1. Professional Development Funds

Professional development funds are provided to all full-time faculty to support membership renewal in professional organizations and travel to professional meetings. Up to $400 of the current annual allotment ($1000) may be used for nontravel professional development support (memberships, books, etc.) and up to $500 may be carried forward to the next year. All transactions require documentation and receipts and must be approved by the college dean.

Procedure for Professional Membership Support: 

It is highly desirable that faculty members be active in appropriate professional associations. To request that professional development funds be used to support a professional membership, the faculty member should:

1. Complete the Professional Association Dues Subsidy Application form, available on Forms Central (go to Socrates/Shared or Zeus/Shared, and click on Forms Central).
2. Submit the form to the office of the college dean with a check request and the membership renewal invoice statement, receipt, or canceled check.
3. The check may be payable to either the association or the individual faculty member.

Procedure for Travel to Professional Meetings:

Faculty professional travel refers to expenses incurred in travel, lodging, food, and registration for attendance at professional seminars, workshops, and conventions. Special independent study and research projects related to the faculty member's discipline, such as travel to a specific library for research or course work, is also included in this category. These funds do not support expenses related to administrative or instructional travel--travel for official University representation or instructional functions. To request that professional development funds be used to support professional travel, the faculty member should:

1. Complete a Trip Request form, available on Forms Central (go to Socrates/Shared or Zeus/Shared, and click on Forms Central). Include a rationale for funding, arrangements for any missed classes, and attach conference information. 
2. Submit the form with attachments to the department chair/school dean for his/her signature.
3. Submit all paperwork to the college dean for approval.
4. When you have completed your trip, complete an expense report, available on Forms Central and include all receipts. If you owe PLNU money back, send the amount with the expense report directly to the business office. If PLNU owes you additional professional development funds that are available in your account, submit the expense report to your college dean for approval.

2. Financial Assistance for an Advanced Degree

Faculty employed by the University should assume that the minimum level of preparation to qualify for permanent employment is either a terminal degree or its equivalent. A terminal degree is normally defined as a doctorate in a faculty member's major discipline; sufficient graduate work together with years of experience may in some instances fulfill the equivalency requirement.

1. Dissertation Costs. Faculty may, upon successful completion of the doctorate, submit a request for reimbursement of the final dissertation typing and printing costs. A loan to cover the cost of one round-trip air fare to defend the dissertation may be requested.
2. Leave for Graduate Study. Upon recommendation of the President and with the approval of the Board of Trustees, a member of the University faculty with 30 semester hours of credit completed toward an advanced degree may be given a Leave for Graduate Study, at an institution approved by the University for such study, for a period of as much as one full year and one summer with the length of the period to be specified at the time such leave is granted.

The faculty member may be given a maximum loan by the University in the amount of 75 percent of the salary being received at the time such leave is granted.

Notes are to be signed by the faculty member to cover the full amount of the loan, the University bearing the interest on the loan during the period of study.

If the faculty member should elect not to return to the University, he/she shall give written notice to the President of the University at least ten days prior to the spring meeting of the University Board of Trustees. In such instance, the payments of the University toward the study shall terminate with the May installment following such notice. As of June 1 following, interest at 6 percent per annum becomes the responsibility of the faculty member, and the full amount of interest and principal will be amortized over a period of three years and repaid to the University by the month, the first payment made on October 1 of that year.

In case the University elects not to continue the services of said faculty member, written notice shall be given one year prior to the date of termination of contract; payments toward study will continue through May only, and as of June 1, the total amount of the loan will be reduced 50 percent by the University with the remaining 50 percent bearing interest at 6 percent and this said 50 percent to be repaid to the University on an amortized basis over a period of four years with the initial payment beginning October 1 of the same year.

If by mutual agreement of the University and the faculty member, the faculty member returns--following such graduate study--to active service on the University faculty, payment shall continue through August of the year involved. In this case, the entire amount of the loan shall be amortized with interest over a period of five years with the University forgiving 50 percent of each monthly payment for as long as the faculty member continues with the University through the next four years. In the fifth year of continuous full-time teaching, the entire monthly payment will be forgiven.

