DATE: August 20, 2018

SUBJECT: Approval for unpaid leave for Dr. Tamara Sluss

FROM: Office of the President and the Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

ACTION ITEM: YES

BACKGROUND: Dr. Tamara Sluss joined Kentucky State University in 2005 as an Assistant Professor in Biology. She received tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2011, and promotion to Professor in September 2017. She previously received a sabbatical in Spring 2013. Dr. Sluss requests an unpaid leave of absence for the 2018-19 academic year.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES: Dr. Tamara Sluss requests an unpaid leave of absence for the 2018-19 academic year. Dr. Sluss will be teaching and conducting research with the University of Louisville, Interdisciplinary Studies in Sustainability. Section 2.12.4 of the Kentucky State University Faculty Handbook provides for the approval of the leave, stating the following. “A professor, associate professor, or assistant professor who has been employed for at least two consecutive years, may be granted an extended leave of absence without pay for a period of one full year or one semester. The leave shall be for the purpose of graduate study, teaching, and/or research.” Dr. Sluss meets these requirements.

Goal 2 – Achieve academic excellence across all programs and colleges, Increase student general education skills, Degree persistence, Career readiness and graduation rates.

PROGRAM IMPLICATIONS: Dr. Sluss is a faculty member in the School of Natural Sciences. Her courses are being covered by other faculty members within the School. She will continue to serve on committees of the KSU Masters of Environmental Science (MES) students during the leave period and collaborate with colleagues to extend work from the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) funds from the 2018 summer research program.