Faculty leaders at University of Iowa criticize suspension of two faculty sabbatical programs
Iowa Press-Citizen
September 1, 2010
University of Iowa faculty leaders criticized the suspension of two faculty sabbatical programs, while others said the suspension was politically and financially necessary.
UI announced Monday that "Faculty Scholar" and "Global Scholar" awards, which are internally funded research leaves that can last up to three years, would be suspended for the second year in a row.
"These are very serious reductions in resources available for research for faculty that depend on the general fund for research," said Jeffrey Cox, a history professor at a Faculty Council meeting Tuesday.
Cox and other faculty said the cuts undermine research in fields that rely on internal funding and questioned the logic of the suspensions because they save little money. The costs primarily are for salaries, which already are budgeted, Cox and others said.
However, sabbaticals create difficulties for departments, which shuffle others' teaching loads or hire adjunct professors or lecturers to staff the classes, said Tom Rice, UI associate provost for faculty.