3. Tuition Assistance

1. Loan assistance for graduate work taken during the summer months is given up to the amount of the University standard tuition rate per credit hour, provided:
   The courses taken and the University or university attended will have been approved--prior to the enrollment for such course or courses--by the Provost.
   Said graduate study is in keeping with requirements leading to a graduate degree.
2. Leave for Graduate Study. Those who are engaged in graduate study may request their professional meeting allotments be applied toward graduate tuition expenses.

4. Sabbatical Leave
   
   Purpose of the Sabbatical Leave:
   
   The purpose of the sabbatical leave is for professional renewal as a scholar and teacher. Sabbatical leave proposals must demonstrate value to the University, the faculty member's life as a professional, teacher and scholar, and improved stature in his/her discipline.
   
   Sabbatical Leave Policy:
   
   Sabbatical leaves may be granted by the Board of Trustees, on recommendation of the President of the University, to members of the full-time faculty who have completed at least six years of service to the University with the rank of assistant professor or higher. Persons without the doctorate who are otherwise eligible may be considered for sabbatical leave. However, the policy is not designed to aid the faculty member in pursuing an advanced degree or in fulfilling advanced degree requirements for continued employment.
   
   The sabbatical leave may be granted at full pay for either the fall or spring semester. If it is mutually agreeable between the University and the faculty member, the leave may be arranged for both semesters at one-half salary. In no case is a leave intended to augment the person's income. Individuals may not use sabbatical leave time for remunerative teaching at another institution. If part-time employment is contemplated while the primary purpose of the sabbatical leave is pursued, such work must be indicated in the proposal when requesting leave.
   
   In the case of a person with an eleven-month contract, the leave period need not coincide with a scheduled semester. During the term of a sabbatical leave the University maintains, according to the contractual salary which the faculty member would receive if working full-time, the University's share in the retirement program, health care program, Social Security, and any other specified benefits of which the faculty member is normally a recipient. During the same period the University continues to withhold from the faculty member's compensation those funds which would regularly provide for each of these programs.
   
   In addition to the salary consideration, the faculty member is provided a cash service allowance of $125 per year for each year of full-time service up to a maximum of $2,000. An additional allowance of $500 may be given for approved foreign travel or study. If the faculty member chooses to receive this allowance in cash, IRS regulations require that the allowance be taxed as additional compensation. However, the faculty member may designate some or all of the allowance to be put into a restricted account for the purpose of paying (or being reimbursed for) expenses incurred in connection with the sabbatical. These designated funds are exempt from taxation to the faculty member provided they are spent on allowable and documented business expenses. Amounts not put into the restricted account, as well as any amount in the restricted account that is not used for allowable and documented expenses, are paid to the faculty member through payroll and are subject to tax withholding. Under certain conditions, a faculty member on leave may secure from the University a non-interest-bearing loan up to $1,000 (repayable in three years) for the cost of tuition or other charges for special advanced study and/or research.
   
   The following procedures should be followed in order to take advantage of the restricted account provision mentioned above:
   
   
   1. Provost's office notifies faculty member of amount of sabbatical service allowance (including travel allowance). Provost's office sends copy of notification to accounting.
   2. Accounting contacts faculty member to determine how much (if any) of the sabbatical allowance the faculty member wants to place in a restricted account. Accounting sends restricted account set-up form to faculty member to be completed.
   3. Faculty member gives completed restricted account set-up form to accounting. Accounting assigns restricted number and adds it to general ledger. Accounting informs faculty member of restricted account number and gives faculty member instructions as to the procedures for proper submission for payment/reimbursement.
   4. Faculty member submits requests for payment/reimbursement to accounting.
      
      
   It is understood that the faculty member who is granted a sabbatical leave will return to the University and serve for at least three years. If an individual receives University funding for such leave and thereafter accepts another position or declines employment at the University before the end of the three-year period, the individual is expected to repay all or an equitable portion of the grant to the University. The term "grant" includes the salary and other University-funded sabbatical allowances awarded the faculty member.
   
