Sabbaticals in the Parks Program

Information for Faculty

How the Program Works
The Sabbatical in the Parks Program maintains a sabbatical clearinghouse. Research interests and expertise of university professors in the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences are matched with research and educational needs and technical support of individual NPS units. The clearinghouse depends on the work of the system-wide program coordinator and a designated sabbatical liaison in each interested and participating NPS unit.

All faculty submissions are reviewed by the Sabbatical in the Parks Program Coordinator, Diane Breeding, and entered into the clearinghouse database. Faculty research interests are aligned with the needs of individual park units.

Interested faculty members are put in direct contact with a representative of a park unit. If discussion confirms that a good match exists, an agreement can be negotiated by the park liaison and the faculty member, with assistance from the program coordinator, as requested. Upon completion of a sabbatical, the faculty member and park superintendent submit brief evaluations to the clearinghouse.

Typical Park Support & Faculty Obligation

Each national park unit has different levels of support available to scientists during their sabbaticals. Examples of support may include housing, travel costs, and limited research funds. In all cases, modest administrative support (i.e. telephone, desk, office space, etc.) should be provided to faculty. Ultimately, support is negotiable between the NPS unit and the faculty member and will vary with each sabbatical.

How Faculty Participate

Faculty members interested in participating in the Sabbatical in the Parks Program must submit a C.V. and short project proposal (including logistical requirements and availability) to the Sabbatical in the Parks Program Coordinator.

Criteria for Faculty Participation
The Sabbatical in the Parks Program is open to tenure-track faculty members from four-year institutions of higher education in the U.S. who have successfully competed for sabbaticals, according to the procedures of their institution. The following guidelines address faculty participation in the program:

• Faculty members in the biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences are eligible to participate in the program.



• Sabbaticals should benefit both the visiting scientist and the host NPS unit.



• No sabbatical should begin without a formal, written agreement, clearly stating the expectations of both parties and commensurate benefits.



• All activities conducted by visiting faculty members must conform to existing NPS policies on research, scientific collecting, facility use, resource management, and interpretation and education.



• Visiting faculty should have opportunities for original research, writing, service, or other creative activities consistent with their home institution's sabbatical objectives.



• Research activities involving human subjects will be subject to the review and approval policies of the home university.



• Participating faculty members will evaluate sabbaticals at the conclusion of each sabbatical.



• Park sabbaticals of one semester or one year in length can be accommodated.