Taking days off for special events or conferences?

In our new "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

What's the protocol for taking time off for special events like weddings when you're a VAP or lecturer scheduled to teach on those days? Do you just figure out yourself how to handle those missed days (i.e., by pre-recording lectures or having synchronous Zoom lectures) or do you have to run it by your department chair?

While we're on the topic, what's the protocol for taking a few days off to attend or speak at a conference or an invited talk?

I suspect answers to these questions are probably institution-relative. At my institution, we're expected to notify our chair and administrative assistant of days we'll be absent from teaching, and in some cases we're supposed to provide "alternative assignments" (such as posting a lecture, etc.). The best thing to do, I think, is to ask your chair!

What do readers think, and what are the protocols where you are?

Comments

[check]

The short answer .. check with your supervisor. I have worked at places that were pretty lax, and counted on you making the alternative arrangements. Conferences and other professional events are most easily tolerated. But make sure the alternative is not just some sort of busy work for students - they will rebel. Family stuff is more problematic ... I knew a boss (not an academic one) who got really sick of someone with a very big family taking days off for funerals. Here there are laws, but they do not entitle you to miss any days you want.

[Anonymous AP]

I've never been asked by my Chair to account for any days I missed. I'm not quite sure they even knew about it. But my department is very hands off. It's never more than one class a semester (if that) and if I do need to miss a class I either arrange a guest lecturer (sometimes PhD students appreciate the opportunity to lecture for their CV), post a lecture video, hold the midterm that day if it makes sense, or just cancel class (students have never complained about this - they usually appreciate the week off).

[zoom]

In the post-covid world, I don't see anything wrong with posting a video recording of your lecture instead, or having a synchronous online lecture if possible. I haven't had any issues with doing either, especially if I'm missing class for a conference or illness.

[Kate Norlock]

Really depends on the program and the calendar. When I taught at a place with classes that met three times a week for 16 weeks, no one seemed to care whether I cancelled a missed day or offset it with an activity. When I taught at a place with classes that had just one meeting a week for twelve weeks, the chair cared much more!

[anon]

I've taught in five different, I guess quite hands-off departments. I've never emailed my chair to say I'm sick or missing a day for a conference or to talk about any other reason for absence (and none of my supervisors have expressed an interest in hearing about these things).

[AnonyJohns]

If I was a VAP or lecturer I would ask the chair about this. What happens if you miss a day and a student doesn't know you're gone and goes to the department and asks where you are that day? (I've seen this happen) Better to be careful and ask what the norms are. I make a point not to miss more than one class a term, at most two, for conferences and stuff.