During an unpaid absence an Instructor does not receive pay from the University. Administrative Guide Memo 2.1.8.2 describes several types of leave of absence without salary and addresses benefits continuation during an unpaid leave of absence. An Instructor may be placed on personal leave without pay at a department's discretion and with advance approval from the Office of Academic Affairs. Consideration will be given to the type of absence, the impact on programmatic need, and whether the absence is to be partial or complete, and the duration of the absence; approval of an absence exceeding 12 months should be rare. An unpaid leave of absence must be for a definite period with specific starting and ending dates and cannot extend beyond the end of a fixed-term appointment. Additional policies for Leaves of Absence appear in Administrative Guide Memos 2.1.8.3 and 2.1.8.4.