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[panta]

I worked for a university in the past, and am interested in returning. I really enjoyed working in an academic atmosphere and with students. My husband is a professor, and I wanted to ask if it is realistic for me to find a university staff position with summers off. I worked in area studies in the past, and would love to find a job doing this or in study abroad. My previous university position was a 12-month job, and I realize a 9 or 10 month job is unlikely, but it's worth asking!

Thanks!

[aandsdean]

Some staff positions at some schools are 9- or 10-month.  E.g., department administrative assistants at schools that don't have much or any summer school, maybe some staff in career services where there's not much going on in the summer, etc.

However, the tremendous majority of staff positions are 12-month.  99% of the really interesting ones are.  ALL of the high-level ones are.

[higheredguy]

I agree. The chances of a staff position that is on a 9-month contract are very low. If you find one, let me know. I'll be applying with you.

[michigander]

At many schools, even professional live-in residence hall staff members have summer responsibilities.

[melba_frilkins]

A fair number of our departmental office staff have 10-month contracts. Though it's not always a continuous 2-months off.

[irhack]

The only such position I've heard of was in academic advising, the advisers were on 10-month contracts but their director was 12-month.

However, most places I've worked offer flextime in the summers -- the option to work all your hours in four days instead of five. Or my current place just closes early on Fridays in the summer. Plus most of the places I've worked offer ridiculous vacation time--20 days a year, which theoretically you could use in one fell swoop in the summer.

I'll still with that and the 12-month salary, thanks!

[aandsdean]

The only such position I've heard of was in academic advising, the advisers were on 10-month contracts but their director was 12-month.

However, most places I've worked offer flextime in the summers -- the option to work all your hours in four days instead of five. Or my current place just closes early on Fridays in the summer. Plus most of the places I've worked offer ridiculous vacation time--20 days a year, which theoretically you could use in one fell swoop in the summer.

I'll still with that and the 12-month salary, thanks!

What that also means, though, is that you don't get spring break, only get a week at the winter holiday, and so on, unless you want to burn some of that vacation time then.  It's not (as you probably know, since you're in IR) quite the same year as a faculty member has, even with the vacation time.

[irhack]

No, it's not, but since faculty are fond of saying ad nauseum that they don't really get summers off, they need that time for research etc., I'll go ahead and take my week at Xmas and 20 vacation days instead of having to work through my breaks, as apparently faculty do.

[aandsdean]

No, it's not, but since faculty are fond of saying ad nauseum that they don't really get summers off, they need that time for research etc., I'll go ahead and take my week at Xmas and 20 vacation days instead of having to work through my breaks, as apparently faculty do.

Since I'd cut off a finger to be free to do scholarship for an entire summer, I'm not very sympathetic to the faculty argument.  That's the fun part of the job and everyone knows it.  It's not "off," but it's not working in the office from 8-5 all summer either.

[madhatter]

It's possible but it really depends on the institution and the department. My wife had a 9-month appointment as an assistant director in a center at a SLAC. She had a separate contract that was negotiated for summer work, depending on availability of budget.

[untenured]

My guess is with the others that few such positions are available.  However, I speculate that where 9-month positions are available, they reside in a non-supervisory position that is heavily dependent on the inflow and outflow of students.

[simplesimon]

I worked for a university in the past, and am interested in returning. I really enjoyed working in an academic atmosphere and with students. My husband is a professor, and I wanted to ask if it is realistic for me to find a university staff position with summers off. I worked in area studies in the past, and would love to find a job doing this or in study abroad. My previous university position was a 12-month job, and I realize a 9 or 10 month job is unlikely, but it's worth asking!

Thanks!

Yours is a rather unusual question.  Most participants here want to know, “how do I get X job.”  Your post seems to ask, “how do I get time off?”  It sounds as though your primary concern is having your summers off.  If that is the case, then you should not be looking for staff work at a university.  As an alternative, you may want to consider work at a primary or secondary school.  In particular, a private secondary school may offer exactly what you are looking for depending on the position.  Excellent country day schools can be found all over the country.  A bit more information form you would be useful.  Set aside for a moment what you want. Exactly what kind of staff position are you qualified for?  What kind of training have you had?  What professional successes?  Obviously, you are not looking to be a cafeteria worker (a job that would give you summers off).  More useful counsel will require more information and context from you.

Be careful when speaking with real people (as opposed to the virtual people in an anonymous online forum) about what you are seeking.  By focusing on benefits and time off, you signal to potential employers or allies that you are not serious about the work (whatever it is) and this is a turn off.  In the current climate, almost every job vacancy has literally dozens of applicants.  In every phase of the job search—from prospecting to interviewing—you must appear dedicated and fully committed to being a present employee.

Good luck.

[entwife]

I think it is unfortunate that there is little flexibility in staff contracts. As a result, some our offices in the summer are filled with people who sit around all day complaining about "having to be here" and spewing faculty hate, even though they are paid "to be here" and faculty are doing their research and prep with no pay. It would have been more productive and better for the bottom line and staff morale to offer flexible options to staff if there is really is little work to do in the summer.

[mayreh]

My university is moving towards 10-month positions for a number of staff positions, primarily as a cost saving measure.  These tend to be entry-level advising and student affairs positions - in advising centers, academic departments, health counseling, career counseling etc. A number of schools seem to follow this model. I also know of other schools that offer 10-month positions for more senior positions, primarily directors and assistant directors of various on-campus centers (tutoring, LGBT, etc.). Given the budget pressures many universities face, I wouldn't be surprised if 10-month positions become more common. That said, most people I know in these positions are actually trying to move to 12-month positions or take on summer work in order to increase their salaries.

[brixton]

With budget issues the way they are these days, there is more of a possibility to negotiate time off than there ever has been.  If you're willing to accept a lower salary, it might be possible.  That being said, I agree with most here that this isn't the way you should enter the application process.  Start with finding a job you're interested in.  Then, if you're offered it, see what is negotiable.  One caveat:  if you do negotiate summers off, and the rest of your colleagues have substantial work over the summer, there can be ripples of negativity down the road. Some upper-level administrators might naively negotiate with you, thinking that there isn't much that goes on during the summer on a traditional campus.  My campus frequently talks about moving student affairs staff to a 10 month contract to save money 00 because "students are only here for 10 months."  I keep pointing out that Orientation doesn't happen in a vacuum.