Unpaid Professional Leave

The College for Creative Studies may grant Unpaid Professional Leave to support significant professional development activities such as research, creative work, advanced study, fellowships, residencies, industry collaborations, or other initiatives that enhance faculty expertise and benefit CCS’s academic mission. Unpaid Professional Leave is intended for professional rather than personal purposes and is distinct from medical, family, or personal leave.

Eligibility

• Full-time faculty are eligible to apply for Unpaid Professional Leave after completing three (3) academic years of full-time service at CCS.
• Time spent on Unpaid Professional Leave does not constitute a break in service, and faculty return to the same or equivalent position with previously accrued rank and status restored.

Length of Leave

• Standard duration is one (1) semester or one (1) academic year. 
• In exceptional circumstances, a second consecutive year may be approved by the Provost. 
• Unpaid Professional Leave does not place faculty in pay status.

Benefits During Unpaid Professional Leave

• Faculty may elect COBRA coverage for the continuation of existing medical, vision and dental insurance based on their current coverage. College-provided life insurance, elective life insurance, and disability coverage benefits will not be available for faculty on Unpaid Professional Leave.  
• CCS does not provide retirement contributions or retirement service credit during the leave. 
• Service credit toward future paid professional leave or sabbatical eligibility does not accrue unless expressly approved in writing by the Provost. 
• Faculty retain CCS email, library access, and when appropriate, studio or research facility access with dean-level approval.

Application Requirements

Faculty must submit a written application that includes:
1. Description of proposed professional activities and their significance. 
2. Timeline of the work to be undertaken. 
3. Expected outcomes such as exhibitions, publications, new bodies of work, or curricular enhancements. 
4. Statement of benefit to CCS. 
5. Plan for coverage of teaching, advising, and service responsibilities. 
6. Documentation of external funding or fellowship, if applicable.

Applications must be submitted to the Department Chair, reviewed by the Dean, and approved by the Provost.

Outside Employment

Faculty may engage in external professional or creative work consistent with the goals of the leave. Any paid external employment must receive prior written approval from the Provost to ensure no conflict of commitment to CCS.

Return to Position

Upon completion of the leave:

• Faculty are reinstated to the same or equivalent position at CCS unless circumstances at the College have changed and make this impossible. 
• Previously earned rank and seniority are restored. 
• Faculty must resume full duties at CCS at the beginning of the semester following the leave, unless an extension has been approved. 
• Faculty will be eligible for merit or other base salary adjustments provided by the College during the period of the leave and applied upon return from the leave. Benefits become effective the first day of the month after a faculty member returns to service.

Reporting Requirement

Faculty must submit a Professional Leave Report within one (1) month of returning to the College. The report should summarize: 

● Work completed 

● Creative or scholarly outcomes 

● Benefits to CCS 

● Planned integration of new knowledge, skills and experiences into curriculum or teaching 

This report becomes part of the faculty’s professional record and salient parts will be incorporated into the CCS Research Repository.