Associate Professor of Theatre Steven Roten directed Monumental, which he wrote during his sabbatical, in spring 2015. Knowledge and connections gained by Professor of Psychology Doreen Fairbank (right) during her sabbatical benefit students in her classes.
Roten, whose sabbatical auditions continue to help him find acting work, noted, “The school benefits by having people in the news.” These sentiments echo the Meredith College Faculty Handbook, which states, “Sabbaticals should improve one’s ability to teach and to enhance one’s general contribution to the College community.” Indeed, faculty members who have been recipients of sabbatical leave do not take their leave lightly. “It was so rejuvenating and necessary to
my artistic growth,” said Finley of her sabbatical. “It came at a great time in my career.” Added Fairbank: “It was the biggest gift that the College could ever give me.” Moreover, sabbatical leave also shows faculty members that the College supports them. “That sabbatical kept me feeling that I was valued by the institution,” Roten said, “that they valued me enough to invest in me in a real way, enough to value my contributions as an artist, as a professor.”
How Are Faculty Selected for Sabbaticals?
Faculty members interested
in taking a sabbatical complete an application. In their application materials, faculty write about their plans and expected outcomes for the proposed sabbatical.
The Faculty Development and
Instructional Technology ComWant to ensure professional development, such as sabbaticals, helps keep Meredith faculty and staff Going Strong? Beyond Strong | The Campaign for Meredith is one way that alumnae and friends of the College can help support sabbaticals and other kinds of professional development for faculty and staff. Faculty and staff development is part of the Quality of Life priority for Meredith. Learn more, or make a gift, at meredith.edu/
mittee reviews the applications and makes recommendations, which they provide to Provost Matthew Poslusny. Poslusny shares the committee’s input with President Jo Allen, ’80. Allen and Poslusny then deliver their recommendations to the Board of Trustees, which has final approval on sabbaticals.
beyondstrong.
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