Personal Leaves of Absence

A personal leave of absence is an unpaid absence in excess of fourteen (14) calendar days that is not covered by any other university policy.

Policy

The university will grant requests for personal leaves of absence without pay for up to six (6) months. Such a leave may be granted at the discretion of the staff member's department head and the Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action depending upon the reasons for the leave.

Procedure

The staff member must complete a "Leave of Absence Request" form and submit it to her or his supervisor as soon as possible, but no later than thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated start date, except in cases of emergency. If a personal leave of absence is being used to extend another type of leave, the request for the personal leave of absence should be made at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the other leave.

Staff members must use all applicable university-paid benefits (sick leave, vacation, holidays/bonus days) for which they are eligible before beginning a personal leave of absence. If the staff member is requesting the leave prior to exhausting paid benefits, she or he must indicate on the leave form when the personal leave of absence is requested to begin.

Personal leaves of absence usually will not be approved for staff members who have not completed their initial evaluation periods or for staff members who are not employed in regular full-time or part-time positions.

A request for a personal leave of absence is not effective until approved by the staff member's department head and the Director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action.

A staff member shall not accrue additional benefits or continuous service credits during a personal leave of absence. He or she may continue medical/dental coverage during a personal leave of absence as allowed by COBRA regulations.

Staff members who do not return as scheduled from an approved personal leave of absence will be considered to have voluntarily terminated their employment unless they have previously received an approved extension of the leave.

A staff member who returns to work from a personal leave of absence is not guaranteed reinstatement to his or her former position. A staff member returning from a personal leave of absence may be reinstated if there is a similar position which is open and for which he or she qualifies. If there is no position available, the opportunity to be reinstated into a similar open position shall only be in effect for a period of three (3) months from the time the staff member was to have returned. If there is no opening due to the staff member's former position having been eliminated, this three (3) month period shall not apply and the staff member shall be separated from the university effective at the time the staff member would have otherwise been laid off due to the reduction in force or reorganization.

Origination Date: 9/1958
Revised: 1996