Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 10% Rule work?
25.07 DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATION AND THE 10 PERCENT RULE
A. Consultation with Department Chair: The Sabbatical Leave applicant is required to confer with the department chair regarding the proposed plan and resolve any potential impact due to the applicant’s absence prior to submitting his/her request to the Sabbatical Leave Committee. If the Sabbatical Leave applicant is the department chair, s/he is required to complete this step with the supervising administrator by the same date.
B. Ten Percent Rule: When more than one (1) applicant qualifies from a department in excess of 10 percent, the Sabbatical Leave Committee, after conferring with the department chair, instructional dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, will make a recommendation to the Superintendent/President and the Board of Trustees whether or not more than 10 percent of the department will be allowed to be on Sabbatical Leave at any one time. (Approved leaves disallowed by the District due to the 10 percent rule will be automatically placed as No. 1 on the next year’s approved list and become one [1] of the granted leaves for that year. If not taken in that year, the faculty member must reapply as in the regular process.)
http://www.santarosa.edu/afa/Contract/Articles/art25.pdf
Who is eligible to use the FLB program?
All contract faculty members working at 100 percent contracts are eligible to participate in this program. Those who are on reduced load are not eligible.
Can Reassigned Time (RAT) be banked?
Reassigned time (RAT) is typically part of one's contract load. When a contract faculty member gets RAT, s/he has been reassigned from his or her regular contract duties to perform other work—for example, serving as department chair or coordinator. Such RAT may not be banked. However, the provisions of Article 16 give the District discretion in offering hourly assignments after the schedule of classes is permatized (published on the SRJC website). When contract faculty members receive such assignments after the schedule is permatized, they may choose to either bank the load or receive overload pay.
How do I inform the District that I wish to use banked load?
As part of the procedure for applying for Family/Personal Leaves and Special Education Leaves, you must notify the District in writing that you wish to use banked load during the leave. Exceptions may be made under extenuating circumstances.
For faculty members going on sabbatical and choosing the two-semester sabbatical pattern (described as Sabbatical Pattern B or C, ref. Article 25.03), the preferred deadline for notifying the District of your intention to use banked load is the deadline for your sabbatical proposal. Email Robert Holcomb, VP of Academic Affairs, and your Dept Chair or Dean of your intent to use banked load while on sabbatical.
When I use my banked load, how is it credited toward my compensation when I'm on leave?
You will need to bank 1.2 times the load value of your leave for Family/Personal Leaves and Special Education Leaves. That is, a faculty member with a 100 percent load who is out for one semester on one of these leaves must have 120 percent of load banked in order to get full pay during the leave.
For faculty members on Sabbatical Leave who choose the two-semester pattern, the cost to offset the 40 percent load reduction in the first semester of the sabbatical is 1.0 (using 40 percent banked load will result in full pay for the semester), and the cost to offset the 40 percent load reduction in the second semester of the sabbatical is 1.2 (48 percent load is needed for full pay in the second semester).
If I use banked load to bring my load to 100 percent during a leave, do I receive full STRS credit?
Yes. If you have some but not all of the banked load that you need to hit 100 percent, your STRS credit will be prorated accordingly.
What is the maximum amount of load that I can bank?
Without District approval to exceed this limit, the most that you may bank is 1.20 FTEF, or 240 percent.
Are sabbatical expenses tax deductible?
Tax laws frequently change. Please consult a tax advisor when you are planning for your sabbatical.