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Sabbatical and PDRP process
Resource guide for sabbatical/PDRP process
This guide provides an overview of two distinct professional development opportunities available to faculty at Northern Arizona University: Sabbatical Leave and the Professional Development/Project Reassigned Time Program (PDRP). While both support faculty growth, they differ in purpose, eligibility, and structure.
A sabbatical is a formal leave from Northern Arizona University, governed by the Conditions of Faculty Service Policy, and serves as an opportunity for professional growth for eligible tenured or tenure-track faculty in their sixth year of service. Sabbatical activities may include pursuits such as conducting research, writing a book, or other scholarly endeavors that contribute to academic and professional development.
The Provost-approved Professional Development/Project Re-assigned time program (PDRP) is not a form of leave. While it may resemble a sabbatical in some respects, PDRP is a distinct and separate opportunity designed specifically for eligible career-track faculty. This internal program allows faculty to propose professional development or project-based experiences that directly enhance and inform their primary job responsibilities at NAU.
Sabbatical schedule
This calendar is subject to change; any updates will be communicated to colleges.
| Date of current sabbatical | Report and lecture (due the semester following the sabbatical) | Next sabbatical pre-application | Next full application for sabbatical | Next sabbatical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–2019 | 2019–2020 | 4/1/2024 | 2024–2025 | 2025–2026 |
| 2019–2020 | 2020–2021 | 4/1/2025 | 2025–2026 | 2026–2027 |
| 2020–2021 | 2021–2022 | 4/1/2026 | 2026–2027 | 2027–2028 |
| 2021–2022 | 2022–2023 | 4/1/2027 | 2027–2028 | 2028–2029 |
| 2022–2023 | 2023–2024 | 4/1/2028 | 2028–2029 | 2029–2030 |
| 2023–2024 | 2024–2025 | 4/1/2029 | 2029–2030 | 2030–2031 |
| 2024–2025 | 2025–2026 | 4/1/2030 | 2030–2031 | 2031–2032 |
| 2025–2026 | 2026–2027 | 4/1/2031 | 2031–2032 | 2032–2033 |
| 2026–2027 | 2027–2028 | 4/1/2032 | 2032–2033 | 2033–2034 |
| 2027–2028 | 2028–2029 | 4/1/2033 | 2033–2034 | 2034–2035 |
| 2028–2029 | 2029–2030 | 4/1/2034 | 2034–2035 | 2035–2036 |
| 2029–2030 | 2030–2031 | 4/1/2035 | 2035–2036 | 2036–2037 |
| 2030–2031 | 2031–2032 | 4/1/2036 | 2036–2037 | 2037–2038 |
Academic year 2025-26 sabbatical review dates
Application and review occurs in Interfolio’s Review, Promotion & Tenure (RPT) module.
| Review level | Receive date | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Packet submission and chair pre-check | Tuesday, September 23, 2025 | |
| FSC | Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | Tuesday, October 14, 2025 |
| Chair | Wednesday, October 15, 2025 | Friday, November 7, 2025 |
| Dean | Monday, November 10, 2025 | Tuesday, December 23, 2025 |
| Provost | Friday, January 2, 2026 | Friday, February 13, 2026 |
Sabbatical/PDRP eligibility and process FAQs
The questions below are the common questions related to sabbaticals and PDRP proposals and process.
- To be eligible for sabbatical leave, a tenured or tenure-track faculty member may apply no earlier than the sixth (6th) year of full-time service at Northern Arizona University, with the sabbatical taking place the following year. Sabbatical leave may only be taken after tenure has been formally approved and awarded.
- To be considered for a PDRP assignment, an eligible career track faculty member may also apply no earlier than the sixth (6th) year of full-time service, with the assignment occurring no earlier than the seventh (7th) year.
Please note:- Prior service credit awarded at the time of hire does not count toward eligibility for either sabbatical leave or PDRP.
- Only full-time service at NAU is considered.
- Time spent on unpaid leave of absence generally does not count toward eligibility unless an exception is granted in advance by the Office of the Provost and explicitly stated in the approval letter.
- Faculty serving in administrative roles may be eligible to apply for sabbatical leave or PDRPs; however, the review process will include consideration of the institution’s ability to maintain essential administrative functions during the proposed leave period. A return to the administrative role following the sabbatical or PDRP cannot be assumed, expected, or included as part of the proposal. In certain cases, proposals submitted by individuals serving in 100% administrative appointments are reviewed and approved solely at the provost level.
- Sabbatical leave or PDRPs may not be used for activities that are primarily commercial in nature or for employment primarily outside the university.
- Sabbatical leave may be granted for either one or two semesters, or for six or twelve months for faculty on a fiscal-year contract. Compensation is structured as follows:
- Two semesters or one fiscal year: The faculty member will receive three-fifths of their regular salary during the leave period.
- One semester or six months: The faculty member will receive full pay for that duration.
- PDRP proposals for developmental or project-related work may be approved for up to 40% of the annual workload assignment. This allocation may be concentrated within a single semester or distributed across the entire academic year. Salary remains unchanged during the approved developmental or project assignment period.
- Faculty participating in sabbatical leave or PDRPs may supplement their compensation through non-NAU sources, such as fellowships, scholarships, employment, or grants-in-aid to support expenses related to travel, research, publication, tuition, or secretarial assistance. Outside employment must be pre-approved by the Office of the Provost, and supplemental compensation from NAU is not permitted for teaching or administrative duties during the approved leave period.
