Faculty members must take leave (personal or sick) for any time they cannot be on campus, including face-to-face class meetings and required departmental meetings. They must also take leave for any office hours, virtual or on-campus, that cannot be made up in the same calendar week. For example, if a faculty member missed two, 1.5 hour classes and two office hours that they could not make up that week, they would take five hours of leave.
Faculty must take leave for “prep time” if they are unable to do that work. “Prep time” means all hours within the 40-hour workweek outside of class meetings and office hours.
This practice is allowable up to five (5) consecutive teaching days. After that point faculty must take eight (8) hours of leave per day until they return to work in a regular capacity. Faculty members on continuous FMLA must take eight (8) hours of leave per day. The faculty member taking leave and the department chair are responsible for ensuring compliance and accuracy in documenting absences and ensuring that leave submittal after five (5) teaching days reflects eight (8) hours per day of leave.
Please note that taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) invokes specific federal regulations. Those considering this option should discuss it with the Human Resources Department first by calling (386) 506-4505. Employees and their supervisors should confer with HR before working out a work schedule under FMLA.