Study Leave Program for Tenured and Term Faculty
The purpose of this Study Leave program is to support professional development initiatives designed to advance scholarly research, teaching, and/or creative activity, including the development of innovative teaching approaches and methods that extend beyond the routine curricular improvements expected as part of teaching responsibilities. Full-time tenured and multi-year term faculty with more than six years of service at George Mason University are eligible to apply, in accordance with the criteria outlined in the program description below.
Leaves may be taken for one semester at full pay and full benefits or an academic year at half pay with full benefits (based on 50% of base salary). The leave schedule must be approved by the Academic Program Coordinator, Interim Unit Lead, and the CEHD Dean.
Eligibility
- Must be a full-time tenured faculty or multi-year term faculty member with six or more years of service at George Mason University at the time of application.
- Individuals whose rank is prefixed with Affiliate, Adjunct, Research, or Visiting are not eligible.
- A minimum of six years must elapse between successive study leaves.
- This six-year period includes time spent on leave of absence, unless such leave includes time worked at another agency or institution, in which case an exception must be approved and granted by the Vice President for Research.
- An applicant may apply in year 6 for a Study Leave in year 7 (with year 1 being the first year back from the completed study leave).
- Full-time Administrative Faculty who otherwise meet these criteria are eligible.
Conditions of the Award
- A faculty member who receives a Study Leave must agree to remain a full-time employee of the University for at least one academic year after the conclusion of the leave.
- A faculty member who receives a Study Leave must agree to serve as a reviewer of future applications at least once.
- At the completion of the study leave, faculty must submit a final report that describes the products and outcomes produced as a result of this Study Leave. The report should be submitted before the formal end of the semester that follows the duration of the Study Leave.
- A faculty member who receives a Study Leave must agree to disclose any activities and/or travel outside of the US.
Application Process
Applications for the Study Leave will be submitted online using the digital form shared via email inviting proposals for the Study Leave. Study Leave Reviews are conducted by a Study Leave Review Committee comprised of previous Tenured and Term Instructional Faculty Study Leave recipients, Associate Dean for Research, and Associate Dean for Faculty Success. Recommendations from the Study Leave Review Committee are submitted to the CEHD Dean and CBO for final award decisions.
Timeline
- Invitation to submit proposals for the Study Leave: mid-October
- Proposals due date: mid-November
- Notifications of Study Leave awards: late December/early January (for the following academic year)
If you have questions or wish to discuss any issues with respect to a prospective proposal for study leave, please feel free to be in touch with the Associate Dean for Research (for tenured faculty) or the Associate Dean for Faculty Success (for term faculty).
AY 2026-2027 Study Leave Awards
- Ellen Rodgers, Department of Kinesiology, Sport, and Hospitality Management (Fall 2026)
- Daniel Ferguson, Department of Teaching & Learning (Fall 2026)
- Sheri Berkeley, Department of Special Education and Disability Research (Spring 2027)
- Sujin Kim, Department of Teaching & Learning (Fall 2026 – Sp