Faculty Leave Policies [1]
Having trouble entering your time in to My Leave? Check and update your preferences in CU's upgraded leave-tracking system.
How to set preferences in My Leave. [2]
For 12-month faculty, see CU administrative policy statement 5062 [3] for details on vacation and sick leave.
For nine-month faculty, the policies are housed in the faculty handbook [4].
Court and Jury Leave
You will receive jury leave with full pay for the extent of your jury duty. If you appear as a witness under subpoena or direction of the proper authority, the court will issue you pay, which you are entitled to keep.
If you must appear in court for personal reasons, without being served a subpoena, you must use vacation leave or leave without pay. You may keep any compensation you receive as a result.
Note: If you're a faculty member who is governed by an approved alternative compensation plan, the above rules DO NOT apply to you.
Bereavement Leave
You may receive up to five days of paid leave to arrange for and attend an immediate family member's funeral and handle related affairs. Immediate family members include: spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law, and anyone else who belongs to your established household.
Note: Your supervisor may allow you to take five paid working days of funeral leave for an equally significant other person not included in this definition.
Leave for Job-Related Illnesses and Injuries
If you suffer an injury or illness in the line of duty that is covered by workers' compensation, you are entitled to 90 work days of paid injury leave. These benefits replace the more limited coverage of workers' compensation insurance, which you waive during your 90-day injury leave.
If you're unable to return to work after that time, you are eligible to take accrued vacation and sick leave in addition to workers' compensation.
Leave Without Pay
You may take leave without pay for reasons that are approved by your supervisor and hiring authority.
Before CU will grant leave without pay, except furloughs, you must use all your vacation, unless you request otherwise and your supervisor approves. Your hiring authority and human resources office must approve any extensions beyond the initial 12-month period. During periods of leave without pay, except for military leave and furloughs, you will not accrue vacation and sick leave.
Military Leave
If you are a reservist or National Guard member on a 12-month faculty contract, you must present any proper military orders to receive up to 15 calendar days of leave with pay. This leave must be used to attend to ordered training and/or active duty service. You must abide by associated state and federal laws.
This leave is not charged to vacation leave.
If military service continues beyond 15 calendar days, you will be placed on military leave without pay for any remaining period of required military service. While on military leave, you will continue to accrue vacation and sick leave.
An appointing authority may authorize pay equal to the difference between the your university monthly pay and the sum of the monthly military pay and allowances for an employee called to active military duty. This difference cannot exceed 90 calendar days and applies after you have used your 15-day paid military leave.
You must provide a copy of the call-to-duty order and proof of military pay and allowances. This differential pay does not apply to regular military obligations such as the annual encampment and training.
If you volunteer to serve in the military, you will receive military leave without pay until the end of the initial period of service, plus any period of additional service imposed by law. If you fail to return to the university after this period or voluntarily extend military service beyond the initial period, CU will considered you to have resigned.
Parental Leave
Faculty on 12-month contracts are eligible for parental leave after having worked at CU for one continuous year.
Eligible faculty members may take up to six months of leave following the birth or adoption of a child. They also may use their unused sick, vacation or unpaid leave within 12 months of giving birth or adopting.
Parental leave and Family Medical Leave take place at the same time.
Administrative Leave
CU may grant short-term or extended paid administrative leave to faculty members on 12-month appointments.
Short-term administrative leave:
- maximum allowance of 10 days, or 80 hours, in a 12-month period
- general guiding principle: Leave must be good for the university and the state.
- authorized by supervisors in advance, unless deemed an exceptional circumstance
Extended administrative leave:
- granted when employees are the subject of disciplinary action or an investigation
- leave amount based on how long the investigation runs
- authorized by the president or chancellors, or their designees
Leave Sharing
Faculty members on 12-month appointments may participate in leave-sharing programs, which allow employees to donate their leave to co-workers in need.
