It happens on college campuses across America. A professor takes a sabbatical. What does their absence mean to students? What if you need papers signed? What if you need advising help? Dr. David Summers, who is going on sabbatical next semester, and Dr. Gloria Still, – who applied for sabbatical for next school year, discussed important points about sabbaticals.
What exactly is a Sabbatical?
Summers: A sabbatical is a period of rest and extended scholarly work that professors take. They allow professors to complete research projects that require sustained attention and a great many hours of work, which is often not possible during terms of teaching. The word derives from the words “Sabbath Rest.”
What does a professor do in order to go on a sabbatical?
Still: Sabbaticals at Capital University are not automatically granted. However a faculty member is eligible to apply for one after six years of full time teaching. While the University does not monitor sabbaticals, they do ask for a schedule and an idea on how we plan to achieve our objectives. At the end of our sabbatical period we have to report to the university.
What can a professor do on a sabbatical?
Summers: As professors we have our own scholarship to get done. With teaching full time and doing work on Campus and around the community it is hard to find time to see our own projects through to completion. A sabbatical allows for a professor to focus mainly on his or her own professional work as well as working on course development and research in order to serve both students and the university academically down the road. If I expect my students to write long papers about Shakespeare, I should be doing it as well.
What happens when a student’s advisor goes on Sabbatical or when a student needs a signature or a letter of recommendation?
Still: Professors within given departments will work together in order to make sure that an advisor’s students still get advised, with a different faculty member. Certain faculty members may also cover classes that the professor on sabbatical teachers, in order to keep class options open for students. We work to make sure that our schedules do not disrupt the lives of students and ensure that their needs are met.
