Additional Info for Support

Faculty Research Grants, entitlement funds, conference travel, and top-off grants and funds are available to all full-time faculty who are not in their terminal year.

Faculty Research Grants (Formerly "Mini Grants")

All full-time faculty on a multi-year appointment and not in their terminal year—and whose project does not take place during or beyond their terminal year—are eligible to apply for research support of up to $4000 in a given year. When convincing justification is provided and funds are available, larger grants of up to $8,000 are available for research projects that require two years to complete. For more information and to apply, please visit Forms and Guidelines. 

Faculty Conference Travel Grants (FCTG)

Faculty may receive up to $2,900 over one fiscal year (July 1st to June 30th) for conference travel.  There are maximum limits for airfare, ground transportation, hotel rates, and daily food expenses. For more information on the Faculty Travel Grant Fund (FCTG) policy, please visit Forms and Guidelines and scroll down to the 'Grants Applications and Forms' section.

Top-Off Funds

Tenured, tenure-line, and off-ladder faculty in the Professors of Professional Practice series are eligible for (Top-Off) funds to bridge the gap between external fellowships stipends and the salary that would have been earned. To maintain eligibility for this award, faculty must notify the Institutional Support Office and obtain the approval of the Provost prior to submission of the application for the fellowship.

In addition to the research support available to all full-time faculty, teaching load reductions, SAPLs, clock-stopping, and professional development funds are available to newly hired Assistant Professors.

Reduced Teaching Load

A one course reduction in year one.

Special Assistant Professor Leave (SAPL)

Following completion of three years of service, and a positive third-year review, eligible faculty may apply for research funding for a complete academic year at full salary. For more information, please visit Forms and Guidelines and scroll down to the 'Leave Forms' section. 

Note: Faculty members on College-paid leave are expected to return to the College for at least one year when the leave ends. Failure to do so obligates the faculty member to repay the College for the cost of the paid leave, including salary and benefits.

Clock-Stopping

The tenure clock may be stopped (1) for officers who give birth or take leaves for pregnancy or infant care, one year may be waived for each occurrence, up to a maximum of two years; (2) for officers who take a leave for research purposes, whether the leave is for one-half year or more, whether funded or unfunded, one year may be waived. For more information, please visit the Academic Code.

Professional Development Funds

Tenured and tenure-track faculty may request professional development funds to enroll in courses at Columbia University.

In addition to the research support available to all full-time faculty, chairs and professorships, leaves, and professional development funds are available to tenured faculty.

Chairs and Professorships

In recognition of a tenured faculty member's accomplishments, the President, with recommendations from the Provost, awards several honorary Chairs and Professorships.

• Ann Whitney Olin Foundation Chairs - Conferred on tenured faculty members for five year term; includes $2,000 per year in research funds.
• Endowed Chairs - Currently 17 endowed chairs (7 created since 2000); includes $4,000 annual research fund.
• Tow Professorships for Distinguished Scholars and Practitioners - Two recipients each year; includes $10,000 research/professional development fund and summer stipend each year for two years.

Leave Programs

Sabbatical Entitlement

Professors and Associate Professors are entitled to sabbatical leaves of one year at half-salary or a half-year at full salary to provide them with uninterrupted opportunities for research. Sabbaticals are due to tenured Professors or Associate Professors after they have completed twelve semesters of service in the ladder professorial ranks. When an Assistant Professor with at least six years of counted service is promoted to tenure, the first sabbatical is due in the year following the first year of tenure. Sabbatical leaves are granted only if the officer of instruction plans to return to the College for at least one academic year of full-time service or equivalent part-time service after the leave. Sabbatical leaves may not be postponed for more than three years after the original semester of eligibility without loss of credit toward the next sabbatical, unless the deferral is approved by the Provost and Dean of the Faculty as in the interests of the College. Faculty returning from sabbatical leave shall submit to the Provost and Dean of the Faculty a brief summary of their activities with regard to their research while on leave either by October 1st (for spring term leaves) or March 1st (for fall term leaves). For more information, please visit the Academic Code.

Senior Faculty Research Leaves (SFRL)

The Senior Faculty Research Leave Program (SFRL) is part of the College’s ongoing effort to support and encourage faculty development. The program is designed to afford senior faculty members with a periodic opportunity to focus on their scholarly endeavors in a manner not possible when engaged in a full program of teaching and College service.Unlike a sabbatical, the SFRL is not an entitlement, and is intended to recognize those senior faculty members whose scholarly lives so complement their teaching and College service that by supporting the first, the College improves the overall quality of the second and third. The expectation is that projects proposed will meet a high standard. Eligibility, expectations, and application procedures can be found on the Forms and Guidelines page.

Note: Faculty members on College-paid leave are expected to return to the College for at least one year when the leave ends. Failure to do so obligates the faculty member to repay the College for the cost of the paid leave, including salary and benefits.

Professional Development Funds

Tenured and tenure-track faculty may request professional development funds to enroll in courses at Columbia University.

In addition to the research support available to all full-time faculty, the professional development leave program is available to off-ladder faculty.

Professional Development Leave Program

The Professional Development Leave Program (PDL) is designed to free continuing senior off-ladder faculty members and faculty in the professional practice series from normal teaching, advising and College service in order that they may pursue professional goals more intensively than is possible while fulfilling their usual obligations to the College. This leave program recognizes those senior off-ladder and professional practice faculty members whose professional lives so complement their teaching and College service that by supporting the first, the College improves the overall quality of the second and third. To receive this award, faculty must meet all eligibility requirements and submit an application found on the Forms and Guidelines page, which includes a project. Proposal are expected to meet a high standard and be related to and contribute to the faculty member's instructional responsibilities.

Note: Faculty members on College-paid leave are expected to return to the College for at least one year when the leave ends. Failure to do so obligates the faculty member to repay the College for the cost of the paid leave, including salary and benefits.