Approvals of requests made to leave-sharing programs are subject to the university’s sole discretion. Meeting eligibility criteria does not constitute an entitlement to paid leave requested through any leave-sharing program.
Employees may be eligible for leave sharing if they:
- experience a catastrophic or life-threatening medical hardship (personally or as a caregiver)
- suffer a significant personal loss due to a natural or accidental disaster
- act as a first responder to a major catastrophic event
- actively serve in the military and experience financial hardship
Furloughs
Furloughs are unpaid leave balances that may be voluntarily requested or mandated by the president or a chancellor when budgetary circumstances require a specific reduction in personnel costs. If you are on furlough, you will continue to accrue annual and sick leave at the same rates as you would when on paid leave or engaged in university work during regularly scheduled business hours.
CU System Administration holiday schedule
| 2025 Date | Day of the Week | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day |
| Jan. 20 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| May 26 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| June 19 | Thursday | Juneteenth |
| July 4 | Friday | Independence Day |
| Sept. 1 | Monday | Labor Day |
| Nov. 27 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day |
| Nov. 28 | Friday | The day after Thanksgiving |
| Dec. 24 | Wednesday | Christmas Eve |
| Dec. 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day |
| Dec. 26 | Friday | Governor's Administrative Day |
| Dec. 29 | Monday | Governor's Administrative Day |
| Dec. 30 | Tuesday | President's Administrative Day |
| Dec. 31 | Wednesday | New Year’s Eve |
| 2026 Date | Day of the Week | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| Jan. 2 | Friday | President's Administrative Day |
| Jan. 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| June 19 | Friday | Juneteenth |
Campus holiday schedules
Eligible CU faculty members may take up to 12 weeks (generally 480 hours) of Family Medical Leave (FML) in a 12-month period, so long as they have been employed by the university for at least 12 months and have worked at least 1,250 hours during the most recent 12-month period.
If you are a part-time employee who is exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and are in a position with an appointment of 50 percent or greater, CU will presume you have met the 1,250 hours requirement, provided you have worked at CU for at least one year. You will not be eligible for this leave, however, if you have taken FML and/or any extended period of leave in the 12 months before requesting FML.
CU pro-rates the 12 work weeks for eligible part-time staff.
FML is a form of job protection that runs concurrently with all applicable forms of paid and unpaid leave. Eligible employees may take FML for the following medical reasons:
- the birth and care of your newborn child
- the placement and care of a child from adoption or foster care
- to care for a spouse, civil union partner, domestic partner, child or parent with a serious health condition
- your own serious health condition
- care for a parent, spouse, civil union partner, domestic partner, child or next of kin who is an injured service member
- a qualifying exigency when a parent, child, spouse, civil union partner or domestic partner is called up for active military duty
Please contact the appropriate HR office for your campus' procedures and forms:
- Boulder [10]
- Colorado Springs [11]
- Denver & Anschutz [12]
CU grants faculty short-term and long-term disability leave.
You are automatically enrolled in long-term disability insurance, which the university covers.
Short-term disability will pay up to $1500 a week or 60 percent of your pre-disability weekly pay.
Long-term disability will pay 60 percent of pre-disability earnings, not to exceed $23,625 per month, less income from other sources (e.g., Social Security).
