• Home
• Contact Us

• Resources
  • Careers at WMU
  • CEDRS
  • Electronic Workflow
  • Employee Handbook
  • Form I-9 Information
  • HelpNet EAP
  • Holiday Schedule
  • HR Forms
  • HR Reporting
  • Professional Development
  • Recognition Programs
  • Self Service
  • Student Employment Online Transactions
  • Western Wellness
  • WMU Make a Difference

<back	next>
PPM Topics

 

PPM Section 13 - Professional development leave — paid (for exempt staff only)

This professional development leave is intended for the mutual benefit of the University and the person granted such a leave. It should assist exempt staff members to improve their performance by providing for a period of concentrated scholarly work, research, or other professional development.

Eligibility

1. Exempt administrative personnel shall be eligible for professional development leaves.
   
   
2. A paid professional development leave shall be granted only after the completion of four (4) years service in the current position. Service to other units within the University will not be accepted in determining eligibility for this leave. Further, four (4) full years of continuous service must have expired since the completion of a previous professional leave before a staff member is eligible for another such leave.
   
   
3. Years of service shall count from the date of full-time appointment in the professional position currently held.
   
   
4. A paid professional development leave is not an automatic benefit and must have the approval of the appropriate vice president.
   
   
5. A paid professional development leave application must include a written proposal describing in detail the activity proposed.

Length of leave

The leave shall be limited to three (3) full months duration and will exclude the vacation period due the staff member in the fiscal year of the leave.

Compensation and other income

There shall be no reduction in pay during the paid professional development leave. Recipients of leaves are permitted to receive money for approved study or research without prejudice to their receipt of income, provided that the total remuneration from all other sources does not exceed that received from the University. The professional development leave may not be used to accept paid employment during the period of the leave.

Benefits and seniority during leave

Because an employee on a paid professional development leave remains on the active payroll, seniority continues to accrue and the employee continues to be eligible for all payroll-driven benefits without interruption.

Health, life, and long-term disability insurance are continued while an employee is on a paid professional development leave, under the same terms and conditions as when the employee was on active duty.

Reemployment privilege

Recipients of a paid professional development leave return to the position they held prior to the leave.

Return to work requirements

1. The recipient of a paid professional development leave is required to return to the University for a full year of employment after completion of the leave.
   
   
2. Within thirty (30) days after returning from the professional development leave, the staff member will submit a concise written report of his/her leave activities to his/her supervisor and the appropriate vice president.
   

Procedure — professional development leave — paid (for exempt staff only)

<back

next>