   The maximum number of leaves to be granted is established each year by the Board of Trustees upon recommendation from the President of the University.
   
   When a sabbatical leave has been approved and taken, the next contract year begins a new service period as related to the eligibility for further leave.
   
   Sabbatical Selection Committee:
   
   The Faculty Resources Committee, which is a standing faculty committee elected by the faculty for three-year terms, evaluates sabbatical leave proposals based on criteria established by the faculty.
   
   Sabbatical Selection Criteria:
   
   The Faculty Resources Committee gives the Provost a ranking of the proposals based on objectively scoring the proposals by using the following evaluation device:
   
   

   Evaluation Device
   No.	Description	Percentage Distribution
   1	Is the supporting documentation complete:	5%
   2	Is the background information complete?	10%
   3	How will this project enhance the applicant's teaching?	This percent is assigned by the applicant1
   4	How will this project enhance the applicant's scholarship?	This percent is assigned by the applicant1
   5	Is the project viable?	10%
   6	What additional service has the applicant provided to the University?	5%
   1The percent assigned to each of the items numbered 3 and 4 must be greater than or equal to 20% and the sum of the items numbered 3 and 4 must equal 70%.

Sabbatical Application and Selection Process:

Applications for sabbatical leaves are made in writing and due by Friday of the tenth week of the fall semester for leaves granted the following academic year. The process is outlined below. The process can be very competitive, and it is recommended that faculty members applying for a sabbatical leave prepare thoroughly. For advice and assistance in going through the application process, see Tenure Sabbatical Promotion Applications: A Practical Guide, available in the Faculty Shared folder, Center for Teaching and Learning, TSP Guide.

1. The faculty member submits the following set of documents to his/her college dean, with a copy to the Provost and his/her chair/school dean.

• Sabbatical Proposal Cover Sheet, available on Forms Central (go to Socrates/Shared or Zeus/Shared, and click on Forms Central). The cover sheet must include the term of leave requested. The applicant must distribute 70% among items 3 and 4 in the evaluation device, with each item receiving at least 20%. 
• Updated curriculum vitae.
• Detailed proposal for the sabbatical project. The written proposal must include the specific objectives and documentation to substantiate the faculty member's ability to accomplish the stated objectives. The proposal should address the items listed in the evaluation device above. (See the section below entitled Preparing the Sabbatical Proposal for examples of documentation to include in the proposal.)

2. As supporting documentation, the faculty member requests that his/her department chair/school dean provide the college dean with a listing of the essential courses that must be covered should the faculty member's sabbatical be approved. In the case of application by more than one faculty member from a single department/school, the chair/school dean notifies the college dean regarding any foreseeable difficulties anticipated due to the simultaneous absence of the faculty members who have applied.

3. The college dean and Provost verify the candidate’s potential eligibility to apply for a sabbatical leave. (The faculty member must have a minimum of six years of full-time teaching and be in good standing.) The college dean prepares an estimated cost to the University of each faculty member’s sabbatical leave, and registers any concerns about simultaneous sabbatical leaves in individual departments/schools with the Provost and Faculty Resources Committee.

4. The Faculty Resources Committee judges proposals based on the evaluation device shown above.

5. The Faculty Resources Committee gives each proposal a score based on criteria 1-6 and the percentage distribution as defined in the evaluation device.  The score is obtained by assigning 3, 2, or 1 points for high, medium, and low, respectively, and taking a weighted sum according to the percentage distribution.  The proposal must have a 2.0 minimum score to be an acceptable project.

6. If there is a tie among the proposals, then tie-breaking decisions will be made by the Provost, favoring the applicant with a greater length of service to PLNU since the last granted sabbatical, or length of service to PLNU if no sabbatical has been granted. In addition, the Provost may consider the hardship on individual departments/schools caused by having multiple faculty on sabbatical leaves in the final recommendation to the President.