Leave Policy
This administrative policy statement (APS) outlines or references all university employee leave-related policies. Each leave type listed below may apply to different employee groups and may be controlled by either regent policy, this APS or other state rules and regulations (as noted). In addition, effective dates may vary by section. To consolidate leave policies to comply with state and federal law regarding university employee leave-related policies. Sick and vacation accruals and compensation information can be found in Regent Policy 11.E: Leave Policies for Employees [14]. Italicized terms used in this Administrative Policy Statement (APS) are defined in the APS Glossary of Terms [19] or are defined in this section. Applies to: University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments. Applies to: All employees. Applies to: University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments. University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments may receive up to five working days of paid leave for each death to arrange for and attend the funeral and other affairs of a member of the employee's immediate family when they would otherwise have to work. Applies to: University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments. Applies to: All university employees. Applies to: University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments. University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments who suffer an injury or illness in the line of duty covered by workers' compensation are granted up to ninety (90) work days of paid injury leave. These benefits replace the more limited coverage of workers' compensation insurance which is waived by the employee during the ninety (90) days of injury leave. Applies to: University staff, faculty on 12-month appointments and classified staff. Applies to: All University employees. University employees may be granted leave without pay for valid reasons for a period of up to 12 months. Such leaves must be approved by the employee's supervisor and the hiring authority. Leave without pay, except for military leave without pay and furloughs, will not be granted until all vacation leave (if eligible), sick leave (if reason for absence is listed in APS 5062 Section 2 or FMLA covered), and any additional accumulated paid leave is exhausted, unless otherwise requested by the employee and approved by the supervisor. Applies to: All employees Applies to: All Employees The intention of this policy is to set forth the leave that a parent may take and define parental leave benefits for each employment classification. Italicized terms used in this section of the Administrative Policy Statement (APS) are defined below. Applies to: All university employees During a public health emergency, the university will not provide supplemental sick leave for those employees who, by university policy, have the necessary amount of sick leave required by C.R.S. § 8-13.3-405(1)(a-b). If during a public health emergency, an employee does not have the necessary amount of sick leave required by C.R.S. § 8-13.3-405(1)(a-b), the university will supplement the employee’s sick leave as necessary. Applies to: Faculty members on all campuses The university encourages and supports public service among its faculty. The policy establishes rules to ensure that tenured faculty are provided the opportunity to serve in elected office and provisions for non-tenured faculty who wish to serve.APS 5062 - Leave [3]
Leave Type
See
Effective Date
Applies to
Vacation
Section 1
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Sick
Section 2
January 1, 2026
All employees.
Administrative
Section 3
January 1, 2026
See Section 3 for details.
Bereavement
Section 4
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Court and Jury
Section 5
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Furloughs
Section 6
January 1, 2026
All university employees.
Job-Related Illness and Injuries
Section 7
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Leave Sharing
Section 8
January 1, 2026
University staff, faculty on 12-month appointments and classified staff.
Leave Without Pay
Section 9
January 1, 2026
All university employees.
Military
Section 10
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Parental
Section 11
January 1, 2026
All employees.
Paid Sick Leave During a Public Health Emergency
Section 12
January 1, 2026
All university employees.
Faculty Serving in Elected Office
Section 13
January 1, 2026
Faculty members on all campuses.
5062.pdf [17]
I. Introduction
Leave Type
See
Effective Date
Applies to
Vacation
Section 1
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Sick
Section 2
January 1, 2026
All employees.
Administrative
Section 3
January 1, 2026
See Section 3 for details.
Bereavement
Section 4
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Court and Jury
Section 5
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Furloughs
Section 6
January 1, 2026
All university employees.
Job-Related Illness and Injuries
Section 7
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Leave Sharing
Section 8
January 1, 2026
University staff, faculty on 12-month appointments and classified staff.
Leave Without Pay
Section 9
January 1, 2026
All university employees.
Military
Section 10
January 1, 2026
University staff and faculty on 12-month appointments.
Parental
Section 11
January 1, 2026
All employees.
Paid Sick Leave During a Public Health Emergency
Section 12
January 1, 2026
All university employees.
Faculty Serving in Elected Office
Section 13
January 1, 2026
Faculty members on all campuses.
II. Related Policies and Other Resources
III. Definitions
University staff - University staff are employees who are exempt from the rules, procedures and regulations that govern the state of Colorado personnel system per Section 24-50-135, C.R.S. University staff positions are subject to all other applicable federal and state law and regulations, as well as laws and policies set forth by the University of Colorado Board of Regents and other University policies. (The term “officer and exempt professional” was replaced with the term “university staff” effective April 17, 2015.)IV. History
Section 1: Vacation Leave
I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
The appointing authority may establish periods of time when vacation leave will not be allowed, or must be taken, based on business necessity for the specific department or division. These periods cannot create a situation where the employee does not have a reasonable opportunity to use requested leave.
