(a) A leave of absence without pay taken during a probationary period for an assignment determined by the campus president to be of a nature valuable to the campus shall not constitute a break in service for the purpose of acquiring tenure. One academic year or less of such leaves may, at the discretion of the president, be counted towards the required service for tenure. However, for a probationary period in a leave status to be counted towards eligibility for tenure, an appraisal of such relevant experience must be made and included in the total appraisal of the individual.

(b) The president shall determine whether a leave of absence without pay, for reasons other than those indicated in (a) above, shall constitute a break in the probationary period.