C230: Military and Related Service Leave of Absence

Approved By: Faculty Senate
Effective Date: March 23, 2021
Responsible Faculty Committee: Policy Committee
Office Responsible for Administration: Office of the Provost or Executive Vice President for Health Sciences (EVPHS)

Applicability

All UNM academic faculty and administrators, including the Health Sciences Center and Branch Community Colleges.

Policy rationale

The University of New Mexico (UNM) recognizes the need of some faculty to fulfill military and related service obligations.

Policy statement

Any full-time or part-time member of the faculty on regular appointment, as defined in Section B policies, is eligible for a Military and Related Service Leave of Absence (military leave). To request military leave, the faculty member, or designated representative (such as an officer of the military), must provide the department chair with a notification that the faculty member will be completing duty covered by this Policy. The faculty member will provide official documentation as soon as practical. When military leave is granted for active military duty, service, and training or a local emergency during the period of a regular contract (whether nine, ten, or twelve-month), UNM will continue to pay the faculty member's salary, uninterrupted, up to a maximum of fifteen (15) working days per federal fiscal year. Once the fifteen (15) workday period is used, the employee may take annual leave or leave without pay for any remaining absence, unless the Governor of New Mexico grants an additional fifteen (15) workdays of paid leave.

Service in the uniformed services covers all categories of military training and service, including duty performed on a voluntary or involuntary basis, in time of peace or war. Active military duty, related service, and training with the following organizations qualify for fifteen (15) paid workdays of military leave per federal fiscal year:

• Armed Forces of the United States, defined to include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Space Force, Public Health Service, and their reserve components and National Guard;
• New Mexico National Guard;
• National Disaster Medical System (NDMS);
• Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service;
• Civil Air Patrol;
• State Defense Force to attend officially authorized training or instruction courses;
• Volunteer emergency responders assisting in an emergency or disaster; or
• Any other category designated by the President of the United States, Governor of New Mexico, or federal or state laws, statutes, or regulations.

Unless called to active duty for a "local emergency," faculty may not receive military leave with pay during the period of a summer session supplemental contract.

An unpaid military leave of absence may be granted for the following reasons:

• Active duty, training, or service beyond the fifteen (15) paid workdays of military leave provided in of this policy;
• Voluntary active duty for a special training purpose;
• Required active duty as part of a reserve obligation;
• Voluntary enlistment for military service. Normally, a tour of three (3) years or more of active duty is required.

Procedures

Applicable procedures pertaining to federal and state laws and regulations for military and related service leave are discussed in University Administrative Policy 3425 “Military and Related Service Leave,” which include, but are not limited to:

• determination of eligibility for leave with pay,
• determination of eligibility for leave without pay,
• health insurance benefits while on extended military leave,
• reinstatement after military leave, and
• record keeping of military leave usage.

Tenure clock

In accordance with Section B Policy on Academic Freedom and Tenure, subsection B3, “If a faculty member goes on leave of absence without pay for a semester or more during a year of probationary service, the probationary period will normally, upon timely request of the probationary faculty member, be suspended for the duration of the leave, and subsequent mid-probationary and tenure reviews will be one full year later.”

Deans, department chairs, and program directors should help faculty members to make an informed decision about suspending the probationary period. If the length of the military leave is undetermined or results in a significantly shorter or longer duration than first anticipated, the faculty member may request to change their tenure clock decision by contacting the Provost or EVPHS within two (2) months after returning from military leave. Any changes are subject to approval by the Provost or EVPHS.

Definitions

Related service. Refers to intermittent disaster response appointees of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency, and to volunteer emergency responders assisting in national or local emergencies and disasters.

Working Days refer to UNM traditional workdays defined by UNM Human Resources as five (5) workdays Monday through Friday ending at 5:00 PM. Working days do not include official UNM holidays listed in UAP Policy 3405 “Holidays.”

Contacts

Direct any questions about this policy to the UNM Office of the Provost or EVPHS.

Who should read this policy

• Faculty
• Department Chairs
• Academic deans and other academic administrators and executives

Related documents

• UNM Regents’ Policy Manual Policy 5.4 “Leaves of Absence”

Faculty Handbook

• Section B Policy on Academic Freedom and Tenure, subsection B3
• Policy C280 “Leave Without Pay”

University Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual

• Policy 3405 “Holidays”
• Policy 3425 “Military and Related Service Leave”

USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

New Mexico Military Service (USERRA) §20-4-7 NMSA 1978

History

• July 1, 2025 - Policy format updated to align with FHB A53
• March 23, 2021 – Approved by the Faculty Senate
• August 29, 1978—Approved by the Board of Regents
• May 10, 1978—Approved by Faculty
• May 18, 1975 May 18, 1975—Approved by Board of Regents
• April 8, 1975—Approved by Faculty
• February 1, 1975—Approved by the Board of Regents
• March 14, 1974—Approved by the Board of Regents
• March 12, 1974—Approved by Faculty