Section 2: Sick Leave
I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
1Frozen sick leave is a historical sick leave balance for Classified Staff from June 30, 1988, and for University Staff from May 1, 2001. The frozen sick leave balances should be considered in retirement sick leave payouts.
Secondary appointments are primarily used to compensate employees for additional duties over and above their full-time appointment. If an employee has a full-time or 100% appointment and a secondary appointment, no additional sick leave shall accrue under the secondary appointment. If an employee has a less than full-time or 100% appointment and a secondary appointment, sick leave may accrue under the secondary appointment, but the total sick leave accruals under both appointments is limited to the maximum annual accrual for the primary appointment. No employee shall be eligible for more than fifteen (15) working days of paid sick leave annually, earned as 10 hours per month.
Section 3: Administrative Leave
I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
If a university staff or faculty member on a 12-month appointment is the subject of disciplinary action or an investigation, extended paid administrative leave may be authorized for such employee for a reasonable period of time. In such circumstances, a reasonable period of time will be determined based upon the length of time it takes to complete an investigation. Only the president or chancellors, or their designees, may authorize extended paid administrative leave for university staff and 12-month faculty for investigative purposes.
However, the president or chancellors, or their designees, reserve the right to place university staff or faculty on a 12-month appointment on extended leave without pay.
In the event of an approved campus closure or other emergency, the president or chancellor may authorize extended paid administrative leave sufficient to address the immediate crisis.
Short-term paid administrative leave is not an entitlement or benefit. Authorization of short-term paid administrative leave for eligible employees rests within the sole discretion of their supervisors as exercised within the guidelines described in this policy.
A maximum of ten (10) days or eighty (80) hours of short-term administrative leave may be granted per fiscal year by the department or supervisor.
Supervisors may authorize short-term paid administrative leave for eligible employees for reasons determined to be for the good of the university and the state. Supervisors shall consider prudent use of taxpayer dollars and the business needs of the university in determining whether such leave is for the good of the state. Such reasons include, but are not limited to, incentive rewards, coursework directly related to employment, and participation in school or community volunteer activities.
Short-term paid administrative leave may also be authorized for eligible employees whose workloads (e.g., specific long- or short-term projects) require them to work significantly beyond their normal work schedules (as established by their individual supervisors) for prolonged periods of time when such leave is found to be necessary to maintain employee performance or morale or in recognition of extraordinary work performance.
Use of short-term paid administrative leave is not required for eligible employees for the purpose of attending or participating in professional or academic seminars or conferences, participation in official activities of university employee organizations or other similar events, or supervisor required training. These activities are considered to be work time for which leave is not required.
Ordinarily, eligible employees must have their supervisor's authorization prior to taking short-term paid administrative leave. In exceptional circumstances, short-term paid administrative leave may be authorized retroactively.
The campus chancellor, CU president or Colorado Governor may grant administrative leave for campus closures or additional holidays. Each closure decision will articulate if the campus is fully closed or limited to administrative offices only to allow for academic, clinical, and research activity to continue.
If an employee is required to work on a designated administrative leave day, the employee may utilize the administrative leave hours at another time that is agreed upon between the employee and supervisor.
This administrative leave is not counted towards the ten (10) days allowed to be given by the supervisor.
The chancellor and presidents, or their designees, may issue a campus closure due to inclement weather. Each campus follows a distinct inclement weather process and communication is campus specific.
If an employee is required to work on a designated inclement weather administrative leave day, the employee may not utilize the administrative leave hours at another time as this leave is granted for safety purposes.
This administrative leave is not counted towards the ten (10) days allowed to be given by the supervisor.
