Overview

Purpose: This policy outlines the eligibility, requirements, and application process for Special Faculty Assignments (SFAs), which provide teaching release to College of Liberal Arts (COLA) faculty after serving in administrative leadership roles to support their scholarly and creative work.

Effective: Current.

I. COLA Special Faculty Assignments (SFAs) Policy

Faculty officially appointed as Department Chairs or as Center, Institute, or Program Directors may be provided a Special Faculty Assignment (SFA) upon conclusion of their term, which releases faculty from teaching obligations in order to focus on advancing scholarly and creative trajectories.

A. Eligibility

• COLA faculty officially appointed as Department Chairs or as Center, Institute, or Program Directors.

• SFAs are pre-awarded and provided to faculty for serving in administrative leadership roles as stated in their appointment letters from the Dean’s Office.

B. Regulations/ Guidelines

• Faculty must notify the Dean's Office by May 1st in the year prior to the SFA in order to secure final approval from the Provost's Office. Faculty must submit a current CV and research proposal, and will need to specify the semester they are requesting the SFA for.

• SFAs carry a Return Rule requirement. Recipients are expected to return to normal duties at UT Austin for at least one academic year (Fall and Spring terms) upon conclusion of the SFA.

• SFAs affect eligibility for a Faculty Development Leave (FDL). The Provost’s Office has determined that SFAs count as COLA-FDLs, and therefore would require at least two full years of ‘normal’ service before being eligible for a UT-FDL. See also the FDL wiki.

C. Application Details

• Provide a current CV, research proposal, and specify the SFA semester; submit materials to COLA HR. 

II. Contact Information

For questions, contact COLA HR or Jennifer Nailos at jennifer.nailos@austin.utexas.edu.