Next Faculty Council Meeting: January 21, 2026 – Agenda and location coming soon

H1B Visa Information

The federal Proclamation includes important exceptions that may be relevant to individuals currently in the United States on H-1B status. Specifically, the Proclamation does not apply to petitions filed on or after 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on September 21, 2025, that request an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay for an individual already inside the United States, provided that the request is approved. In addition, an individual who is the beneficiary of such an approved petition will not be considered subject to the payment requirement if they later depart the United States and subsequently apply for a visa or seek reentry based on the approved petition and/or a valid H-1B visa.

This information is provided for general awareness only and reflects federal guidance, not University of Houston policy or individualized immigration advice.

Individuals are encouraged to review official guidance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for the most current and authoritative information:
https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/h-1b-specialty-occupations

 

 

Each week, we shine a light on a key SAM or MAPP policy that directly affects faculty. This week’s focus: Leaves of absence, vacation, and sick leave.

The University of Houston’s leave policies are governed by both campus-level MAPPs and system-level SAMs, which together define employee eligibility, accrual, approval, and statutory compliance. MAPP 02.02.03 (Leaves of Absence) establishes the general framework for requesting and approving paid and unpaid leave. At the same time, MAPP 02.02.01 (Family and Medical Leave) implements the federal FMLA, outlining eligibility, job protection, and how FMLA runs concurrently with accrued sick or vacation leave. MAPP 02.02.02 (Parental Leave) clarifies how accrued leave may be used for parental purposes in accordance with state law and university practice.

At the system level, SAM 02.D.01 (Vacation and Sick Leave) defines entitlement, accrual rates, limits, and payout rules for vacation and sick leave, while SAM 02.D.04 (Types of Employee Leave) provides standardized definitions for the various leave categories available to employees. Together, these policies are particularly important for faculty to understand distinctions based on appointment type (e.g., 9-month vs. 12-month), the interaction between paid leave and FMLA, and the procedural requirement that extended or unpaid leave be formally approved, regardless of academic scheduling flexibility.

Policy Number	Policy Title	Link to Policy
MAPP 02.02.03	Leaves of Absence	https://www.uh.edu/policies/mapps/02-human-resources/020203/
MAPP 02.02.01	Family and Medical Leave	https://www.uh.edu/policies/mapps/02-human-resources/020201/
MAPP 02.02.02	Parental Leave	https://www.uh.edu/policies/mapps/02-human-resources/020202/
SAM 02.D.01	Vacation and Sick Leave	https://uhsystem.edu/resources/compliance-ethics/uhs-policies/sams/02-human-resources/02d01/
SAM 02.D.04	Types of Employee Leave	https://uhsystem.edu/resources/compliance-ethics/uhs-policies/sams/02-human-resources/02d04/

As we enter this last week of campus activities and celebrate our graduates, the Faculty Council would like to wish everyone a restful winter break. The UH Together newsletter will resume on January 12, 2026. 

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