Faculty Development Leaves

The Faculty Development Leave Program provides release time to tenured faculty members to support a variety of activities including publication, research, teaching, and creative activities. FDLs are not sabbaticals nor are they to be used for rest and relaxation. Rather, FDLs are to be used for faculty development, broadly construed.

The process is competitive, and the number of FDLs is limited.

Awards are made on the basis of the excellence of the proposed work and its potential to advance the faculty member’s career and UTA’s reputation. Its scope should surpass the faculty member’s normal responsibilities.

Eligibility:

Faculty must have 1) served full-time as assistant, associate, or full professors on the UT Arlington faculty for at least two consecutive academic years, and 2) earned tenure by the time the leave commences.

Part-time faculty, visiting faculty, and all other untenured faculty (including assistant professors on the tenure track but not yet tenured by next fall) are NOT eligible.

Leave Period:

Either one year at one-half regular salary or for one semester at full salary.

Timetable

Monday, November 4, 2024: Window opens for FDL applications.

To begin the application process, faculty must complete this form:

Intent to Apply for a Faculty Development Leave

All applications for an FDL must be submitted through Watermark / Digital Measures (W/DM).

Friday, December 6, 2024: Submissions will be accepted through 11.59pm

Friday January 10, 2025:
Departmental committee reviews completed

Friday, February 7, 2025:
School and College Level reviews completed

Faculty Development Leaves - FAQs

Yes, however, there must be a five-year interval between awards. Previous award winners must inform the review committee of the earlier award. The review committees may consider whether or not the applicant is a previous award winner.

Yes, if the review committee believes such a leave is worthwhile. There must be a five-year interval between leave periods. The applicant will need to address the relationship between the current proposed project and the previous FDLs. The review committee may consider previous FDLs in their deliberations.

Applications from across disciplines have been successful. Broadly speaking, proposals may focus on creative activities, field and laboratory research, or teaching activities. Evaluation committees tend to prefer proposals which focus on a narrow set of well-defined project objectives.

No. FDLs may be awarded for the preparation of new classroom techniques and for the development of new subject areas. The review committees will evaluate teaching-focused proposals in the same fashion as research and creative activity focused proposals. No one class of proposals receives preference.

  • For technical questions concerning the online submission process, please email DMhelp@uta.edu
  • For other questions and comments about the Faculty Development Leave program, contact the Division of Faculty Success at facultysuccess@uta.edu