Let's go over some frequent questions and odd cases around sabbatical usage. If you have any questions not addressed here after reading over the Sabbaticals and Leaves page, please feel welcome to contact Will. We'll get your question answered, and add it to the page!

• Can I get paid from an external source while on sabbatical?
• Yes! This is relatively rare, but not unknown. Per APM-740, your total compensation generally can't exceed your normal, 100% salary. So, if you have external funding and want to go on sabbatical, we would typically get you on a partial-credit sabbatical which decreases your UC salary and then "backfill" with your extramural funding. 
  
  For example: if you have funding which can cover 33% of your normal salary, you could go on a 6-credit / 67%-salary sabbatical, then be paid from the extramural source up to 100%. 
  
  In most circumstances it's ideal for your extramural funder to send funds to UC Davis, who will then use the money to "backfill" your salary through your normal direct deposit. The reason for this is that if you're on a fractional-salary sabbatical, you're only accruing UCRP service credit at your lower salary percentage. You can purchase service credit after the fact, but it's an expensive fuss. 
• Can I take sabbatical leave longer than a year?
• Not under ordinary circumstances. Per APM-740(-17.b), sabbatical cannot exceed one year at full salary. If you do have a situation come up where a longer time away from UC Davis is ideal, though, such a thing is possible... but it would likely not be through a traditional sabbatical alone. 
• I have almost enough credit for my intended sabbatical. Can I borrow leave credit?
• Yes! Per College policy, you can request to borrow up to three sabbatical credits. The request should be sent to your department Chair via email. Generally-speaking the College's preferred justification for such requests is time-sensitivity -- that borrowing credits will allow you to pursue a sabbatical leave opportunity that would otherwise be missed.
• What's the cap on my sabbatical leave credit? Does it roll over?
• Accrual is not limited. You can work a full career at UC Davis, never use sabbatical, and retire with a mountain of credit. Of course, we encourage you to exercise your leave options fully!
  
  One big asterisk: The carry-forward of sabbatical leave credit is capped at 30 after a leave. The idea is that this is the equivalent of a full year of leave credit (27 credits), plus one year of accrual (3 credits).
  
  For example, if you have accrued 43 leave credits and take a one-quarter, full-salary sabbatical (9 credits), you would notionally have 34 credits remaining – but those extra 4 would be forfeit. Upon your return to normal service, you would begin accruing leave again from 30 credits. 
• Can the department decline my sabbatical request? 
• Notionally, yes. Per Regents' Policy and the APM, sabbatical leave can be declined by the Chair if granting it would disrupt the department's teaching program or other vital services. With that said, on principle it's the department's aim to support your research and scholarly endeavors, and that guiding star includes sabbatical leave. When a leave plan conflicts with teaching responsibilities, in all but the most exigent circumstances there tend to be means by which your teaching responsibilities can be covered (this may be hiring a lecturer in your absence, deferring your owed teaching into the next quarter/year, requesting another member of the faculty cover your class on overload, etc.). Informing your Chair of your leave plans as early as possible is key to ensuring they are able to evaluate and address its impact on the teaching program.
• Can I go right from sabbatical into retirement? 
• Alas, no. Per APM-740 (-16.e), you do need to return to active service for a period no shorter than your time on sabbatical before you can retire. Of course (and, knock on wood, this would not apply to you), in cases where an unforeseen medical retirement is necessary during or immediately after your sabbatical, your health takes precedence.
• If I take a sabbatical at a fractional salary, does that affect my benefits and retirement?
• It can. You can read more here, but the broad strokes are that your benefits generally continue as long as your sabbatical salary is high enough to cover the premiums. If you have an HMO and plan to be away from the service area for an over two months, though, it's worth talking to the Benefits Office to discuss alternative coverage for your leave. 
  
  Your UCRP service credit, however, is always prorated according to the salary you are receiving. If you take a sabbatical at 67% salary, for example, your UCRP service credit will accrue at 67% for that quarter. This may not affect your retirement plans, but it's good to at least have in mind when planning a sabbatical. You can purchase the service credit difference after the fact, but it can be rather pricey.