How do you spend your summers?

Ah, long gone are the days when professors had the summers off. That lifestyle is a thing of the past.

Most online professors work year round because their terms vary from the on-ground campuses. However, even on-ground professors often teach summer classes to earn extra income or simply fill a need in their department. For instance, if there is only one professor who teaches a certain type of math or a certain genre of literature, they might get stuck with a summer course.

Professors often spend their summers developing their publication projects: articles, books or lecture series notes. They also use the time to attend educator conferences. Many dedicated educators also volunteer their time in local communities, working on literacy campaigns or providing free workshops for inner city youth.

Professors also continue their own research and education by spending their summers traveling internationally to little-known museums or cities to conduct further research. They sometimes take select graduate students on these research trips as well. In addition, professors in particular fields are often asked to consult on outside projects like documentaries and even movies.

As for me this summer, I spent it getting married. Even professors need to schedule their personal affairs around the academic calendar so that it does not interfere with their classes. So they are just like everyone else, trying to make the most of the summer by squeezing in some family vacations and home improvement projects that just don’t get the attention they deserve during the rest of the year.

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Professor Kim
The Online Professor

Eson Kim has been teaching College Writing and Literature for nearly 10 years. In addition to her blog, OnlineProfessor.today.com, her work has recently appeared in flashquake. She is also a fiction reader for Ploughshares Literary Journal. She strives to improve the quality and accessibility of education for all students from all backgrounds.

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