1. Plan for a Successful Sabbatical or Fellowship
Professional Development
Travel
Field Study
Formal Study
Creative Project
Research

2. Which Type of Support Do You Need?
Sabbatical Leave
Paid one-semester leave to pursue professional development relevant to your SMC responsibilities
Applications due in Fall semester for sabbaticals in the following academic year
Academic Senate has approved a second round of proposals in Spring 2014 for Spring 2015 sabbaticals
District funds at least 8 sabbaticals per year
Fellowship
$1500 to support a relevant one-semester professional development project
Proposals due in Spring 2014 for next academic year
District funds up to 7 fellowships per year

3. Apply for a Sabbatical if
You are a full time Faculty Member
You have at least 6 years of full time service prior to submitting your application
You wish to pursue a relevant project that will constitute one semester’s worth of work
Your project involves any of the following:
Professional Development
Formal Study
Independent Research/Creative Project /Field Study
Professionally Beneficial Travel

4. Sabbatical Leaves Typology
Professional Development:
Study or experience designed to improve teaching effectiveness--not possible through normal workload assignment.
Formal Study:
A course of study leading to increased mastery in subject field; development of an additional area of specialization.
Independent Research, Creative Project, or Field Study:
To carry project of a scope or nature not permitted by a normal workload assignment.
Professionally Beneficial Travel:
To enable acquisition of knowledge, skills, expertise, or an area of specialization within a discipline.

5. Components of the Sabbatical Application
Description of the project
Objectives of the project
Relationship of the project to SMCs Mission, Vision and Goals
Specific Activities or Procedures to be performed
Timeline for Completing Sabbatical Activities
Specific Outcomes, Skills or Competencies Achieved
Documentation of Outcomes

6. Criteria for Evaluating Sabbatical Proposals
Quality of Project Design
Proposal constitutes a full semester’s work load 15
Proposed Goals and Outcomes are feasible
Proposal is clear, organized and specific 5
Proposed activities and procedures support project’s objectives
Methods of documentation are appropriate to the proposed project
Applicant establishes a realistic timeline for accomplishing activities and objectives
Benefits of Sabbatical
Proposed project contributes to professional development/increased competence of sabbatical recipient 20
Proposed project contributes to student success
Proposal aligns with current College goals, program SLO’s and/or ILO’s 10
Proposed project contributes to colleagues, department, and/or college at-large
Supplemental Categories
Innovative
College service 3
Potential first-time recipient 2

7. What the Sabbatical is not!
Examples
A vacation
Travel unrelated to student learning and/or your professional development
Updating your syllabus or course packet
Time to do work that is part of your regular assignment
Time to engage in curriculum development that is part of your regular assignment

8. Key Points to Consider
Developing a successful sabbatical proposal necessitates:
Careful planning
Writing
Is your plan sufficiently comprehensive yet achievable?
Does your plan include contingencies for unanticipated events? What will you do if things don’t go as planned?

9. Application Process: PLANNING
Reflect upon your personal motivation for proposing a project.
Define what you intend to accomplish.
How does your “project” relate to sabbatical leaves and to college goals, strategic initiatives and learning outcomes?
Note how your sabbatical will benefit: you, colleagues, department, college, students.
Outline a realistic plan for achieving your goals.
Identify specific objectives and activities you will undertake, and the timeline you will follow.
Identify your anticipated results.
Ask yourself and others if your plan is realistic.

10. Application Process: WRITING
Above all, adhere to sabbatical instructions and address all question thoughtfully, yet concisely.
Write your proposal after you have thought out all details of your sabbatical.
Consider reviewing the Sabbatical Proposal Evaluation Matrix to get an idea of how your proposal will be evaluated.
Introduce yourself and your discipline.
Describe the main focus of your sabbatical with sufficient detail so that readers will understand the importance of pursuing the project.

11. Application Process: WRITING
Describe how you will document your activities (examples):
Curriculum Outline/Syllabus
Diaries
Slides, films, and other multimedia tools
Travel receipts
Manuscript
Production of creative work
What methods will you use to disseminate your results?
A Sabbatical Report is required, but you may also develop/produce:
Web Pages
Presentations and workshops
Papers
The methods for documenting and disseminating results will be different for every proposal depending on the type of sabbatical activity—choose the most appropriate format for your project.

12. General Tips Figure out what “worked” in the past
Review past proposals, both successful and unsuccessful
Abstracts of some successful sabbaticals are available on our website.
Meet with past sabbatical recipients
Ask your colleagues to critique your application
Your project should NOT rely heavily on others to conduct key aspects of your sabbatical work.
The sabbatical project should constitute one semester’s work.

