Short Term Leaves of Absence

SHORT TERM LEAVES OF ABSENCE (i.e., 1 day to 2 weeks)

FACULTY:

(from page 63 of the Cornell University Faculty Handbook, 3.3 Leaves of Absence)

“In general, a leave of absence is a planned period of relief from normal duties. In all leaves of absence, with or without salary, the stability of the academic program takes precedence over the advantages to the individual.”

“When an academic employee travels for Cornell University, attends a professional meeting, presents a seminar at another institution, consults as permitted for professors, or engages in a Cornell academic program off-campus, a leave of absence is not requiured. If an employee travels for personal reasons or for recreation for a period that would interfere with normal duties, a leave of absence should be requested. An academic employee planning an extended leave of absence – for example, by applying for external support such as a fellowship – should obtain the prior approval of the department chairperson, and additional approvals may be necessary.

Authority for approving a leave of absence varies with the situation. The department chair may approve in writing two weeks or less of leave. Leaves of more than two weeks and as long as one year, with or without salary, can be granted by the dean. Leaves or leave combinations that exceed one year require the further approval of the provost.”

Literature Faculty: the Department Chair should be informed in advance of any leaves covered in the policy above that require absence from course duties. The faculty member who will be gone is responsible for finding their course replacements for the short-term period they are gone. In addition, the chair’s advance approval is required for any such leaves that extend beyond two consecutively missed classes.

Language Faculty: the Associate Chair (and in appropriated cases, the course coordinator) should be informed in advance of any leaves covered in the policy above that require absence from course duties. The employee who will be gone is responsible for finding their course replacements for the short-term period they are gone. In addition, the associate chair’s advance approval is required for any such leaves that extend beyond 2 consecutively missed classes.

TEACHING ASSISTANTS:

Language Graduate Student Teaching Assistants must negotiate a short-term leave first with their course coordinator after which the course coordinator must inform the Associate Chair. Each leave will be negotiated based on its own merit, and for situations involving replacements for more than a class or two, the leave will likely be without pay so that the department can recoup the funds to pay for the replacement teacher. Based on the situation, the graduate teaching assistant going on short term leave may be required to find their own replacement.

Literature Graduate Student Teaching Assistants must negotiate a short-term leave in advance with the Director of Graduate Studies.   Each leave will be negotiated based on its own merit, and for situations involving replacements for more than a class or two, the leave will likely be without pay so that the department can recoup the funds to pay for the replacement teacher. Based on the situation, the graduate teaching assistant going on short term leave may be required to find their own replacement.

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