ResearchFormal StudyTravelProfessional DevelopmentField StudyCreative ProjectPlan for a Successful Sabbatical or Fellowship

Which Type of Support Do You Need?Sabbatical LeavePaid one-semester leave to pursue professional development relevant to your SMC responsibilitiesApplications due in Fall semester for sabbaticals in the following academic yearAcademic Senate has approved a second round of proposals in Spring 2014 for Spring 2015 sabbaticalsDistrict funds at least 8 sabbaticals per yearFellowship$1500 to support a relevant one-semester professional development projectProposals due in Spring 2014 for next academic yearDistrict funds up to 7 fellowships per year

Apply for a Sabbatical if You are a full time Faculty MemberYou have at least 6 years of full time service prior to submitting your applicationYou wish to pursue a relevant project that will constitute one semesters worth of workYour project involves any of the following:Professional DevelopmentFormal StudyIndependent Research/Creative Project /Field StudyProfessionally Beneficial Travel

Sabbatical Leaves TypologyProfessional 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.

Components of the Sabbatical Application Description of the projectObjectives of the projectRelationship of the project to SMCs Mission, Vision and GoalsSpecific Activities or Procedures to be performedTimeline for Completing Sabbatical ActivitiesSpecific Outcomes, Skills or Competencies AchievedDocumentation of Outcomes

Criteria for Evaluating Sabbatical Proposals

Quality of Project DesignProposal constitutes a full semesters work load15Proposed Goals and Outcomes are feasible15Proposal is clear, organized and specific5Proposed activities and procedures support projects objectives5Methods of documentation are appropriate to the proposed project 5Applicant establishes a realistic timeline for accomplishing activities and objectives5Benefits of SabbaticalProposed project contributes to professional development/increased competence of sabbatical recipient20Proposed project contributes to student success15Proposal aligns with current College goals, program SLOs and/or ILOs 10Proposed project contributes to colleagues, department, and/or college at-large5Supplemental CategoriesInnovative 5College service3Potential first-time recipient2

What the Sabbatical is not!ExamplesA vacationTravel unrelated to student learning and/or your professional developmentUpdating your syllabus or course packetTime to do work that is part of your regular assignmentTime to engage in curriculum development that is part of your regular assignment

Key Points to ConsiderDeveloping a successful sabbatical proposal necessitates:Careful planningWritingIs your plan sufficiently comprehensive yet achievable?Does your plan include contingencies for unanticipated events? What will you do if things dont go as planned?

Application Process:PLANNINGReflect 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.

Application Process:WRITINGAbove 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.

Application Process:WRITINGDescribe how you will document your activities (examples):Curriculum Outline/SyllabusDiariesSlides, films, and other multimedia toolsTravel receiptsManuscriptProduction of creative work

What methods will you use to disseminate your results?A Sabbatical Report is required, but you may also develop/produce:Web PagesPresentations and workshopsPapers

The methods for documenting and disseminating results will be different for every proposal depending on the type of sabbatical activitychoose the most appropriate format for your project.

General TipsFigure out what worked in the pastReview past proposals, both successful and unsuccessfulAbstracts of some successful sabbaticals are available on our website. Meet with past sabbatical recipientsAsk your colleagues to critique your applicationYour project should NOT rely heavily on others to conduct key aspects of your sabbatical work.The sabbatical project should constitute one semesters work.

General TipsBe reader friendlyWrite for the tired, impatient reader who is reading your application last:Ensure that your proposal stands out from the rest of the applicationsBe professional, but personalDont make the reader hunt for or guess at the answer to a questionUse headers, bullets, bold/italics, and white space to help guide the reader through the various sectionsUse 12-point, easy to read fontDont use jargon specific to your discipline that readers may not understandDont forget to proof read and use spell check

TimelineSpring 2015 Sabbaticals

March 10Application availableMarch 18Sabbatical and Fellowship WorkshopsApril 28Application deadlineEarly May Recipients are selectedMay 20Senate Executive Committee reviews recommendations May 27Academic Senate consideration for approvalEarly JuneBoard of Trustees consideration for approval

Sabbatical ExamplesDiana 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.

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.

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

Components of the Fellowship Application The proposal will describethe project, with proposed objectives and activitieshow the outcomes of the project will benefit students and the collegehow the benefits of the project will be shared with the SMC communityhow the outcomes of the project will be documented

Timeline2014-2015 Fellowships

March 10Application availableMarch 18Sabbatical and Fellowship WorkshopsApril 30Application deadlineEarly May Recipients are selectedMay 20Senate Executive Committee reviews recommendations May 27Academic Senate consideration for approvalEarly JuneApproved Fellowships forwarded to Vice President of Academic Affairs

Fellowship ExamplesGaren 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.

Fellowship ExamplesLisa 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 Rauschenbergs 1950s Combines. The applicant previously had been unable to gain access to these archives but has recently been invited to view them.

Fellowship ExamplesYuria 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.

Fellowship ExamplesCarlson Hatton, Art, for Fall 2013 proposes: as a participant in the Da Wangs 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.

For More Information Visit the Committee Website for submission dates and guidelineshttp://www.smc.edu/ACG/AcademicSenate/AScommittees/Pages/Sabbaticals.aspxContactMary Colavito, ChairMona Martin, Co-ChairSherri Lee-Lewis, Human Resources, also a Committee Member