13. General Tips Be “reader friendly”
Write for the tired, impatient reader who is reading your application last:
Ensure that your proposal stands out from the rest of the applications
Be professional, but personal
Don’t make the reader hunt for or guess at the answer to a question
Use headers, bullets, bold/italics, and “white space” to help guide the reader through the various sections
Use 12-point, easy to read font
Don’t use jargon specific to your discipline that readers may not understand
Don’t forget to proof read and use spell check

14. Timeline—Spring 2015 Sabbaticals
March 10
Application available
March 18
Sabbatical and Fellowship Workshops
April 28
Application deadline
Early May
Recipients are selected
May 20
Senate Executive Committee reviews recommendations
May 27
Academic Senate consideration for approval
Early June
Board of Trustees consideration for approval

15. Sabbatical Examples
Diana Engelmann, English, for a Spring 2015 Sabbatical proposes “to complete, edit, and submit for publication a manuscript of my selected poetry from 1998 to the present” and “to review most recent works on eco-critical approach to literature, with particular emphasis on poetry.”
Oriana Kim-Rajab, Life Sciences, for a Fall 2014 Sabbatical proposes “to increase my understanding of Authentic Learning practices in the sciences and to develop new laboratory exercises that follow the Authentic Learning model. Authentic Learning is a pedagogical approach that describes learning by applying knowledge in real-life contexts.”

16. Sabbatical Examples
Makoto Nishikawa, Modern Languages and Cultures, for a Fall 2014 Sabbatical proposes “to gather authentic and up-to-date materials in Japan through audio/video recordings and digital photos which are related to the teaching topics of our Japanese program as well as related to the students’ interests in contemporary and traditional Japanese culture. I plan to create my own teaching materials based on the real-life recordings I collect in Japan.”
Lisette Rabinow-Palley, Counseling, for a Spring 2015 Sabbatical proposes “to explore other college, university, and transition programs for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) around the state and create updated training materials on best practices for serving ASD students that will be shared with SMC faculty.”

17. Apply for a Fellowship if
You are a full time or adjunct Faculty Member
You wish to pursue a relevant project that can be accomplished in one semester
Your project is related to
New Course Development
Course Materials Development
Research related to teaching or student services within your area of discipline expertise
$1500 in funding will be helpful for accomplishing the project

18. Components of the Fellowship Application
The proposal will describe
the project, with proposed objectives and activities
how the outcomes of the project will benefit students and the college
how the benefits of the project will be shared with the SMC community
how the outcomes of the project will be documented

19. Timeline—2014-2015 Fellowships
March 10
Application available
March 18
Sabbatical and Fellowship Workshops
April 30
Application deadline
Early May
Recipients are selected
May 20
Senate Executive Committee reviews recommendations
May 27
Academic Senate consideration for approval
Early June
Approved Fellowships forwarded to Vice President of Academic Affairs

20. Fellowship Examples
Garen Baghdasarian, Life Sciences, for Spring 2014 proposes: “to study the mechanism of recovery of corals from bleaching events and consider genetic selection of Symbiodinium species during this recovery. This study would address unknown variable that currently cannot be considered in prediction models that look at the effect of global warming in tropical regions.” The study is to be conducted at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.”
Simon P. Balm, Earth Science, for Fall 2013 proposes: “to completely update the web site for the Planetarium and tansfer the pages onto the new web server.” He will train an individual in the use of the new CMS so that the new site can be kept updated.

21. Fellowship Examples
Lisa Farwell, Psychology, for Fall 2013 proposes: “to obtain advanced training on the issue of workplace incivility and counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) by attending a 3-day intensive professional training program provided at the Workplace Bullying Institute in Washington State, to provide presentations and a resource band for students and faculty at SMC and to share this information with students and faculty.”
Thomas Folland, Art, for Fall 2013 proposes: “to use the fellowship to perform research at the Robert Rauschenberg archives in New York in preparation for completing his book manuscript on Rauschenberg’s 1950’s Combines.” The applicant previously had been unable to gain access to these archives but has recently been invited to view them.

22. Fellowship Examples
Yuria Hashimoto, Modern Languages and Cultures, for Spring 2014 proposes: “to develop computer-/web-based learning materials for the students of Japanese 1 and 2, also to assess the effectiveness of these (computer, web-based tools) for student learning. Assessments will be given both during and at the end of semester(s) through the analys of exam results and student surveys.”
Catherine Haradon, Earth Science/Anthropology, for Spring 2014 proposes: “to create a reference catalog of photographic images that show examples of how animal bones are damaged by stone tools, by carnivores and by natural processes. These images will be used for an electronic reference catalog that will be shared with other anthropology professors.”

23. Fellowship Examples
Carlson Hatton, Art, for Fall 2013 proposes: “as a participant in the Da Wang’s Art residency program in Shenzhen China to produce a series of works on paper and learn about techniques and materials that are distinct to that region.” The applicant has been invited to work in a studio setting with access to materials and studio technicians.

24. For More Information
Visit the Committee Website for submission dates and guidelines
Contact
Mary Colavito, Chair
Mona Martin, Co-Chair
Sherri Lee-Lewis, Human Resources, also a Committee Member