Purpose

To govern the granting of periods of Administrative Leave for Academic Administrators.

Scope

Academic Administrators other than the President and Vice-Presidents of the University.

Definitions

Academic Administrator — An Academic Staff Member who is appointed to an administrative role in an Academic Unit or is appointed to a senior administrative office and is therefore excluded from MUNFA as per Appendix A of the MUN-MUNFA Collective Agreement. This includes acting and interim appointments.

Academic Unit — Refers to a centre, department, division, faculty, program or school, other than an administrative unit, as the context requires and as defined in the University Calendar.

Administrative Leave — Is a period of release from normal teaching and administrative duties at the conclusion of the administrative appointment. It is provided to enable ASMs to engage in research, scholarship, and critical, creative, professional or developmental work to foster their academic or professional effectiveness.

Administrative Stipend — An amount beyond the base salary and any market differential paid during the term of the administrative appointment.

ASM — Academic Staff Member. An employee whose terms and conditions of employment are defined in the MUN-MUNFA Collective Agreement.

Policy

Upon completion of a period serving as an academic administrator, ASMs are granted a period of leave, as defined below, for the purpose of academic renewal to facilitate re-entry to regular academic duties. This policy recognizes that sabbatical leaves are not accrued while acting as an academic administrator. The authority for approving Administrative Leave rests with the Board of Regents and any delegated authorities to the President.

I. Conditions

Administrative Leave is granted with the expectation that the former Academic Administrator will resume academic duties for a period equal to the duration of the leave. Exceptions to this requirement will only be considered in exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the Provost and Vice-President (Academic). For other campuses, any exceptions must be approved jointly by the respective Vice-President of Grenfell Campus or Marine Institute, in consultation with the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), to ensure consistency and alignment across all academic units.

While on administrative leave, a former academic administrator who has not been appointed to a subsequent administrative position, either in the same or a different administrative role, following the leave is considered to have returned to the bargaining unit and is an ASM on leave with pay as per article 22.41of the Collective Agreement. All employee benefits are retained. Academic administrators who will take up an administrative role following their leave are excluded from the bargaining unit while on leave.

During the Administrative Leave, the ASM receives their regular academic salary or 95% of their regular salary plus a research grant of 5%. No Administrative Stipend or temporary market differential is paid to an ASM on Administrative Leave.

Time spent on Administrative Leave shall not be considered as service towards the term of the administrative appointment. While on Administrative leave, the Academic Administrator/ASM may engage in outside professional activities but, shall not enter into an employment contract with another university/organization. Any accrued leave entitlement not taken shall not be paid out following a resignation, retirement or other departure.

Normally, Administrative Leave shall be taken at the conclusion of the term(s) of administrative appointment. Requests to defer the commencement of Administrative Leave require the approval of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic). For other campuses, any exceptions must be approved jointly by the respective Vice-President of Grenfell Campus or Marine Institute, in consultation with the Provost and Vice-President (Academic), to ensure consistency and alignment across all academic units. Under no circumstance shall Administrative Leave be deferred more than twelve (12) months beyond the conclusion of the administrative appointment(s).

II. Criteria
The granting of Administrative Leave is in accordance with Table 1:

Table 1 Administrtative Leave Eligibility

Administrative Leave is prorated in cases where the Academic Administrator serves a partial term of at least one-year duration or a partial subsequent term after completing the initial appointment or serves consecutive terms in the same or different administrative roles, subject to a maximum accrued eligibility of twenty-four (24) months.

III. Carryover of Sabbatical Eligibility
The University recognizes that prospective Academic Administrators who are currently employed at the University may have accrued years of service toward sabbatical leave. Such years may be carried forward when the Academic Administrator re-enters the bargaining unit, in accordance with the MUN-MUNFA Collective Agreement.

IV. Relationship to Sabbatical Leave

Where an Academic Administrator has not served at least one year in an administrative appointment so as to qualify for Administrative Leave, the period of service as an Academic Administrator may be considered eligible service towards sabbatical leave. Accrual of service towards sabbatical leave following an administrative appointment begins with the return to normal academic duties. Periods of Administrative Leave are not eligible service towards sabbatical leave.

V. Designating a Portion of Salary as Research Grant
An Academic Administrator applying for Administrative Leave is also eligible to apply for a research grant of up to 5% of basic annual salary prorated for the length of the leave provided the total does not exceed 100% of salary. As with the approval of the sabbatical leave, the authority for approving designating a portion of salary as a research grant rests with the Board of Regents and any delegated authorities of the President.

In addition, an Academic Administrator on leave for any length of time at full or at reduced salary may apply through the Office of Research Grant and Contract Services to have a portion of basic annual salary (prorated for the length of the leave) designated as a research grant in accordance with the University’s policies and subject to Canada Revenue Agency regulations.

Related Documents

Guidelines for Academic Administrator Positions
Procedures Governing the Appointment, Review, Promotion and Tenure of Academic Administrators

Administrative Stipends document

Procedures: