SAS offers a limited number of Dean’s Leaves and Weiler Fellowships annually to tenured faculty for the purpose of enhancing scholarly and teaching productivity. These leaves, which are awarded on a competitive basis, provide one semester of teaching relief and serve as a supplement to the University's regular sabbatical program. They are not available to faculty who have 12 or more sabbatical leave credits in the bank.
Weiler Faculty Research Fellowships in particular are awarded on a competitive basis to early- to mid-career tenured faculty: typically those at the rank of associate professor or in the first three years at the rank of full professor. They offer a semester free of teaching in order for the recipients to carry out research projects in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. Fellows will also receive a $5,000 research fund.
A primary goal of these programs is to provide teaching relief to those who need more time to undertake an essential research project and who have no other immediate access to such teaching relief. Only a limited number of awards are available. Therefore, while any tenured faculty member may apply, priority will go to those who:
- can make a compelling case for the timeliness and need for the teaching relief to undertake a research project
- have not had a semester of sabbatical leave or other negotiated or competitively-awarded teaching relief from the School or external sources in the three years prior to the proposed award
- require only one semester of teaching relief in a given year
The following factors will be taken into secondary consideration:
- special research opportunities available only within a specific timeframe (while also understanding that where faculty can control the timing of applications for such opportunities, they are expected to do so; see https://www.sas.upenn.edu/faculty-research/externally-supported-leaves)
- demonstration of application for external support
Faculty may receive one SAS Dean's Leave or one Weiler Fellowship during any three-year period in which they meet the aforementioned eligibility requirements; they are welcome to apply for both awards during the same year but are eligible to receive only one.
During the period of teaching relief, it is assumed that faculty will continue their other duties such as graduate student supervision and committee service.
Dean’s Leaves
Open to: All tenured faculty
Award: One semester of teaching relief
Weiler Fellowships
Open to: Mid-career faculty in the humanities and humanistic social sciences
Award: One semester of teaching relief, plus a $5000 research fund
Applications
Applications must include:
- Application cover sheet
- A plan of research of approximately 500 words. Please indicate clearly the proposed semester of the leave.
- A current curriculum vitae
- A letter of endorsement from the department chair. In confirming the timeliness of the leave, chairs should take into account teaching done by the applicant for the department as well as for interdepartmental programs. The letter should address anticipated essential teaching replacement needs; any requests for replacement funds will be considered by the Dean's Office in accordance with the SAS leave replacement policy.