Advice for first sabbatical

[Pangoban]

I will be starting my first (and only; I was a late starter in academia) in about a year. While I am wildly excited about the prospect, I want to make sure I make the most of it while not dying of loneliness, overwork, or self-created stress.  How tightly should I schedule my time?  Should I go somewhere else as a visiting academic, or plan to remain at home?  The children are grown so I am reasonably mobile, and the sabbatical will be funded at my normal salary level. I would welcome your suggestions.

[Ruralguy]

Whatever gets you what you want out of sabbatical, which is presumably a research work product, is the thing to do. I was a visiting scholar for my 1st sabbatical and got two papers out of it. My second sabbatical was at home (I had a small office space at my regular school, set apart from the commotion of most offices and students). I got a book out of that (not in a book field per se, but it was related to my field). I am not sure what my 3rd sabbatical will be like!

Don't get lured into dept. politics, don't go to meetings, answer emails sparingly. Don't do any service duties.

[fast_and_bulbous]

When I did mine I was forced to have a plan submitted and approved by the Dean. Having a plan is a very good thing. Just set realistic goals and don't get down on yourself if you don't make all of them. I took a yearlong sabbatical mostly in Colorado working at a national center. I scrounged up funding for most of half of my salary since the university only covered one semester. I ended up going down an unexpected path that resulted in a lot of big success years later.

I am not sure I'd do well with a stay at home sabbatical; however on the other hand I worked remotely for my new job for two months before moving to my current area, and managed to write a good chunk of an important paper for me. So from my perspective, if you have solid research goals (that don't necessarily require a lot of resources) and a fair amount of self discipline, you can get a ton done when all the other stuff (teaching, prep, service, etc.) falls by the wayside - even if you are at home.

[saramago]

What has worked well for me thus far is a combination: a few months abroad, in fun places where I can build great memories of having done something special during the year, and the rest in town, working from home, libraries, coffe shops etc. That is more productive, but the first part is probably more important,  notably in terms of recharging batteries. 

[Kron3007]

I'm in the same boat, planning to take my first sabbatical next year.  However, I have to submit a plan that needs to be approved.  In my case, I have small kids so extended travel would be hard.  I plan to do as Saramago suggests and do some travelling, likely visiting collaborators and such, but spending most of the time at home.  I will use this time to focus on writing grants and moving my(lab based) research program forward.  It is a really exciting time in my lab, so having time to focus will be awesome and productive I think.

Also, I hope to use this time to learn Spanish (I have some basics), which is becoming increasingly important for my research and teaching, as well as being a great skill in general

[Hibush]

A potential goal is to become a member of the most influential international clique in your field. Who is doing the coolest stuff? See if you can join in for a half a year or a year.


For those who have kids: Do it. I was the kid on a sabbatical when I was in 8th grade. Possibly the most awkward time to go to a different school for a year. It was great! Don't be a chicken. Give your kids an experience that will greatly influence how they think of themselves as a global citizen.

[Kron3007]

A potential goal is to become a member of the most influential international clique in your field. Who is doing the coolest stuff? See if you can join in for a half a year or a year.

For those who have kids: Do it. I was the kid on a sabbatical when I was in 8th grade. Possibly the most awkward time to go to a different school for a year. It was great! Don't be a chicken. Give your kids an experience that will greatly influence how they think of themselves as a global citizen.

I definitely agree.  I was not so fortunate as a kid, but had a couple friends who did this and they all agree with you.  However, our youngest is two, so I hope to do this the following sabbatical. 

[clean]

Don't get lured into dept. politics, don't go to meetings, answer emails sparingly. Don't do any service duties.

Absolutely!!

It is probably too late for this observation about pay, if you already know you will be granted leave.  Here, you can have full pay for one term, or 'half pay' for 2 terms.  However, the latter is a lie.  IF you take the 2 term leave, you are classified as a half time employee.  Half time employees do not get benefits!  So your salary may be half, but you then have to pay for the state's share of your benefits! For us, for example, that would be about $500 a month for a single person's health insurance - even more if you cover a spouse and/or family!

I was on 'development leave' recently (as we do not have sabbatical for political reasons because 'sabbatical' is code for 'paid vacation' by the state legislature). On paper, I could afford the full year and would have done it, but my primary goal is to save for retirement.  While I could survive on (less than) half my salary, even while being away from my home for an extended time (given enough time to plan, save and budget), I could not do so AND fully fund my 403b retirement plan. 

However, I am in the Defined Contribution Plan (the 403 is my only retirement plan). IF I were to have taken the full year, it would delay my ability to retire by no less than a year.  IF I were on the Defined Benefit (traditional retirement/pension plan) I would have taken the full year without question.

So for those that are considering taking sabbatical/'development leave' be aware that your university may not be paying 'half pay' for a full year.  Consider what the pay cut will do to your ability to save for retirement or retire any debts you may be dealing with. 

Should you stay or leave?
Leave if at all possible.  Be aware also, that you may not be permitted to 'double dip'.  I understand that it is becoming more preventable to prevent faculty to be paid while on sabbatical.  (In the olden days, I understand that faculty would take a visiting position and teach somewhere else while collecting all or part of their salary from their home university, making sabbatical a money making proposition!  My institution prohibits faculty from other employment while on leave. 

By leaving, you get a break from all of the BS politics at your institution and you can clear your head so that you can return somewhat recharged.  Take full advantage or it by being gone during your leave. Participating in the political BS when you are not on campus is very counterproductive.  Leave the stressors behind!

Also, those that have plans to leave the area to collect data are more likely to be awarded development leave. IF you can do what you plan at home, why should the university release you from teaching and service?  IF you need to go elsewhere to be able to support your research agenda, then that makes the most sense and garners the most support from the university wide committee that decides who is awarded the limited number of development leaves that are available to be awarded. IF you can do it from home, then some will argue that you should just make better use of the summer with no teaching/pay and do it then.

[mamselle]

This is the real reason for the existence of the Bibliotheque nationale de Paris...

M.

[hmaria1609]

This is the real reason for the existence of the Bibliotheque nationale de Paris...
M.

Zut! If I ever get back to Paris, I should go there.

[monarda]

@clean, half time employees at our campus do get benefits. Full health care, full everything else, AFAIK.
That's precisely my reason to want to shift to half time in the next year as I near retirement.

[mamselle]

This is the real reason for the existence of the Bibliotheque nationale de Paris...
M.

Zut! If I ever get back to Paris, I should go there.

Absoluement!

You can go into some areas without a reader's card, PM me for more info...Rue Voltaire is the best site.

Pas Tolboac, je n'aime pas ca...

M.

[Dismal]

My upcoming sabbatical will be a stay-batical -- I will be at home mostly but I wonder what it would be like to work for a month or two at one of those communal work spaces that are available around our city. 

Edited to add that my advice is to propose something doable and don't be too ambitious so you end up feeling like you failed at the end. And keep yourself open for new projects that you may have not thought of yet.

[Peekler]

The Fulbright Specialist program is not as well known as the "main" Fulbright.  It allows for shorter visits that fit tidily within a sabbatical.  If you have overseas contacts and know you can secure an invitation (or can see your way clear to get these things), it is quite workable.