Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President
						Rhodes Tower 1209
						Euclid Avenue at East 22nd Street
						Cleveland, Ohio 44115
						Telephone: (216) 687-3588

						October 4, 1996

          TO:   Members of the Faculty

                This is to notify all eligible University faculty of the oppor-
          tunity to apply for professional leave for 1997-98, according to con-
          ditions specified in Article 22 of the collective bargaining agree-
          ment.  Eligibility criteria for professional leave are as follows:

                1.  Completion of six academic years of service at CSU (ex-
                    clusive of fourth-quarter teaching) at the time of the
                    initiation of the leave;

                2.  Completion of six academic years,Qf service at CSU (ex-
                    clusive of fourth-quarter teaching) following completion
                    of a professional leave;

                3.  Tenure effective as of the date the professional leave
                    becomes effective.

                The Faculty Professional Leave Program is designed to provide
          faculty with an extended period of from one to three,-.academic quar-
          ters to pursue an individual program of professional development.
          This will be the twentieth year that CSU is inviting applications    for
          this program, with continuing mutual benefits to our faculty
          colleagues and the University.

                Faculty who apply for Professional Leave should be aware of the
          following:

                1.  Under the governing state legislation, this program must
                    operate on a "no cost" basis to the University.  The
                    department or college must indicate in writing that it
                    is able to cover the responsibilities of the faculty
                    member at no added cost.

                2.  The most crucial factor  in granting Professional Leave
                    is the merit of the proiposal.  In the faculty review of
                    applications at the collegial level, the quality,of the
                    proposal is the primary criterion.  The University Pro-
                    fessional Leave Committee is charged also with evaluating
                    the merits of proposals.  Proposals should follow the
                    guidelines precisely and be realistic in terms of what can
                    be accomplished.

   
	October 4, 1996
        Page 2


              3.  As specified in Section 22.4(e) of the collective bargaining
                  agreement: "If the number of proposals exceeds the number
                  that can be supported without additional cost or if all
                  applicants cannot be accommodated because of bona fide
                  instructional obligations, then the President may limit the
                  number of proposals that may be recommended by the college.,,

              In submitting proposals for Faculty Professional Leaves, the
         attached form should serve as the cover sheet, and a current curric-
         ulum vitae should accompany the proposal.  Please include, immediately
         following the cover sheet, a one-paragraph abstract of the proposal.
         Proposals are subject to review at the departmental and collegial
         level in accord with the following deadlines:

               December 13, 1996     In Colleges with departments, faculty pro-
                                     posals are due in departmental offices.  In
                                     Colleges without departments, faculty pro-
                                     posals are due in the office of the Dean.

               January 13, 1997      Departmental faculty committees, recommen-
                                     dations due in Dean's office.

               January 27, 1997      Collegial faculty committees' recommen-
                                     dations due in Academic Affairs Office.

               You will find on reserve in the University Library Reserve Room
          copies of several applications recommended as models by the University
          Professional Leave Committee.  I also encourage those of you who will
          be eligible for the program next year, or in the near future, to
          investigate other sources of support for your period of leave.  In
          this regard, the office of Research Services would be pleased to be of
          assistance.

                If questions arise as you develop your proposal, Vice Provost
          William Shorrock will be pleased to respond or to seek the counsel of
          the Professional Leave Committee to address your concern.

                                           Sincerely,



                                           Harold L. Allen
          smm                               Provost
          Attachment