Funds are available for the purpose of providing faculty members with a reduction of one unit in their teaching load during the academic year.
Deadline: February 1
Eligibility
Release units are available to full-time, ongoing faculty members and artists-in-residence with at least two years of service at the University of Puget Sound as of September 1 in the academic year of application. Faculty are eligible to receive only one UEC release unit every three years, and only one in any given year. Faculty already awarded a release unit will not be awarded a second release unit for work on the same project.
Because release units support professional development and are intended to lead to future scholarly productivity, faculty who plan to retire or leave the university in the year following receipt of a release unit should not apply. In years where the number of applicants exceeds the number of available awards, the University Enrichment Committee will consider the degree to which an applicant has been supported in the past with various sources of university funding.
The release unit is not intended for course development since this is a continuing function of all faculty members. Neither is the release unit intended to supplement a sabbatical or other full leave. Release time is subject to the ability of the department to provide coverage for a release unit or find suitable supplementary staff.
Application
Application for release time should be made to the University Enrichment Committee through the online form. The application should include:
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Project proposal (1,000 words maximum).
a. Professional goals and anticipated outcomes of the release time.
b. Activities for which the release time is requested.
c. A research and writing timeline.
d. An explanation of the necessity of release time for this activity. - Department chair form evaluating the feasibility of the project, recommending approval or disapproval, verifying the course to be deleted, and indicating whether a replacement is necessary.
- For research that involves the use of human participants or animals, please be aware that appropriate approval must be obtained before beginning research. Please consult IRB or IACUC approval processes information on the university’s website for details.
The University Enrichment Committee will rank release time proposals and will forward the proposals to the Provost for final approval based on curricular and budgetary considerations.
Deadline
Applications for release time are due February 1, for both the subsequent fall and spring semesters.
Reporting
Faculty receiving release time shall provide a written report of the activities undertaken. This report shall be accompanied by a manuscript, research report, or their equivalent. The report should be sent by email to the enrichment@pugetsound.edu, with the department chair copied on the message. All release time reports are due no later than August 31 of the year during which the release was taken.