PDA just another word for a sabbatical

Regarding the Dec. 26 Gazette guest column written by N. William Hines and titled “Time off for research not a sabbatical”:

Actually, the professional development awards (PDAs) available to professors at the Iowa Board of Regents universities are sabbaticals. At universities throughout the United States, sabbaticals have precisely those characteristics and requirements listed by Hines; i.e., they are awarded only upon application, they must have a stated purpose, they are subject to review and approval and they must be reported upon when completed. In other words, PDA is just another name for sabbatical as that word is now commonly used and understood in universities throughout the United States.

Hines states that PDAs “support cutting edge projects that have benefitted the state.” It might be useful for the taxpaying public to know just how these projects it is subsidizing have benefitted the state.

It also might be difficult for ordinary working people to know why university professors need six months or a year off from teaching every six years or so - with full or half pay - to work on projects when they are already free from teaching classes almost half the year. At the Iowa Law School, for example, where Hines served as dean for many years, professors typically teach three days a week for two 14-week semesters, leaving 24 weeks out of the year to do other things. That seems like quite a bit of time off to spend on special projects, research, professional development - or just to charge those overworked batteries.

Larry Blades

Iowa City

Dean, Iowa Law School, 1971-76