• Educational Leave
    Without Pay Policy
• Educational Leave
    With Pay Policy
• Educational Leave
    Agreement
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    Professional
    Development
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Policies & Procedures - Educational Leave Without Pay

Section: 300 – Human Resources Subject: Professional Development & Training Policy: Educational Leave Without Pay Policy Date Approved: July 24, 2008 Policy #: CCS 372.1.05 Date of Last Amendment: July 23, 2008   Effective Date: August 1, 2008 Approved: Richard A. Gustafson, Chancellor

• I. Policy:
  
  Educational leave without pay may be granted, at the discretion of the CCSNH, for the purpose of allowing employees time to further their education through an approved full-time course of study or professional development activity directly related to their work or that of the Community College System. Such leave shall be available as a matter of privilege rather than a right and may be granted only in those cases where the criteria as set forth below are met.
• II. Eligibility:
  
  Full-time employees who have completed two years of continuous employment and have satisfactory job performance in their current position are eligible to apply for an educational leave without pay for the pursuit of full-time study or an approved employment opportunity that will significantly enhance one’s knowledge and skills within their academic discipline or occupational field.
• III. Restrictions:


• A. An educational leave without pay shall not be granted for more than 12 consecutive months.
• B. An educational leave without pay shall be granted only at a time when it will not disrupt the operations or teaching programs of the Community College System or its colleges.
• C. An educational leave for an academic-year employee shall be timed so that it starts and ends on dates established in the academic calendar for the beginnings and endings of semesters. The beginning and ending of an educational leave without pay for a twelve month employee shall be scheduled at times reasonable and convenient to the employee’s department or work unit.
• III. Benefits:
  
  During an approved educational leave without pay no annual leave, sick leave, bonus leave, or floating holidays shall be accumulated and the employee’s increment, leave progression, and seniority dates shall be adjusted based on the total number of calendar days without pay. The continuation of health, dental, retirement, and other voluntary benefits shall be processed in accordance with federal laws, the provisions of negotiated agreements, and human resources policies and procedures.
• IV. Application Process:
  
  The employee shall file a written application to his or her supervisor designating the purpose for the requested leave, the dates of the requested leave, the benefit of the leave to the employee’s professional development, and the contribution/benefit of the outcome of the leave to the institution.
• V. Approval:


• A. Requests for educational leave without pay may be granted at the discretion of the College President for his or her college personnel or the Chancellor in the case of system office personnel and presidents.
• B. Approved requests for educational leave without pay are to be submitted to the CCSNH Human Resources Office through the appropriate college president or administrative officer for processing. Such documentation shall include the a) an explanation by the employee’s supervisors of the impact of the educational leave on the teaching or operational needs in the department; b) the manner in which the essential services related to the individual's position will be maintained during the individual's absence; and c) a detailed explanation of the professional development project for which educational leave without pay has been granted.
• VI. Conditions:


• A. Recipients of an educational leave without pay must return to full duty following the expiration of the approved leave. Failure on the part of the recipient to report without acceptable reason on the next business day following the expiration of an approved educational leave without pay shall be cause for termination.
• B. At the end of the educational leave, a report describing the educational activities and completed work for which the unpaid leave was granted shall be provided to the College President or his/her designee or the Chancellor for system office personnel. Reports will be made available to other college or system personnel upon request.

These policies may be amended at any time, do not constitute an employment contract, and are provided here only for ease of reference and without any warranty of accuracy.