Per State of Colorado Executive Order D 2022 036, CU is required to grant five (5) days of additional administrative leave (8 hours each day, pro-rated for part time) per fiscal year, in support of non-temporary employees responding to a fire as a volunteer firefighter or volunteer first responder. This time may not be used to train for voluntary firefighter or first responder duties.
All use of paid administrative leave for eligible employees, except in situations of campus closures, must be reported by use of the university's time collection procedures.III. Interpretation
Section 4: Bereavement Leave
I. Policy Statement
Bereavement leave is not intended to be used for end-of-life care.
For purposes of bereavement leave, immediate family members include spouse, children (including step and in-law), parents (including step and in-law), grandparents, grandchildren, siblings (including step and in-law), and any other person who is a member of the employee’s established household. A supervisor may allow an employee to receive up to five paid working days of bereavement leave for an equally significant other person not included in this definition.
While all employees may utilize sick leave for bereavement purposes, per section 2 of this policy, university staff and faculty on 12-month appointments can exhaust bereavement leave allocation prior to utilizing sick leave.
Supervisors have the discretion to ask for documentation when leave abuse is suspected. Supervisors should work with their campus Human Resources team prior to requesting bereavement leave documentation.Section 5: Court and Jury Leave
I. Policy Statement
Section 6: Furloughs
I. Policy Statement
Classified staff cannot be mandatorily furloughed without the Governor’s approval. Section 7: Leave for Job-Related Illnesses and Injuries
I. Policy Statement
IIf an employee is unable to return to work after that time, the employee is eligible to take accrued vacation and sick leave in addition to workers' compensation. Workers’ compensation leave runs concurrently with FMLA.Section 8: Leave Sharing
I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
Leave Sharing Discretionary
III. Related Policies
Section 9: Leave Without Pay
I. Policy Statement
Extensions beyond the initial 12-month period must be approved by the applicable hiring authority in consultation with a human resources office. During periods of leave without pay or short work break, except for military leave and furloughs, the employee does not accrue vacation and sick leave.Section 10: Military Leave
I. Policy Statement
This policy applies to all employees of the university who are members of the uniformed services as defined by USERRA. Employees should provide advance written or verbal notice of their military service, unless military necessity prevents timely notice.
Section 11: Parental Leave
I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
The provisions of this University Parental Leave Policy are intended to be interpreted in conjunction with the Federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act (FAMLI). Parental Leave, FAMLI leave, and FMLA leave shall run concurrently. Thus, parental leave counts as part of, and is not in addition to, the 12 weeks of leave guaranteed by the FMLA and FAMLI.
CU parental leave is granted to care for the birthing parent immediately after birth (6-8 weeks) and/or to care for the employee’s child within 12 months of the birth, adoption, foster care placement, or guardianship of a child. This care includes children who are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and/or the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), if they are admitted within the first 28 days of life. The employee shall inform the appropriate supervisor and the Employee Services Leave team as early as possible of the intent to request parental leave, but no later than 30 days prior to the start of their leave.
During unpaid parental leave, employees are required to adhere to any leave without pay policies.
If an employee is in a paid status, they will receive holiday pay in lieu of other compensation types.
At no time will compensation equal more than an employee’s full salary, regardless of funding source. All leave program hour entitlements will be prorated based on the appointment percent of time.
For compliance and consistency, employees shall submit a leave application to Employee Services to utilize FAMLI, FMLA, and Parental Leave.
Regular employees in appointments less than 50%, temporary faculty, temporary staff, student employees, graduate and undergraduate students on appointment, residents, and any other employee not listed in sections above. Note that individuals in job codes 3201-3209 (on unique stipends and fellowships) are not considered CU employees and are not subject to the FAMLI premium and therefore are not entitled to FAMLI benefits. They are also not eligible for FMLA, sick, or vacation leave.
