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External Competitive Research and Scholarly Leaves

Faculty members are sometimes awarded external competitive research leaves by private foundations (e.g., Fulbright, Guggenheim, Robert Wood Johnson) or by the federal government (e.g., NIH, NEH). These external competitive research leave may significantly enhance the faculty member's research productivity and contribute to the greater benefit of the faculty member's department or school and, by extension, to the University as a whole. Thus, faculty members are encouraged to apply for prestigious external competitive fellowships.

These fellowships usually provide salary support, but this is generally less than the faculty member's regular base salary. In these cases, consideration may be given by the faculty member's dean to support a request by the faculty member for a competitive research leave with a full or partial salary supplement.

Except in extenuating circumstances, to be eligible for full or partial salary supplementation, the following criteria apply:

• the faculty member must not have received an internal or external competitive leave for the previous five years;
• the funding match provided by the University may not exceed 50% of the faculty member's base salary; and
• salary supplementation will only be provided for research awards, not for teaching awards.

The decision by the dean to provide a full or partial salary supplement will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the relative prestige of the fellowship, the benefit to be realized by the faculty member, the long-term benefit to the reputation and productivity of the department or school, the staffing needs of the department or school, and the number of competing requests from faculty members.

To enable a greater opportunity for salary supplementation to be made by the department, the school, or the College, the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost may, solely at his or her discretion, provide supplemental funding on a dollar for dollar basis.

Supplemental Funding

When possible, the University will supplement funding for those scholars who receive Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other nationally and internationally competitive awards, (up to a maximum from both sources) of the salary of the individual and in an amount to be determined by the Committee in each individual case.

Applications for supplemental funding must be submitted to the Dean, and the Dean makes awards.  If non-state sources are used, a scholar does not have to wait five years to be eligible for supplemental funding.

This policy is effective September 6, 2005.