- Faculty may not combine different types of leave (e.g., a paid fellowship followed by a sabbatical) within the same proposal year to bypass compensation policies. If sabbatical-relevant activities span a full academic year, they will be designated as a one-year sabbatical, regardless of external funding sources. External opportunities may be incorporated into a full-year sabbatical proposal where appropriate.
- Any expected supplemental compensation must be fully disclosed in the application and approved in advance. If such opportunities arise after the activity begins, they must be submitted for review by the department chair and copied to the dean and provost.
- NAU does not provide institutional “top-up” funding for full-year sabbaticals supported by external programs such as Fulbright.
- No. Career Track faculty hold non-tenure-eligible appointments and are not eligible to apply for sabbatical leave. However, they may be eligible to apply for the Professional Development/Project Reassigned Time Program (PDRP), as described above.
- A review and evaluation of the sabbatical or PDRP application will occur by each of the following committees and administrators.
- Department Faculty Status Committee (FSC) (in non-departmentalized colleges this is the college Promotion and Tenure Committee)
- Chair (no review at this level in non-departmentalized colleges)
- Dean of the college
- Provost (final approval)
- At each level of review, the applicant’s proposal must be reviewed and evaluated as to whether it has merit according to one or more of the following criteria:
- Enhancing the teaching or scholarly work of the academic unit
- Enhancing the applicant’s effectiveness as a faculty member in their assigned role
- Adding to the reputation of the institution
- Contributing to knowledge in the subject field
- Providing outstanding public or professional service at a local or national level
- Development of new/updated skill and knowledge to inform and contribute the future role
- At each level, a positive recommendation that the sabbatical leave be granted may be forwarded if the following conditions are met:
- The proposal is judged as having merit;
- There is a high probability that the faculty member will successfully carry out the proposal; and
- Sufficient resources exist to maintain the department (or area) program during the faculty member’s leave. Documentation of coverage is required from the Chair or Dean. NOTE: This review should occur during the spring LOI process prior to the full proposal submission.
- The Provost will make the final decision on sabbatical leave and PDRPs.
- Approval of proposals at the Provost Office level occur only if the following criteria are met:
- The proposal describes activities and outcomes that are mutually beneficial to NAU as an institution and the faculty member’s professional development for their current role at NAU.
- The current budget and capacity at the unit level and the NAU university level can support the leave.
- If a faculty member finds it necessary to revise the time frame, goals, or activities of the original sabbatical or PDRP proposal, this revision must be submitted to the chair in a timely manner. Normally, this would be March 1 of the academic year in which the application is approved. Such revisions are not automatically granted but are considered in light of (current and updated) Academic Unit and college needs.
- The chair makes a written recommendation to the dean, who makes a written recommendation to the provost. The provost provides the final decision and approves the change in FAAR/Budget Office records.
- If a faculty member’s original plan is approved for a full-year sabbatical (at 60% pay from NAU) or a full-year PDRP, changes to a one-semester sabbatical or a 40% PDRP within the same semester will not be approved unless explicitly authorized by the unit, college, and the Office of the Provost.
- One-semester sabbaticals can be more difficult to accommodate due to the higher cost of replacing instructional capacity. For this reason, it may be necessary at times for a unit, college, or the Provost’s Office to limit sabbatical proposals to full-year plans only.
- By April 1 in the academic year preceding the application, a pre-application request for sabbatical leave or PDRP must be provided by the faculty member to the chair of the department. The chair will review the proposal for feasibility (if approved). If the unit could not support the proposal (even highly meritorious ideas), the proposal should not be moved forward during the full application phase.
- During the fall semester in the year preceding the proposed activity, and in accordance with the Personnel Action Calendar, the faculty member must file a formal application. The components of the application must include:
-
- pre-application request (copy of the original letter of intent approved by the chair in the previous April) to include the chair’s plan for coverage if the proposal is ultimately approved.
- detailed plan, goals, and timetable
- current curriculum vitae
- list of courses taught for the last two years
- documentation of any related or required advance arrangements
- copy of report from last sabbatical or PDRP (if needed)
- NOTE: The April 1 deadline is designed to allow department planning (i.e. class scheduling, budget planning, other workload decisions…) for the proposed leave. Failure to express intent by April 1 will impede this need for planning.
- Requests for applications submitted after April 1 in the academic year preceding the application but before the fall sabbatical application deadlines, may be considered IF the chair, dean, and provost’s office designee agree to allow the application AND the current NAU budget, capacity, and future planning context allows adequate planning or preparation for the requested activity, and all other conditions for review and evaluation have been met.
- A faculty member granted sabbatical is required to return to the university as a faculty member for one year following the leave. Failure to return may result in a requirement that the faculty member repay the university the amount of pay received during the sabbatical leave.
- A faculty member granted a PDRP is expected to return to the university as a faculty member for one year following the leave.
- During the semester following completion of the sabbatical leave or PDRP, the faculty member must do the following:
- Upload a written report documenting that the purposes of the sabbatical leave or PDRP were met to FAAR under “Sabbatical and PDRP Final Report”. You may use the provost sabbatical report template or the PDRP report template (link coming).
- Present a seminar or lecture on the results of the leave. The intent is to contribute knowledge to the NAU community by sharing the results of the sabbatical or PDRP in an appropriate public forum available to that community.