FAMLI is a state law that guarantees Colorado workers 12 weeks per year of partial wage replacement and leave to attend to certain family and medical needs, including a child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
The FMLA is a federal law that guarantees certain workers 12 weeks per year of unpaid leave to attend to certain family and medical needs, including a child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
Any faculty or staff member who does not wish to take the standard leave described in section II.A may negotiate an alternative leave arrangement with their supervisor or primary unit chair. For example: using the six-month unpaid parental leave intermittently, alternative work schedules, differentiated workloads, banked courses, etc.
The decision whether to grant such a negotiated leave arrangement shall be dictated by the needs of the unit, at the discretion of the supervisor or unit chair and in consultation with the human resources office to ensure that the decision is consistent with the FMLA and FAMLI. Negotiated leave arrangements must be in writing and, in the case of a staff member, signed by the staff member and supervisor; or, in the case of a faculty member, by the faculty member, chair, and dean.
Consistent with Regent Policy 5.D.1: Tenure Probationary Period [23] and section III.A of APS 1022 - Standards, Processes and Procedures for Reappointment, Tenure, Promotion, and Post-Tenure Review [24], leave taken pursuant to this parental leave policy, including a negotiated alternative leave, does not count as part of the tenure probationary period. Parental leave results in an extension of the tenure probationary period; such extensions must be taken in one-year increments. However, a faculty member may irrevocably elect, no later than six months following their return to full-time service, to have the leave time count as part of the tenure probationary period. Such an election shall be made in writing and must be approved by the dean and the chancellor.
2On the Anschutz campus, where personnel action timelines for faculty vary from the general campuses, see campus policy.
If both parents are employed by the University of Colorado and both are eligible for any parental leave benefit described under this policy, paid and unpaid leaves under this policy may be taken simultaneously or may be staggered within 12 months of a child’s birth, adoption, foster care placement, or guardianship of a child.
III. Definitions
FMLA – The Family Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq., a federal law which guarantees unpaid, job protected leave for certain employees experiencing qualifying family and medical circumstances, including the birth, adoption, or foster care placement.
FAMLI – The Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act, C.R.S. § 8-13.3-501, is a state of Colorado law with guarantees all employees experiencing a qualifying family and medical circumstance a partial wage replacement and job protected leave.
Child – A biological child, adopted child, foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis who is either under 18 years of age or is 18 years of age or older and “incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability” at the time leave is to commence.
Parent – A biological parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, guardian or a spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner of a parent, including an employee using a surrogate/gestational carrier.IV. Related Policies
Section 12: Paid Sick Leave During a Public Health Emergency
I. Policy Statement
The university will supplement an employee’s sick leave as necessary to ensure that an employee may take the following amount of sick leave:
An employee may use the public health emergency sick leave for four weeks after the official termination or suspension of the public health emergency.
Employees are only eligible for supplemental paid sick leave once during the entirety of a public health emergency.
Documentation is not required to take paid sick leave during a public health emergency, but the employee should notify the supervisor as soon as possible for accurate tracking.
For purposes of section 12 and section 2, an employee’s family member means a person who is related by blood, marriage, civil union, domestic partner, or adoption to the employee; a child to whom the employee stands or stood in loco parentis; and a person for whom the employee is responsible for providing or arranging health or safety-related care.Section 13: Leave for Faculty Serving in Elected Office
I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
III. Related Policies
5062draft.pdf [31]
Acting and Interim Appointments for Officer and University Staff Positions
APS 5013
Provides guidance for making acting or interim appointments to non-faculty positions that are exempt from the state personnel system (Administrative Positions). To provide guidelines not addressed in regent policy. This Administrative Policy Statement (APS) provides guidance for making acting or interim appointments to non-faculty, university staff positions, department chairs and associate and assistant deans. For the purposes of this policy, the terms "acting" or "interim" are used interchangeably. This APS does not apply to acting or interim appointments for officer positions that report directly to the Board of Regents.APS 5013 - Acting and Interim Appointments for University Staff Positions [33]
5013.pdf [35]I. Introduction
II. Policy Statement
III. Interpretation
IV. History
5013draft.pdf [37]