Chemeketa Faculty,
Your Sabbatical Committee would like to share some important updates regarding the process of applying.
As most of you are aware, changes in the CFA contract approved in 2021 increased faculty compensation while on sabbatical to 100% of the member’s salary, while at the same time reducing by 25% the number of available sabbatical leaves. This led to an increase in the number of faculty requesting sabbaticals — 35 terms requested and only 18 available — resulting in some faculty not being awarded sabbaticals in the year of their request.
To manage this imbalance, the Sabbatical Committee created an objective rubric to help determine which approved applications would be moved forward. This tool has worked well both this and last year, helping select which applicants would be forwarded to the Board of Education. Applications approved but not forwarded receive extra “points” in the subsequent year if they choose to apply again, helping ensure they move forward then.
However, the Committee has determined that this process is not tenable going forward. For example, if the six faculty members whose applications were not forwarded this year apply again next year, they will likely be awarded all of the available sabbatical leaves. This would mean new applicants next year will likely not be forwarded to the Board, even if they are approved by the Committee.
To rectify this, the Sabbatical Committee, in conjunction with the CFA Executive Team and our college administrative support, plan to implement the following changes to the process.
Process for the 2023-2024 Academic Year:
For applicants applying next academic year for sabbatical during the 2024-2025 academic year, there will be no significant changes to the process. Applications will be reviewed and voted on by the committee, and applications with a plurality of Yea’s will be moved forward. If there are more approved terms than available, then the objective scoring rubric used the past two years will be applied. This process remains in place to maintain continuity for those applicants who were not awarded this year.
As noted above: Given the number of approved-but-not-awarded applications this year, if all of those applicants reapply next year, it is unlikely that any new applicants will be awarded sabbaticals during the next cycle. This is a disappointing situation to be in, but it also helped make it clear to the committee that the current processes are not sustainable given the current constraints on the number of leaves available. Despite these odds, faculty are still encouraged to apply for sabbaticals next year.
Process for the 2024–2025 Academic Year and Beyond
Beginning in fall of 2024, the sabbatical committee will be implementing a revised evaluation process for applications. While the core criteria will not change substantially, a new rubric will be used to evaluate and score the applications, with the highest-scoring applications being awarded sabbaticals until all available leaves are exhausted.
With this change, coaching of both faculty and their Deans will be an important part of the process, and the committee intends to offer a number of opportunities for learning about the application process, including sharing of the scoring rubric at the earliest stages of the process and training sessions during in-service and at other times.
We understand that these changes make the process more competitive while also not guaranteeing faculty members access to a sabbatical. However, it is also reflective of our current reality, and is similar to what is done at other institutions. By making these changes, we create a selection process that is fair, objective, and sustainable while encouraging applicants to create compelling and meaningful proposals.
Thanks for understanding.
The Sabbatical Committee
Peter Hoelter & Chris Kato, co-chairs;
Justus Ballard & Traci Hodgson, faculty representatives;
Marie Gabbard & Glen Miller, administration representativesDon Brase, exec dean sponsor