Whereas, the language of the current UAH Faculty Handbook suggests that a faculty member with a medically proven illness might not be granted sick leave; and

Whereas, the current Handbook makes the granting of sick leave contingent upon the faculty member finding a replacement for him- or herself; and

Whereas, it seems neither reasonable nor humane to expect a person with a serious illness to carry this particular burden; and

Whereas, the current policy does not make clear that the six month paid leave available to a faculty member means six months per illness, not six months for one's entire tenure at UAH; and

Whereas, section 9.13 of the current Faculty Handbook states "Faculty members must advise the department chair of illness (established by a physician) and the chair will assist the faculty member in finding a substitute to take care of their responsibilities during absences because of illness. Faculty members may be granted leave and pay for the remainder of the semester in which the illness occurs provided any members of the department(s) concerned can fill in sufficiently to avoid the employment of additional faculty. In cases where a faculty member will not be able to return to active service (established by a physician), sick leave with pay may be granted up to six months."

Therefore, be it resolved that:
The first three sentences of section 9.13 of the Faculty Handbook be amended to read:
In the event of a documented illness, a full time academic year appointment faculty member will receive sick leave with pay for periods which may be as long as six months at a time. The faculty member will, upon request, provide independent confirmation from competent medical sources of the need for sick leave. When a faculty member goes on such leave, the department chair or dean must arrange for colleagues to carry out the faculty member's obligations or must make other arrangements for fulfilling those obligations.