Faculty Handbook
The Yale Faculty Handbook, updated each year, is available here. Please note that there is a specific section for the Divinity School. Where not otherwise specified in this section, YDS policies follow FAS policies.
YDS Faculty Appointment, Tenure, Promotion, and Reappointment Procedures
Details concerning the relevant procedures for both ladder- and non-ladder track faculty at all ranks is available here to guide faculty coming up for review as well as those serving on review committees.
YDS Leave Policy
Leave policy for tenured faculty in the Divinity School generally conforms to the University leave policies in Section XX of the Yale Faculty Handbook, with the following adjustments in accord with the Divinity Tenure, Appointment, and Promotion policies. Assistant professors are eligible for one paid year of research leave in the second, third, or fourth year of their service at that rank. Newly promoted associate professors on term are eligible for one paid year of research leave upon their appointment to the rank, provided that two semesters of full-time teaching in residence have elapsed since their last paid leave. Faculty whose initial appointments are to the rank of associate professors on term may take one paid year of research leave in the second through the sixth year of their appointments. Faculty who are awarded tenure become eligible for the triennial leave of absence (TLA) cycle, described in Section XX, in which they are eligible for one semester of paid leave after every five semesters of teaching. The clock for the triennial cycle begins in the semester when the appointment or promotion to tenure takes effect.
Professors of the practice are eligible for one semester of paid leave following nine semesters of teaching. If a Professor of the practice holds an endowed chair, they are on the triennial leave cycle. Senior lecturers are eligible for one semester of paid leave following nine semesters of teaching.
Associate professors with tenure, during the initial six years of the appointment, may apply to postpone the first triennial leave of absence (TLA) for which they are eligible and instead take a full year of leave at full pay at the time they would be eligible for their second TLA, if doing so would enhance their research productivity. Faculty who have taught at the rank of associate professor of professor for six years without a paid leave of absence are eligible for a Senior Faculty Fellowship, which enables a faculty member to take a full year’s leave at full salary. In all cases, a faculty member must submit a proposal for the research to be pursued during the leave to the Dean in the fall semester of the prior academic year. A faculty member awarded a leave must return to Yale after the leave concludes for a full year of teaching.
YDS Mentoring and Professional Development
Information concerning the YDS Mentoring Program and other supports for mentoring and professional development for faculty can be found here.
YDS Search Policies and Procedures
Faculty serving on searches, and particularly those chairing search committees, should consult this document.
University Policy on Professional Conduct Review for New Faculty Hires
In July 2025, a new policy to allow for the gathering of relevant information about prospective faculty was put into place and can be found here.
External Sources of Grants and Other Support
Endowed Chairs
The Divinity School has a number of endowed professorships. Made possible by generous donors, endowed professorships yield returns that are used to support faculty lines. Being named to an endowed chair is a special honor for a faculty member, as it recognizes special distinction in the field. The Divinity School does not have endowed chairs in all fields represented by the faculty, so it is not possible for all deserving faculty to be appointed to an endowed chair. Endowed chairs at YDS are honorific; they do not involve additional salary or research funds.
