The University of San Francisco: Gleeson Library
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Professional Development Leave Committee

Committee Members

Eric Ewen
3 year term; expires Spring 2014

Debbie Malone
3 year term; expires Spring 2014

Vicki Rosen
3 year term; expires Spring 2014

Albie Johnson
elvernoy.johnson@state.ma.us (Dean's Appointee)

Applying For Professional Development Leave

collective bargaining agreement language

Purpose

The purpose of a professional development leave is to increase the effectiveness of the librarian to the University, the Library, and to afford the librarian further opportunity for professional development.

One of the goals of the Professional Development Leave Committee is to encourage many librarians to take advantage of this.

Eligibility

A librarian who has achieved permanent status shall be eligible for professional development leave.

No librarian may take more than 2 leaves in any 5 year period.

The Professional Development Committee will usually give preference to applicants who have not previously been awarded a leave.

Application Process

  1. A written application will be submitted to the Dean no later than September 1st of a calendar year for leave in the next calendar year outlining how the leave will contribute to the professional development of the librarian and how it will increase the professional effectiveness of the librarian.
  2.  Applications must include each of the following sections:
    •  GOALS: Specific goals to be achieved during the leave.
    •  TIMELINE: A time schedule of how and when goals will be accomplished.
    •  VALUE: Explanation of how the leave will contribute to the professional development of the librarian and the value of granting a leave to the University, the Library, and the applicant.
    •  REPORTING AGREEMENT: The applicant’s agreement to submit a report (unless waived by the Dean) within 30 days of the conclusion of the leave to the Dean and the Professional Development Leave Committee on the extent to which he or she has achieved the purpose for which the leave was granted.
    •  WORK AGREEMENT: The applicant’s agreement to work at the university as a librarian for one academic year after the completion of the leave (unless waived in writing by the Dean).  Please complete the agreement form, to be submitted with your written application. 
    •  FUNDING: Any perceived funding needs (such as an application to the Faculty Development Fund, tuition, conference fees, office supplies, etc.) A separate application for funding should be submitted to the Faculty Development Fund Committee.  
  3.  Applications must be written in complete sentences.

An application may be returned to the applicant by the Professional Leave Committee or the Dean with a request for more information or clarification of information.

Time Frame for the Leave

Each leave can be up to 7 weeks duration. This can be either 7 continuous weeks, or it can be broken up into smaller segments, depending on the nature of the goals of the leave.

Some Possible Examples of Leave Proposals

Here are a few examples of how professional development leave can be used. This list does not limit applicants to only these types of activities but is intended to be illustrative only:

  • Research and writing activities, such as development of a Web tutorial or authorship of a journal article or book chapter.
  • Study in institutions of higher learning.
  • Serving as a visiting librarian at another college or university.
  • Other work which may develop skills which will benefit the Library and the University.

Criteria used to award leaves

The following criteria will be used by the Professional Development Leave Committee in recommending leaves:

  1. Value of granting a leave to the University, the Library, and the applicant.
  2. Priority will be given to those applicants who have not previously been awarded a leave.
  3. Number of leaves previously taken (priority will be given to those with fewer leaves).
  4. Clearly stated purpose and organized leave plan.

Terms of Professional Development Leave

A librarian shall receive full salary and benefits during a professional development leave of up to seven weeks.

A librarian in accepting a grant of professional development leave assumes an obligation to pursue the program for which the leave was granted.

A report of the results of the professional development leave must be presented to the Dean of the Library and the Professional Development Leave Committee within thirty days after the end of the professional development leave. The librarian shall demonstrate that the purpose for which the leave was taken has been accomplished.

Timeline for the application process

September 1

Application due in the Dean's Office.

September 15
Professional Development Leave Committee receives all applications for review (they must be sent to the Dean’s appointee by mail).

October 15
Professional Development Leave Committee submits its recommendations in rank order with rationale to the Dean.

December 15 (or earlier)
The Dean provides final approval or denial of leave in writing to the applicants and the Professional Development Leave Committee.

Past Recipients

2011: Vicki Rosen: Jesuit History and Information Seeking Behavior - Online Presentation
2011: Jessica Lu: Research Guide to Digitization Projects
2010: Vicki Rosen: Ignatian Pedagogy and the Information Search Process [Leave Report] [References]
2009: Joe Garity: Information Literacy Class [Leave Report]
2009: Shawn Calhoun: Information Literacy and Peer Tutoring Research [Leave Report]
2006: Locke Morrisey: Bibliometric Analysis of Nursing Research Literature
2005: Sherise Kimura: Online Research Tutorial
2004: Debbie Malone: USF Archives Documentation Part 2
2003: Ben Watson: Recusant Literature
2002: Debbie Malone: USF Archives Documentation
2001: John Hawk: Lee Moorehouse, Photographer
2001: Randy Souther: Joyce Carol Oates Bibliography