Faculty Development

The Board of Trustees of Carroll College has implemented a sabbatical leave program for the faculty of Carroll College in order to maintain and improve the faculty's competence as educators and to help afford opportunities for continued education through study, research, and travel. In approving the program for sabbatical leaves, the Board wishes to recognize years of service on the faculty and to encourage senior faculty members to continue their association with the College.

Members of the faculty with tenure and at least seven (7) years of service at Carroll College are eligible to apply for a sabbatical leave of (a) one semester with full compensation; or (b) two semesters with fifty percent compensation; or (c) two semesters with full compensation while teaching half-time. Faculty members may apply, after their first sabbatical, in the sixth year thereafter for a sabbatical in the seventh year; and after each sabbatical, faculty members may apply in the sixth year thereafter for a sabbatical in the seventh year. The number of sabbatical leaves granted in any fiscal year will depend upon budgetary factors and the College's financial ability to meet the need for sabbatical leaves.

The sabbatical program is administered through the office of the President of the College. Faculty members interested in participating in the sabbatical leave program should take cognizance of the following:

The program is open to tenured faculty with at least seven (7) years of service at Carroll College.

A written proposal will be prepared by the interested faculty member which should describe the program for the sabbatical leave. In the proposal, the faculty member shall try to detail the ways in which the leave will contribute to professional development as a faculty member at Carroll College. An electronic copy of the sabbatical proposal will be submitted to the Faculty Development Committee via the Academic Vice President's office (submit all proposals to Stephanie Miszkowski at smiszkowski@carroll.edu.  All proposals should be submitted by October 1st of the academic year prior to the academic year for which the sabbatical is being requested.  A letter of support from the department chair should accompany all proposals. This letter of support should comment generally on the strength of the proposal in relation to the criteria identified in the faculty handbook and the value of the proposed sabbatical work to the department and the College.  It should also indicate the manner in which the department will cover the responsibilities of the applicant during the sabbatical (e.g., will adjuncts or a full time replacement be required?). 

On the basis of the educational value of proposals received, the Committee will recommend to the President those faculty who should be considered for sabbatical leave. In making its recommendations the Committee should consider the benefit the sabbatical will have for the professional development of the individual faculty member. The Committee will also take into consideration the years of continuous service at the College in excess of seven years, the faculty member's academic rank, and the overall contribution to the College. It should be emphasized that it is not the intention that the sabbatical be granted automatically to all tenured faculty; priority must be given to faculty who have submitted proposals that have real educational value for the College and for its plan of faculty improvement.

Upon the completion of the sabbatical leave, the faculty member must present to the Academic Vice President, the Faculty Development Committee, and to the appropriate department head, an account of the activities engaged in during the sabbatical period. This report should verify the proposal submitted in application for the sabbatical. Letters of support, verification of attendance at classes or workshops, or other supporting evidence are required.

Proposal Due Date

Proposals for sabbaticals are due October 1st of the preceding year for which the request is being made.  Please submit proposals to Maria Larson at Stephanie Miszkowski at smiszkowski@carroll.edu.

In order to maintain and improve the level of faculty scholarship, Carroll College will make available to faculty single-course releases for one semester. This course-release program is designed to help faculty members pursue scholarship -- that is, research, writing, and/or creative work. It is not intended to replace or affect the sabbatical leave program in any way.

The award is contingent upon successful completion of the third-year review. The number of course releases granted in any fiscal year will depend upon budgetary factors and the College’s financial ability to meet the need for such course releases.

The course-release program will be administered through the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Faculty members interested in participating in the course-release program should be aware of the following:

All full-time faculty who have completed at least two years of service at Carroll College may apply for the program; the award is contingent upon successful completion of the third-year review.

Specific criteria for the awards will be circulated to the faculty each fall by the Faculty Development Committee. The interested faculty member will prepare a written proposal, which shall describe the project for the course-release semester. In the proposal, the faculty member will detail the ways in which the time gained through the course release will contribute to professional development as a faculty member at Carroll College; the proposal will further explain how the resulting scholarship will contribute to his or her specific field of study. The proposal will be presented to the faculty member’s department chair for approval, who will then present all approved proposals to the Faculty Development Committee. The department Chair should submit a brief letter specifying the financial support required for the course release. At that time, the department chair will specify to the Committee what sort of financial support (if any) is needed from the College to allow for the course release(s). A special meeting or meetings of the Committee will be arranged for the consideration of all such proposals for course releases. Such proposals must be submitted by December 1st before the academic year in which the course release is to be taken. All proposals should be submitted to Maria Larson at mjlarson@carroll.edu.  On the basis of the scholarly value, the urgency of the proposed project, and any additional criteria that have been established, the Committee will recommend to the Vice President for Academic Affairs those faculty who should be considered for course releases. Copies of the proposals shall accompany the recommendation of the Vice President.

In making its recommendations the Committee should consider any specific criteria that have been established, as well as the benefit the course release will have for the professional development of the individual faculty member and the significance of the project to the faculty member’s field of study.

Upon completion of the course release, the faculty member must present a talk to her or his colleagues about the work accomplished during the time of the course release.

SUPPORT FOR SUMMER RESEARCH AND WRITING

Summer Study Grants:
The College will make available summer study grants, if finances permit, for faculty submitting acceptable proposals for professional development during summer months.  This program is administered by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will inform faculty by February 15 of any given year if such funds are available.

Jerry Berberet Summer Research and Writing Grants:
The Faculty Development Committee is pleased to administer this grant, named for and supported by Carroll alumnus, historian, and former Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jerry Berberet.  Three grants of $1500 will be awarded on a competitive basis each spring semester to faculty members who submit high quality proposals outlining their project and funding needs.  Grant proposals are due on Feb. 1st.  Please submit proposals to Stephanie Miszkowski at smiszkowski@carroll.edu.

• Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) (The CIC sponsors numerous workshops on various topics, from ancient Greece to American slave narratives.)
• Fulbright
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
• National Endowment for the Arts
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Social Science Research Council (SSRC)
• German Marshall Fund of the United States
• American Council of Learned Societies
• Franklin Research Grants