Sabbaticals

Key resources

• Policy 3 – Sabbatical and Other Leaves for Faculty Members

• Human Resources: Sabbatical leaves

• The Request for Leave of Absence form (.doc) available on the Provost Office’s website

• Sabbatical Salary Enhancement Table (PDF)

• Office of Research: Sabbatical eligible expenses

If you’re planning to travel

• Policy 31 – Travel

• Waterloo International: Support for researchers

• Waterloo International: Travel safety information for faculty

• Out of country benefits

Other resources

The Faculty of Environment’s sabbatical application procedure is online (let us know if you find the equivalent for your Faculty!)

Your spouse/family might find Nancy Matthews’ book, Sabbaticals 101: A Practical Guide for Academics and Their Families, a useful resource in preparing for your sabbatical. It is available at the University Library.

• You have a right to your sabbatical, but you have to apply. Your dean’s decision will take into account the timing of your sabbatical and those of your colleagues.

• You are eligible to apply for a regular sabbatical after six years, full-time, in the professorial ranks. You can either take 12 months at 85% of your salary, or six months at 100% of your salary.

  • You can apply for an “early” sabbatical after three years. This is a six-month sabbatical at 85% of your salary.

  • New probationary faculty are eligible for a pre-tenure sabbatical after three years. This is a six-month sabbatical at full pay.

• Your benefits and pension contributions continue during your sabbatical.

• You should register with Waterloo International if you’re travelling.

• You can defer your sabbatical and continue accruing sabbatical credit for up to three years.
• You can carry forward unused credit for three years.

Here's a summary of service required and salary options for all four types of sabbaticals:

*See the Sabbatical Salary Enhancement Table (PDF) for details.
**You get admin credit at the level of chair, associate dean, or higher. 

• Your chair/director, about the timing and impact on your teaching load – do this well in advance!

• The administrative assistant to your chair and/or the faculty relations/administrative officer for your Faculty, about the process, your salary, and other details.

• The Office of Research, about funding opportunities.

• Waterloo International, about travel and making connections with other institutions.

• FAUW, if you are turned down.

• Is the leave I need a sabbatical or some other kind of leave?

• What is required to apply in my unit/Faculty? (Ask your chair/director.)

• Do I need a VISA for the travel I have planned? (Ask Waterloo International.)

• Both FAUW and the UW Administration highly encourage you to take your pre-tenure sabbatical leave. It exists to allow you time to prepare your tenure application.

• Read the notes at the end of section three in Policy 3 for some good tips. For instance, it might make sense for you to apply for research grants in lieu of salary, which can provide tax savings during your sabbatical.

• Check out the Sabbatical Salary Enhancement Table (PDF) on the Provost's website. You can top up your salary on a one-year sabbatical by accruing more service credit before taking the sabbatical. For example, an additional 22 months' credit will bring your salary up to 100% during a 12-month leave. Alternatively, you can apply this additional credit to a future sabbatical.

• Don’t use your sabbatical to fill needs that could be filled by other kinds of leaves to which you are entitled (e.g. caregiver or medical leave).

• Don’t plan your sabbatical for a time when you know you will have added caregiver or other responsibilities that are likely to take over your time.

• Talk to FAUW and/or Occupational Health about extending or deferring your sabbatical if something comes up that prevents you from using your sabbatical as it is intended.