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[griggs]

Hi all,

This is probably a very silly question...

In a 10-month position, which 10 months are you working? If school lasts from early Sep through early May, it seems to me that it would be an 8.5 or 9 month position. Do they give you a few weeks on either side to prepare/grade, etc? Or does 10 month position mean that you are teaching a session of summer school and/or a January semester? Or are you really working all year, and the 2 months off are accumulated over spring break, winter break, and all the other holidays?

[bio_prof_]

10 month is nice.  I work August through early May at my semester-based institution, with the option of summer teaching. There is a real three weeks off in mid December through early January.  Benefits cover the full 12 months.

Be sure to check if you will only be paid for working the 10 months; if so, you need to either save up for summer or teach summer session (make sure this is an option!)

[seniorscholar]

Many schools now start mid-August.
Many schools require faculty to be available two weeks before the semester starts for advising, meetings, etc.
Many schools have a three-or-four week optional term in January.
Schools on the quarter system may have long enough breaks between terms to extend the schedule into ten months.
Most schools that finish exams at the beginning of May still expect faculty to be contactable until late in the month.

Look at the school's schedule on the web and see what you can guess.

In other words, you're probably not really working and required to be on campus for more than 9 months, but you're expected to be available for ten. And salary is generally paid by the month, not by the half month.

And before saying "yes" you should ask the question, too.

[griggs]

Thanks to both of you! Very helpful replies.

[sibyl]

Ultimately, though, the only legitimate answer will come from HR or the provost.  You have to find out what your school's specific contract says, whether it's August 1 to June 1, August 15 to June 15, or August 15 to December 24 and January 8 to June 30.