical leave.

(f) The funds identified in Article 25.10.4 (d) and (e) will be managed by the Office of the Provost, and (as per Article 20.2.3) allocated to Departments, as either term, overload, or CAS course-based contracts, no later than 30 September of the preceding academic year. These funds will be allocated to academic programs across the University through consultation with the Deans/Directors and in accordance with academic programming needs (including by reference to factors outlined in Articles 20.4.1 and 20.4.2).

25.10.5 – Department Caps for Sabbatical Leaves

Ordinarily, no more than one (1) Member from a Department of four (4) or fewer eligible Members, two (2) Members from a Department of five (5) to nine (9) eligible Members, three (3) Members from a Department of ten (10) to fourteen (14) eligible Members, and four (4) Members from a Department of fifteen (15) or more eligible Members shall be on paid leave other than sick, compassionate care, parental, or birth leave at any one time. The Employer may permit these quotas to be exceeded.

25.10.6 – Sabbatical Deferrals

If necessary, Members shall defer their sabbatical leaves in order to meet the requirements of Articles 25.10.4 and 25.10.5. Members shall defer leaves in the following order:

(a) those who were last on sabbatical or similar (as defined in Articles 25.8.1 and 25.10) leave, and if (a) does not solve the problem, then

(b) those with the least seniority.

25.10.7 – Credit toward Future Sabbatical when Deferred

Members who defer their sabbatical leave in order to meet the requirements of Articles 25.10.4 or 25.10.5 shall not forfeit the leave credits which they have accumulated. The excess service due to the application of Articles 25.10.4 or 25.10.5 shall be credited against a subsequent sabbatical leave.

Where a Member opts to apply for a sabbatical that will begin later than the earliest date of eligibility, but within one (1) year of that date, the period between the earliest date of eligibility and the actual beginning of the sabbatical shall accrue, to a maximum of one (1) year, toward their next sabbatical leave allotment.

25.10.8 – President’s Decision

The President shall submit their decisions to the Board of Governors for ratification and shall inform Members by 31 May. Refusals shall be accompanied by reasons.

25.10.9 – Cancelled Sabbatical Leaves

Once leave has been granted, it is expected that it will be taken. Only under extraordinary conditions may the Member cancel the leave by notifying the Dean/Director at least eight (8) months prior to the commencement of the leave. It is the responsibility of the Member to notify the Dean/Director in writing of any changes in plans and to consult with the Dean/Director on these changed plans.

25.10.10 – Sabbatical Report

A Member who has taken a sabbatical leave is under an obligation to return to Brandon University for a period equal in length to the duration of the sabbatical leave or to reimburse the University an amount equal to their salary while they were on leave. This requirement may be waived by mutual agreement of the Member and the Employer.

25.10.11 – Return after Sabbatical Leave

A Member who has taken a sabbatical leave is under an obligation to return to Brandon University for a period equal in length to the duration of the sabbatical leave or to reimburse the University an amount equal to their salary while they were on leave. This requirement may be waived by mutual agreement of the Member and the Employer.

25.10.12 – Eligibility

Tenured Members are eligible for a full sabbatical leave after six (6) years and for a half sabbatical leave after three (3) years of service at Brandon University. Service to be counted as time towards a sabbatical must be uninterrupted by a sabbatical or by any other leave declared by the Employer to be for the same purpose as sabbatical leave. A Member shall be entitled to count similar previous service at any recognized university toward a first sabbatical leave at Brandon University (excluded service includes, but is not limited to, Contract Academic Staff contracts and graduate teaching assistantships). Such service shall be counted two (2) years elsewhere as one (1) year at Brandon University to a maximum of two (2) years toward a full sabbatical leave and one (1) year toward a half sabbatical leave and shall be stipulated in the original Letter of Appointment. For the purposes of this Clause, similar previous experience refers to employment where all parts of the qualifications by rank defined in the relevant Clause of Article 14 are part of the job. Where the combination of tenure-track contract duration and sabbatical credit upon hire creates a situation where an individual meets the criteria for sabbatical prior to being obligated to apply for tenure, the Member may carry forward the excess sabbatical credit, to a maximum of two (2) years, to use after their successful attainment of tenure. The excess service due to the application of Articles 25.10.4 or 25.10.5 shall be counted as accumulated service towards sabbatical.

25.10.13 – Start Date of Sabbatical Leave

A full sabbatical leave shall be from either 1 July to 30 June next, 1 January to 31 December next, or other twelve (12) month period as agreed by the Employer and the Member and upon the recommendation of the Department. A half sabbatical leave shall be from either 1 July to 31 December next or 1 January to 30 June next or as agreed by the Employer and the Member and upon recommendation of the Department

25.10.14 – Sabbatical Salary

A Member’s salary while on sabbatical leave shall be ninety percent (90%) of their annual salary for their first sabbatical and eighty-five percent (85%) of their annual salary for subsequent sabbaticals, such salaries in effect during the sabbatical period, or as calculated based on Article 15.17.3 (o) for those Members on amended appointment, with the Employer continuing benefit payments at base salary rates (however, see Article 25.10.4 (c)).

25.10.15 – Other Income while on Sabbatical

If (a) a Member’s sabbatical salary plus (b) other income arising out of the sabbatical leave exceeds (c) their base salary at Brandon University plus reasonable travel and additional living costs for themself and their dependents, then the Employer shall reduce (a) until a+b=c. Any monies recovered under this Clause shall be dedicated to research at Brandon University.

25.10.16 – Salary as Research Grant

Subject to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) policy and regulations, a Member may apply to receive part of their salary as a research grant.

25.10.17 – External Funding

A Member going on sabbatical leave shall be encouraged to apply for financial assistance from external sources. Entitlement to leave, however, shall not be dependent upon receiving such assistance.

25.10.18 – Service Activities while on Sabbatical Leave

Members on sabbatical or special leave shall not be required to participate in Brandon University activities (e.g., University committee work, Pension Trustees Committee responsibilities, teaching on an overload basis) other than those for which the sabbatical was given. However, if the Member’s Department requires a decision which is of importance to the Member, including recommendations on workload, parts of the program affecting the Member’s teaching assignment, selection of a Departmental Chair, selection committees for appointments in the Member’s Department (term or probationary positions) and others as determined by the Department, and the Member is available, the Member may attend meetings called for that purpose.

Should the Member not be available locally, they may participate as a non-voting Member of the Selection Committee. For all other matters identified above, they shall be requested to participate and vote by mail or email on important decisions. Every reasonable effort shall be made to notify the Member at least one (1) week in advance of such decisions.