Sabbatical Leave Chairperson's Endorsement Form

Please answer all of the following questions on a separate page or pages.  Simply indicate the number and topic heading of the question and then write your comments.  Your specificity is of the utmost importance in the evaluation process.

1. General support:
Give applicant's name and semester(s) for which sabbatical is sought.  Indicate whether you do not support, do support, do strongly support.  Give justification for your degree of support or non-support.

2. Significance of project:
Evaluate the applicant's proposed project in terms of its intended results, for example increasing the faculty member's breadth or depth of knowledge in an academic area, developing new or improved teaching materials and methods, contributing to the solution of an important problem in scholarship, contributing to an on-going debate in academic or larger community context, resulting in scholarly or artistic works of some merit, laying the foundation for future research, teaching, or curriculum development.

3. Specificity, detail and clarity of the project:
Evaluate the applicant's proposed project in terms of the detail and clarity of its plan, considering for example whether it clearly articulates its problem or aim, proposes a clear itinerary or schedule of planned work, describes and justifies its methodology or approach, describes the kind of data and manner of analysis, describes and justifies visits to such locations as libraries, special collections, other institutions, lectures to be attended, names and positions of contact persons, and other requirements.

4. Benefit to Seaver College:
Evaluate the applicant's proposed project in terms of its benefit to Seaver students and Seaver College, considering for example whether it is calculated to increase the faculty member's expertise in an area he/she teaches, to eventuate in a revised syllabus or a new course or series of courses, to improve the faculty member's ability to direct research, to enhance the reputation of Seaver College in an academic or other context, etc.

5. Likelihood of completion:
Evaluate the likelihood of the applicant's completing the project, based on what you know of the applicant's previous work, self-discipline, etc.

6. Impact on division:
Evaluate the long- and short-term impact of the applicant's sabbatical on the rest of the division.  Will the applicant need a replacement while on sabbatical and, if so, by an adjunct (for how many hours) or a full-time visiting professor?  Consider also how the applicant's sabbatical will affect such matters as his/her teaching or other duties subsequent to the sabbatical.

7. Timeliness:
Evaluate the faculty member's need for sabbatical leave at this time, considering especially whether the proposal warrants sabbatical leave rather than reassigned time, whether years of service since being hired and/or since last sabbatical warrant leave at this time, and whether the applicant's professional needs and accomplishments warrant leave at this time.