Professors without limit of time may request sabbaticals after six years of service while in residence at the University. Sabbaticals may not be requested in the year prior to retirement. Sabbaticals may be requested for one (1) year with half pay or half a year with full pay. Sabbatical pay is equivalent to the faculty member’s HMS/HSDM academic salary only. Sabbaticals must be spaced in a way to avoid compromising the capacity of a department to meet its academic obligations.
Procedure to request sabbatical leave:
- Letters of request from the Professor to the Dean should indicate the intended length and goal of the sabbatical leave. Letter should be submitted to facappt@hms.harvard.edu.
- An accompanying letter from the Department Head should indicate to the Dean approval of the Professor’s request and the plans for covering the academic and clinical responsibilities of the faculty member making the application. Letter should be submitted to facappt@hms.harvard.edu.
- A letter of approval from the Dean’s office must be issued prior to assumption of the sabbatical leave.
- Faculty on sabbatical leave will continue to be governed by Harvard Medical School’s Faculty Policies on Integrity in Science including the Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment.
- Faculty who seek sabbaticals to work in the for-profit sector should consult with the Office for Academic and Research Integrity and/or their affiliate outside activities office regarding the application of the Faculty of Medicine Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment.
- When referring to their titles, faculty should note that they are on a leave of absence. For example, a proper description would be Professor of Medicine (on sabbatical AY 2023-24).
Last updated June 2023