Step 1: Getting Tenure

Of course, before I could go on my first sabbatical I had to be granted tenure. However, the timing of the tenure decision and the sabbatical complicates the planning. Here at Bucknell, I was eligible to take my sabbatical leave in the year immediately following my tenure decision. However, the tenure decision isn't announced until December 15th (and there is discussion of moving that to February 15th in the future).

I faced two options: either I could delay my sabbatical for a year, or I would have to make my plans without knowing for certain whether I would receive tenure. I chose the latter approach, because I didn't want to delay and because I was hopeful that tenure would be granted. I knew that I had met all of the expectations for tenure and I had received a positive recommendation from my department. However, nothing was certain so I had to make my plans contingently.

The next major decision that I faced was whether to plan my sabbatical for a full year or a half year. Of course, that depended on financial factors...

Next post: Funding your Sabbatical