Office of Academic Affairs

Professional Leave Policy

Approved by COC and SOM Dean: 09/22/2004

  1. The SOM Policy on Faculty Outside Professional Activities  and the UNMHSC policy on Provider Initiated Clinic Cancellation are incorporated by reference in this policy.
  2. All approved professional leave is understood to be beneficial both to the individual and to the Institution and is granted at the discretion of the chair.  The UNM Faculty Handbook states:
      It is also recognized that a faculty member's absence for attendance at professional meetings or to fulfill other professional obligations may be considered by the department chairperson or director of an academic division or dean in colleges without departments to be of sufficient importance to justify absence from assigned duties [C225 – Policy – PROFESSIONAL LEAVE].
  3. Up to twelve (12) work days of professional leave in a fiscal year may be approved by a chair or division chief if the chair (chief) believes the requirements of paragraph 2 have been satisfied. All professional leave in excess of twelve (12) work days in a fiscal year is considered to be exceptional and requires both a strong justification and direct approval by the chair. Professional leave by a division chief must obtain the approval of the chair; professional leave by a chair must be approved in advance by the Dean.
  4. All leave – including professional leave – must be pre-approved in writing by the appropriate supervisor. Requests should be made far enough in advance of the proposed leave that normal operations are not disrupted, other faculty members are not unduly inconvenienced, and the department is not placed in a negative financial position. Every attempt should be made to avoid canceling any clinics, surgeries, classes, or other scheduled activities.
  5. Professional leave should be utilized for academic pursuits including, but not limited to: lecturing offsite; pursuing collaborative research activities – including those that have been written into institutionally approved, extramurally funded grants and contracts; attending national/regional scientific, professional, or committee meetings; serving as a board examiner or member of a study section or other review group. It may also include activities that are pursued to maintain or update skills and knowledge base in a faculty member’s given field(s) by attending accredited CME or other professional activities. Certain absences from campus are considered to be part of a faculty member’s regular duties within the State of New Mexico and would not be considered professional leave. Such absences still require the prior approval of the appropriate supervisor.
  6. Departments are strongly encouraged to establish guidelines that would serve to operationalize this policy within their specific contexts. These guidelines could specify the kinds of activities that could justify approval of professional leave beyond the twelve (12) work days specified in this policy.