Once the faculty success team receives the form, the faculty will be enrolled in the workflow. Faculty will receive an email confirmation from Watermark. Faculty can also log into Watermark and view their open tasks under the workflow tab. 

The Watermark Application form needs to be completed with the following information:

• Basic Information
  • College
  • Dean of the College
  • Department/Program
  • Chairperson
  • Years of Service at MN State Mankato, including the current academic year.
• When the faculty member would like to take a sabbatical (applications apply to the following academic year, not current)
  • Fall Semester
  • Spring Semester
  • Academic Year (full academic year)
• Prior sabbatical leaves
  • If a faculty memebr has received a previous sabbatical leave(s), they will need to list them (i.e. fall 2015, Spring 2020, Academic Year 2019)
• Indication of international travel
  • If approved, an Out-of-State Travel form will need to be completed.
• Summary of the purpose of the sabbatical leave (limited to 3000 characters aproximately 500 to 600 words)
• Upload a month-to-month timeline for the sabbatical leave
• Upload the full sabbatical plan. The plan should demonstrate how the faculty member's plans have the potential to address each of the factors described in the guidelines:
  • The potential for substantial improvement in the professional preparation of the applicant. How will it maintain skills or advance them? How does it fit the faculty member's professional development objectives and goals?
  • The potential for substantial improvement in the ability of the academic unit involved in accomplishing its goals and objectives. How will the leave improve the individual professionally and improve the department's ability to accomplish priority goals and objectives?
  • The potential for improvement in the ability of the University to accomplish it goals and objectives. How will the leave not only improve the individual professionally and help the department achieve priority objectives but also assist the University in achieving its priority goals and objectives?
  • Do you expect to accept employment or to work under a scholarship, fellowship, or research grant during the leave? If so, describe how these services serve the purpose of the sabbatical leave.
  • Identify proposed outcomes related to sabbatical activities.

Personnel Committee Chair

1. Answer and upload the following documents:
   • The Transmittal Document Statement
     • The personnel chair must agree or disagree with the statement in the drop-down menu, "We are forwarding to the Dean the applicant's materials, the department's recommendation, any individual recommendations from department faculty members to the applicant."
   • Upload Department Personnel Committee Recommendation
     • The personnel chair will need to upload the department's recommendation (keep to one page). The recommendation should be in memo format on department letterhead and include rationale/reasons for the recommendation.
2. Submit the Recommendation
   • Select "Proceed to Department Chair Recommendation" from the action menu in the upper right corner, which will move the application to the department chair.

NOTE: The personnel chair is the only committee member who can move the application to the department chairperson. 

1. Agree or disagree to the Department Chair Transitmittal Statement
   • Department chairs will need to agree or disagree with the following statement in the drop-down menu: "I am forwarding to the Dean the applicant's materials, the department's recommendation, any individual recommendations from department faculty members, and my separate reaction/recommendation to the applicant. I have sent a copy of my reaction/recommendation to the applicant. I have also sent the applicant a copy of any individual recommendations from department faculty members."
2. Upload Department Chair Recommendation
   • Department chairs will need to upload a recommendation letter (keep to one page). The recommendation should be in memo format on department letterhead and include:
     • Rationale/reason for recommendation
     • How courses for the faculty member requesting a sabbatical will be covered
3. Submit the recommendation
   • Select "Proceed to College Dean Recommendation" from the action menu in the upper right corner, which will move the application to the college dean. 

1. Agree or disagree with the Sabbatical Transmittal Statement
   • Deans will need to agree or disagree with the following statement in the drop-down menu: "I am forwarding to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs my recommendation concerning the application, together with all the materials provided by the applicant, department, and department chairperson. I have provided copies of my recommendation and the chair's recommendation to the faculty member concerned as required by the agreement.
2. Upload College Dean Recommendation
   • Deans will need to upload a recommendation letter (keep to one page). The recommendation should be in memo format on college letterhead and include rationale/reasons for the recommendation.
3. Submit the Recommendation
   • Select "Proceed to Provost Recommendation" from the action menu in the upper right corner, which will move the application to the Provost's office.