7. The final decision is made by the President and Provost and approved by the Board of Trustees. All arrangements for the leave are made in writing and signed by the applicant and the Provost. A copy of the agreement is placed in the faculty member’s personnel file.

Preparing the Sabbatical Proposal:

Here is a set of questions for each category to help the applicant in preparing her/his proposal for sabbatical leave. The bulleted questions are intended to be examples of the type of information that is appropriate for each category. It is not expected that every question will be relevant for every project.

1. Is the supporting documentation complete? (5%)

• Vita (required)
• Evidence of preliminary planning (should contain some of the following: letters of inquiry, reading lists, letter from a colleague validating the project)
• Quality of the presentation

2. Is the background information complete? (10%)

• Give a brief description of the project, similar to an abstract
• Give a brief history of involvement and interest
• Give a brief explanation of why you have chosen this project

3. How will this project enhance the applicant's teaching? (range: 20%-50%, the sum of items 3 and 4 must total 70%)

• Will a specific course or courses be impacted? In which way?
• Will this improve the body of knowledge in the applicant's department/school? In which way?
• Will this have a general impact on his/her courses?
• Will the applicant bring back new teaching ideas or techniques to the classroom? What kind?

4. How will this project enhance the applicant's scholarship? (range: 20%-50%, the sum of items 3 and 4 must total 70%)

• Is creative work (e.g. research design, writing, performance, art exhibit, etc.) involved in the project?
• Will the applicant learn some new information/experience/insights?
• Will the project produce a publication, presentation or other form of service to their professional community?

5. Is the project viable? (10%)

• Is the timeline appropriate? If possible, the applicant should provide a schedule of activities.
• Are the necessary resources available to the applicant?
• If traveling, where is the applicant traveling? Why does the applicant need to travel?
• Will the applicant collaborate with other individuals? If so, list them, their institutions and their positions.
• Does the applicant have the professional background to complete this project?

6. What additional service has the applicant provided to the University? (5%)

• Has the applicant worked on special projects for the University?
• Has the applicant provided leadership or significantly contributed in their department/school or another department/school?

Sabbatical Report

Upon return from the sabbatical leave, the faculty member submits to the University a detailed written report covering the use of time given and an evaluation of some of the principal activities in which the faculty member engaged while on leave. During the fall following the sabbatical leave, the faculty member makes a presentation about his/her sabbatical project to the faculty.

5. Research and Special Projects Fund (RASP)

This fund is administered by the Provost. Faculty are encouraged to apply for any project which seems to fit the guidelines.

The basic purpose of this program is to assist faculty members who desire to do research in their area of specialization, but have not been able to obtain funding for the projects. It is designed to cover research and project expenses, but not to provide compensation for faculty time. The research may be carried on during regular semesters or during the summer. A report is made to the Provost at the end of the grant period.

Any proposal may be considered, but preference will be given to those proposals having obvious relationship to the central purpose of the Professional Development Program. Most of the projects are assumed to be fairly small, completable within a year of the funding date. All monies must be used within one year of the date of award. Both pure research and applied projects are eligible to be funded, but priority will ordinarily be given to research which is clearly related to the applicant's teaching field.

Funds may be used for such items as printing, supplies, materials, secretarial services, postage, or other necessary expenses. Funds may not be used for compensation, tuition, fees, subscriptions, memberships, or for purposes covered by any other portion of the Professional Development Fund.

Procedure:

1. Send the applications to the Vice Provost for Faculty Development by Wednesday of the eighth week of the fall semester of each year.
2. A three-member subcommittee of the Faculty Resources Committee, appointed by the Provost, will read and rank all proposals and report back their recommendations.
3. Final decision will be made by the Provost with announcements made after November 15.

6. Alumni Development Grants

The Alumni Association provides Teaching Development awards to support faculty research and new curriculum development. Each year the association gives two to four awards. They may be for an amount up to $2,000 each. All full-time faculty may submit applications and proposals.

