Postponement of sabbatical leaves

Faculty due for sabbatical leave may have to postpone to SY 2015-2016  to compensate for the decline in DLSU’s incoming freshmen – a consequence of Grade 12 taking effect under the K – 12 curriculum.

Departments that will be heavily affected by K – 12, such as General Education (GE) departments like English, Filipino and Physical Education, mostly opted to postpone their sabbatical leave.

In an interview with The LaSallian, Vice Chancellor for Academics Dr. Myrna Austria stresses that the administration is not forcing all faculty to postpone their sabbatical leaves.

“We’re giving each department a freedom to determine the implications of K-12 [and] what would be the appropriate policy for them,” Austria says, emphasizing that the policy on sabbatical leaves vary per academic department.

Rationale

Austria explains that the decision was based on an impact simulation ran during the end months of 2012, wherein various academic departments examined which adjustments needed to be made for K-12.

Austria reveals that the administration’s conservative estimate for freshman enrollees may only go up to a thousand, creating a dent on the academic load for the University’s faculty members. Moreover, the University has started to encourage new enrollees to study at the Science and Technology Complex (STC) in Canlubang. An option to study at STC was included for incoming freshmen next term.

Initial numbers suggest that around 300 students have opted to study at STC next school year. Students who opt to study at STC will pay around 30 percent less than those who opt to study at the main campus.

In light of this, Manufacturing Engineering and Management (MEM) Chairperson Dr. Nilo Bugtai believes that postponing sabbatical leaves would be better, from a managerial perspective.

College of Engineering Dean Dr. Rosemary Seva clarifies that the postponement of sabbatical leaves is only one way to address the issue of faculty’s low academic load. Faculty members may also focus on alternatives, such as research programs.

Austria also elaborates that some faculty volunteered for heavier academic load in the next three years, wherein they will be compensated in 2016 – a practice she called “frontloading.”

No shifts in hiring, permanency policies

As to the allegations that the University has stopped hiring faculty, Austria clarifies, “There are also people who are asking whether we’ll stop hiring or [if we’ll] freeze permanency. Our general policy is that we are not freezing anything.”

Austria furthers that hiring new faculty will continue, especially if the applicant is a PhD graduate, has a doctorate from reputable foreign universities or underwent DLSU’s faculty development program, a program sponsored by the University.

The policy for permanency remains the same, as long as the individual qualifies for permanency conditions stipulated under Section F of the Faculty Handbook.