To obtain an application, contact the Alumni Office at extension 2586. Application and proposal deadline is usually March 15. Award recipients have 12 months to use the money awarded. A report is due to the Alumni Board upon completion of the project.

Money for these awards is raised through alumni staying at the Alumni House throughout the year.

7. Discretionary Grants

A portion of the Faculty Development Fund is reserved for the use of the Provost in the form of grants to individual faculty members. These Discretionary Grants are designed to help fund professional development opportunities for faculty when no other faculty development programs are applicable or available. Examples of usage: 1) travel expenses to a professional meeting where the faculty member is giving a paper, 2) travel expenses to a conference or seminar unusually suited to the faculty member's professional development, 3) support for development programs conducted during the summer.

No other guidelines apply. The Provost provides application forms upon request and makes grants on the basis of the merits of each request. Response within ten working days is normal.

8. Faculty Lecture Series

Purpose:

The purpose of the Faculty Lecture Series is to provide a vehicle, and a continuing occasion, for the stimulation of scholarly research, writing, and dialog among the Point Loma Nazarene University faculty with emphasis upon interdisciplinary issues.

General Guidelines:

Lectures in this series shall:

1. Be presented under the sponsorship of the Faculty Resources Committee to the Point Loma Nazarene University faculty and committee-invited guests.
2. Be scheduled by the Faculty Resources Committee (appointed by the Faculty Resources Committee), who shall receive prospective topics on which a faculty member would like to speak, or on which a faculty member would like to hear a colleague speak.
3. Be characterized by free inquiry and open discussion by all faculty members involved, and be moderated by a person appointed by the Faculty Resources Committee.
4. Be scholarly in content, marked by thorough research, fresh literary style, and intellectual maturity.
5. Following presentation, be open to formal or informal question by a respondent or panel of respondents (appointed by the Faculty Resources Committee) and by the audience.
6. Be of moderate length to ensure adequate interest and discussion.
7. Be made available in full text to all faculty members at the time of presentation, or in an annual publication, or both.
8. Be appropriately recognized as serious academic contributions.

Proposed Occasions:

The Faculty Resources Committee shall determine dates for presentation of lectures according to the following standards:

1. The dates should allow maximum faculty attendance and participation preferably in nonbusiness faculty meetings.
2. There should be one or two lectures scheduled each semester so that high academic standards and faculty interest may be maintained.

9. Wesleyan Center for 21st Century Studies

The Wesleyan Center provides opportunities for faculty and students to explore our Wesleyan heritage and its implications for the 21^st century. In this way, Point Loma Nazarene University faculty attempt to fulfill their transformational roles as Christian scholars in the world.

Point Loma Press serves as the academic publishing concern for Point Loma Nazarene University. Publications support the scholarly work of the faculty, coverage of important university-sponsored conferences, symposia, and events providing articulation of Wesleyan themes.

10. Center for Teaching and Learning

The Center for Teaching and Learning works to encourage and empower faculty to develop their teaching craft and to become more intentional in their pedagogy. Since teaching remains our primary contact with students, our teaching needs to reflect both the standards of our professional discipline and the relational values of our Wesleyan theology. The programs of the Center aim to support faculty efforts towards teaching excellence and to create spaces where faculty can meet to talk about their teaching.

11. Faculty Discourse

There are two faculty discourse groups that meet on a regular basis. The purpose of these groups is to provide an opportunity for faculty to discuss important topics related to the Wesleyan tradition on a broad, cross-disciplinary basis.

• Science and Theology Discussion Group

The Science and Theology Discussion Group analyzes one or two books every semester that authoritatively present new and on-going academic developments that apply to disciplines within both science and theology. Areas of prominent interest include the biology of origins, cosmology, and neuroscience along with theological views on the agency of God, process theology, and intelligent design theory.

• Social Issues Discussion Group

The Social Issues Discussion Group reads about and discusses matters of race, class, and gender across disciplines and in the context of the Christian faith and Wesleyan tradition.